1
EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of
January 29, 1999, is made and entered into by and among NeoTherapeutics, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Westover Investments L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership ("Westover"), and Montrose Investments L.P., a Cayman
Islands exempt limited partnership ("Montrose"). Westover and Montrose are
collectively sometimes referred to herein as the "Purchasers."
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof by and among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined
in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the
Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(p).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with
such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the state of
New York generally are authorized or required by law or other government actions
to close.
"Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.001 par value.
"Effectiveness Date" means (i) with respect to the Registrable
Securities issuable upon conversion of the Series A Shares (and payment of
dividends thereon) and exercise of the Warrants, the 120th day following the
Series A Closing Date, (ii) with respect to the Registrable Securities issuable
upon conversion of the Series B Shares (and payment of dividends thereon), the
120th day following the Series B Closing Date and (iii) with respect to any
subsequent Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 120th day
after demand therefor is received from the Holders pursuant to Section 3(c)
hereof.
-1-
2
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Filing Date" means (i) with respect to the Registrable Securities
issuable upon conversion of the Series A Shares (and payment of dividends
thereon) and exercise of the Warrants, the 30th day following the Series A
Closing Date, (ii) with respect to the Registrable Securities issuable upon
conversion of the Series B Shares (and payment of dividends thereon), the 30th
day following the Series B Closing Date and (iii) with respect to any subsequent
Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 30th day after demand
therefor is received from the Holders pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof.
"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).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Preferred Stock" means the Series A Shares and Series B Shares.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means (a) with respect to the Registration
Statement required to be filed after the Series A Closing, the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon (i) conversion of the Series A Shares, (ii) exercise in full
of the Warrants, and (iii) payment of dividends in respect of the Series A
Shares, assuming all dividends are paid in shares of Common Stock and that all
Series A Shares remain outstanding for three years, and (b) with respect to the
Registration Statement to be filed after the Series B Closing, the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon (i) conversion of the Series B Shares and (ii)
payment of dividends in respect of the Series B Shares, assuming all dividends
are paid in shares of Common Stock and that all Series B Shares remain
outstanding for
-2-
3
three years; provided, however that in order to account for the fact that the
number of shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon conversion of shares of
Preferred Stock (and as payment of dividends thereon) is determined in part upon
the market price of the Common Stock at the time of conversion, Registrable
Securities issuable upon the conversion of shares of Preferred Stock (and as
payment of dividends thereon), for each Registration Statement, shall include
(but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to no less than
200% of the number of shares of Common Stock into which the applicable series of
Preferred Stock are convertible (including shares of Common Stock issuable as
dividends), assuming such conversion occurred on the applicable Closing Date for
such series of Preferred Stock, the applicable Filing Date for such series of
Preferred Stock or the date the Company files an acceleration request with the
Commission relating to a Registration Statement covering, among other things, a
particular series of Preferred Stock, whichever such date yields the lowest
Conversion Price (as defined in the Purchase Agreement). Such registered shares
of Common Stock shall be allocated among the Holders pro-rata based on the total
number of Registrable Securities issued or issuable as of each date that a
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), 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 158" means Rule 158 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.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders, for which
the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Series A Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Series B Closing" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
-3-
4
"Series A Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Series B Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Series A Shares" means the Company's shares of 5% Series A Preferred
Stock with Conversion Features, $.001 par value per share, to be issued to the
Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Series B Shares" means the Company's shares of 5% Series B Preferred
Stock with Conversion Features, $.001 par value per share, to be issued to the
Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering" means a
registration in connection with which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement.
