EXHIBIT 10.17
EXHIBIT G
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of October 31, 2002, by and among Millennium Cell Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each,
including their respective successors and assigns, a "PURCHASER" and
collectively, the "PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the "PURCHASE
AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given
such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1:
"ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement
filed pursuant to the terms hereof in connection with each Target Date and which
covers the resale of 200% of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
in full of the Exchange Debentures issuable on the applicable Exchange Date.
"CLOSING WARRANT" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"DEBENTURES" means the Unsecured Debentures, the Secured Debentures and
the Exchange Debentures.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" means, with respect to any Registration Statement, the
date that the Commission first declares effective such Registration Statement.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means: (a) with respect to the First Registration
Statement, the earlier of: (i) the 90th day following the Closing Date and (ii)
the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is notified by the
Commission that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer
subject to further review and comments, (b) with respect to the Second
Registration Statement, the earlier of: (i) the 90th day following the Second
Settlement Date and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the
Company is notified by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not
be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, (c) with
respect to an Additional Registration Statement, the earlier of: (i) the 90th
day following the applicable Target Date and (ii) the fifth Trading Day
following the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that such
Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is
no longer subject to further review and comments, and (d) with respect to any
additional Registration Statements that may be required pursuant to Section 3(d)
hereof, the earlier of: (i) the 90th day following the date on which the Company
first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration
Statement is required under Section 3(d) and (ii) the fifth Trading Day
following the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that such
additional Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject
to further review and comments.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"EXCHANGE DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the Secured
Debentures.
"FILING DATE" means: (a) with respect to the First Registration
Statement, the 30th day following the Closing Date, (b) with respect to the
Second Registration Statement, the 30th day following the Second Settlement
Date, (c) with respect to an Additional Registration Statement, the 30th day
following the applicable Target Date, (d) with respect to any additional
Registration Statements that may be required pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof,
the 30th day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably
should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required under
Section 3(d).
"FIRST REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement filed
pursuant to the terms hereof and which covers the resale of: (i) the Shares,
(ii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the
Unsecured Debentures issued on the First Settlement Date and (iii) exercise in
full of the Closing Warrants and the First Warrants, and which shall include no
less than 2,625,724 shares of Common Stock.
"FIRST SETTLEMENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"FIRST WARRANTS" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"PROCEEDING" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened in writing.
"PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by 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 the Shares and the Underlying Shares,
together with any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend
or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the
foregoing.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means, collectively, the First Registration
Statement, the Second Registration Statement, any Additional Registration
Statement and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section
3(d), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to
such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective
amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"RULE 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"RULE 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"RULE 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"SECOND REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement filed
pursuant to the terms hereof and which covers the resale of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the Second Warrants, and which shall
include no less than 589,376 shares of Common Stock.
"SECOND SETTLEMENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"SECOND WARRANTS" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"SECURED DEBENTURES" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"SHARES" means all shares of Common Stock issued to the Purchasers
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement on the Closing Date.
"SPECIAL COUNSEL" means ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ LLP.
"TARGET DATE" means, so long as any there shall be any outstanding
principal amount of Secured Debentures, each date on which the outstanding
principal amount of Unsecured Debentures or Exchange Debentures shall be reduced
to less than $1,000,000.
"UNDERLYING SHARES" means shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion in full of the Debentures and exercise in full of the Warrants.
"UNSECURED DEBENTURES" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"WARRANTS" means the Closing Warrants, the First Warrants and the
Second Warrants.
2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the
resale of the applicable Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each Registration Statement shall be on
Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (except if
otherwise agreed by the Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as
Annex A. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause each Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which
is two years after the date that a Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume
restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company
pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to
the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "EFFECTIVENESS
PERIOD").
(b) If: (a) a Registration Statement is not filed on or
prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without
affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on the same as
required by Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied
clause (a)), or (b) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for
acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act,
within five Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in
writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement
will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review, or (c) the Company
fails to respond to any comments made by the Commission within ten Trading Days
after the receipt of such comments, or (d) a Registration Statement filed
hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by the 30(th) day
following its Effectiveness Date, or (e) after its
Effective Date, the Registration Statement ceases to be effective as to all
Registrable Securities to which it is required to relate, or the Holders are not
permitted to utilize the Prospectus thereunder to resell Registrable Securities,
for an aggregate of 20 Trading Days for all such events, or (f) an amendment to
the Registration Statement is not filed by the Company with the Commission
within ten Trading Days of the Commission's notifying the Company that such
amendment is required in order for the Registration Statement to be declared
effective (any such failure or breach being referred to as an "EVENT", and for
purposes of clauses (a) and (d), the date on which such Event occurs, or for
purposes of clause (b) the date on which such five Trading Day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clauses (c) and (f) the date which such ten Trading
Day period is exceeded, or, for purposes of clause (e) the date on which such
twenty Trading Day period is exceeded, being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then:
(x) on each such Event Date and on the first monthly anniversary of each such
Event Date, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1% of the aggregate amounts
paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and (y) on each
subsequent monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event
shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the
Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and
not as a penalty, equal to 2% of the aggregate amounts paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Company fails to pay any liquidated
damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date
payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 12% per annum (or
such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to
the Holder, until such liquidated damages are paid in full. The liquidated
damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any
portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Agreement, if the Commission refuses to permit the inclusion of the
Underlying Shares issuable upon conversion of an Exchange Debenture
(collectively, the "EXCLUDED SHARES") in an Additional Registration Statement
filed by the Company in accordance with this Agreement, then the parties agree
that the Company may remove the Excluded Shares from such Additional
Registration Statement. In such event: (x) the Company shall have no further
obligation to file a Registration Statement relating to the Excluded Shares, (y)
the applicable principal amount of Secured Debentures will not be exchanged for
an Exchange Debenture pursuant to Section 7 of the Secured Debentures and (z)
the Holder shall continue to be entitled to all of its rights and remedies under
the Secured Debentures (including, without limitations, pursuant to Section
9(b)(ii) of the Secured Debentures). Exclusively for purposes of calculating the
liquidated damages specified in Section 2(b) applicable to Excluded Shares, an
Event relating to an Additional Registration Statement which initially included
Excluded Shares shall be deemed cured on the date the Company advises the
Commission that it will remove the Excluded Shares from the Additional
Registration Statement. The parties further agree that any liquidated damages
incurred on other Registrable Securities will be unaffected thereby.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than four Trading Days prior to the filing
of the Registration
Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
(except for any reports filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall, (i)
furnish to the Holders and the Special Counsel copies of each proposed
Registration Statement, related Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders and the
Special Counsel, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall
be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company
shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities and the Special Counsel shall reasonably object.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (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 Trading
Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be
sold and the Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the
case of (i)(A) below, not less than three Trading Days prior to such filing) and
(if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than
one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed
to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be
a "review" of the Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in
writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or
threatening of any
Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage
of time that makes the financial statements included in the Registration
Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(d) File additional Registration Statements if the number
of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 85% of the number of shares of
Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement.
(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(f) Furnish to each Holder and the Special Counsel,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and the Special
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 each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders and the Special 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 any Holder 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 the Registration
Statement; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject
the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to
a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be
free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(c)(v), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(k) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission.
(l) The Company may require each selling Holder to
furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if requested by the
Commission, the controlling person thereof.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses
of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses
if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement),
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (v) fees and expenses
of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company
shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents and employees of each of them, each
Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors,
agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of
preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively,
"Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission
or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information
regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to
such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that
the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (2) in the case of
an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use
by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has
notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and
prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d)
or (3) with respect to the Prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities
Act, this indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of such Holder on account of
any Loss arising from the sale of Registrable Securities to any Person if a copy
of the Prospectus was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder to such
Person with or prior to the written confirmation of the sale involved and the
alleged omission or alleged untrue statement was corrected in the Prospectus at
the time of such confirmation, unless the failure to send or deliver the
Prospectus resulted from the Company's failure to comply with Section 3(j)
hereof. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat
or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall,
severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the
Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against all Losses, as incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon: (x)
such Holder's failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in reselling Registrable Securities or (y) 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 not misleading to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information
so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion
in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that (1) such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved
Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or
in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an
event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of
an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder
in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt
by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). In no event shall the
liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar
amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any
Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity
hereunder (an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify
the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing,
and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the
payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof;
provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall
not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to
this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not
subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately
and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in
any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or
Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party
is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable
fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or
preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading
Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether
it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require
such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under
Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public
policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are
in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or
by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or
the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the
extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, 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, except as and to the extent specified in Schedule
6(b) hereto, the Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any
agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders. Except as and
to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, the Company has not previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any
of its securities to any Person which have not been fully satisfied.
(c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it
will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its
acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from
the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section
3(c), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement or
until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.
(e) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the applicable Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to
prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an
offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act
of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as
promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to
equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any
entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option
or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall 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, subject to customary
underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights.
(f) Previous Registration Rights Agreement. With respect
to those certain shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Purchase Warrants
(collectively, the "PREVIOUS SECURITIES") sold pursuant to that certain
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of June 19, 2002 among the Company and
the Purchasers and pursuant to which the Company and the Purchasers entered into
that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 19, 2002 (the
"PREVIOUS AGREEMENT"), it is hereby agreed and understood that: (i) all
registration rights and obligations of the respective parties with respect to
the Previous Securities pursuant to the Previous Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and (ii) there shall be no registration rights or obligations
with respect to any securities other than the Previous Securities pursuant to
the Previous Agreement.
(g) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and
signed by the Company and the Holders of 60% of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities.
(h) 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 number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City
time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission,
if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile
number specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later
than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the Trading Day
following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight
courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is
required to be given. The addresses for such notices and communications are
those set forth on the signature pages hereof, or such other address as may be
designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.
(i) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each
of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may
not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(j) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be
deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by
facsimile transmission, 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 internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all
Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought against a party
hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders,
employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal
courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan. Each party hereto
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to
the enforcement of the any of this Agreement), and hereby irrevocably waives,
and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally
subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Proceeding is improper.
Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and
consents to process being served in any such 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
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of
this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed
by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred
with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.
(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.
(o) Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and
Rights. The obligations of each Holder hereunder is several and not joint with
the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document
delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or
thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an
association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a
presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert with respect to
such
obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder
shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without
limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
MILLENNIUM CELL INC.
By: /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
---------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇.
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Address for Notice:
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Phone (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASERS TO FOLLOW]
PINE RIDGE FINANCIAL, INC.
By: /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
Address for Notice:
c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Corp.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn.: Avi Vigder and Eldad Gal
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ and (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
ZLP MASTER TECHONOLOGY FUND, LTD
By: /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
Address for Notice:
c/o ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Partners, LLC
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ - ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Fax: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ and (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Annex A
Plan of Distribution
The selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
- block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
- an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
- privately negotiated transactions;
- short sales
- broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
- a combination of any such methods of sale; and
- any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for
other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer
acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated. The selling stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The selling stockholder may from time to time pledge or grant a
security interest in some or all of the Shares or common stock or Warrant owned
by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations,
the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the
shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under an
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling stockholders to
include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling
stockholders under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock
in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other
successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of
this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders have
informed the Company that it does not have any agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.
The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against
certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