"Warrants" means the common stock purchase warrants to be issued to the
Purchasers at the Series A Closing pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering all Registrable
Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (or if the Company is not
then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith, or, in
connection with an Underwritten Offering hereunder, such other form agreed to by
the Company and by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities). The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the
filing thereof, but in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date for such
Registration Statement, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which
is three years after the date that such Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without
volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the
Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and
acceptable to the Company's transfer agent (the "Effectiveness Period"),
provided, however, that the Company shall not be deemed to have used its best
efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective during the Effectiveness
Period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in the Holders not
being able to sell the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement during the Effectiveness Period, unless such action is required under
applicable law or the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement and the Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) If the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities so elect,
an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement may
be effected in the form of an Underwritten Offering. In such event, and, if the
man-aging underwriters advise the Company and such Holders in writing that in
their opinion the amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in
-4-
5
such Underwritten Offering exceeds the amount of Registrable Securities which
can be sold in such Underwritten Offering, there shall be included in such
Underwritten Offering the amount of such Registrable Securities which in the
opinion of such managing underwriters can be sold, and such amount shall be
allocated pro rata among the Holders proposing to sell Registrable Securities in
such Underwritten Offering.
(c) If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold in an
Underwritten Offering, the investment banker in interest that will administer
the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in such offering upon consultation with the Company. No
Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder
(i) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting agreements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such arrangements.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the
Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to each applicable
Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or if the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith, or, in
connection with an Underwritten Offering hereunder, such other form agreed to by
the Company and by the Holders of a majority Registrable Securities) which shall
contain the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A (except if
otherwise directed by the Holders), and cause the Registration Statement to
become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however,
that not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus (other than a Prospectus filed
pursuant to Rule 424) and not less than one (1) Business Day prior to the filing
of any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company
shall (i) provide to the Holders, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents
(other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will
be subject to the review of such Holders, their Special Counsel and such
managing under-writers, 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 such Holders
and such underwriters, 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, their Special Counsel, or
any managing underwriters, shall reasonably object on a timely basis.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement 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
(or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated
-5-
6
under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to
any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible
provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to
the Commission relating to the 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) File additional Registration Statements if the number of Registrable
Securities at such time exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock then
registered in a Registration Statement. The Company shall have 30 days to file
such additional number of Registration Statements after notice of the
requirement thereof which the Holders may give at such time when the Registrable
Securities exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered
in a Registration Statement hereunder. In such event, the Registration Statement
required to be filed by the Company shall include no less than a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to no less than 200% of the number of shares of
Common Stock into which all then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are
convertible (assuming such conversion occurred on the Filing Date for such
Registration Statement or the date of the filing of the final acceleration
request therefor, whichever date yields a lower Conversion Price) and any other
Registrable Securities not then registered in a Registration Statement.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold, their
Special Counsel and any managing underwriters as promptly as reasonably possible
(and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) days prior to such
filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no
later than one (1) Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or
any Prospectus supplement (other than a Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424)
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be
filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a
"review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in
writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus 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) and in the case of Underwritten Offerings, if at any time any of
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
(including any underwriting agreement) contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) 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 (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes 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
-6-
7
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(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) If requested by any managing underwriter or the Holders of a
majority in interest of the Registrable Securities to be sold in connection with
an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as such
managing underwriters and such Holders reasonably agree should be included
therein, and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or
such post--effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has
received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 3(f) that
would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate applicable law or be
materially detrimental to the business prospects of the Company.
(g) Furnish to each Holder, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each 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.
(h) Promptly deliver to each Holder, their Special Counsel, and any
underwriters, 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; and the Company hereby consents to the use
of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders and any underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of
the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(i) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best
efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders, any
underwriters and their 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 or underwriter
requests in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and
all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
-7-
8
(j) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing underwriters to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a
Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, of all restrictive leg-ends, and to enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names
as any such managing underwriters or Holders may request.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d)(vi),
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 the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities relating to
such Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq National Market
("NASDAQ") or on any other stock market or trading facility on which the shares
of Common Stock are traded, listed or quoted (each a "Subsequent Market") as and
when required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(m) Enter into such agreements (including an under-writing agreement in
form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and take
all such other actions in connection therewith (including those reasonably
requested by any managing underwriters and the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, and whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into, (i) make such representations and warranties to such
Holders and such underwriters as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters
in underwritten public offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested;
(ii) in the case of an Underwritten Offering obtain and deliver copies thereof
to each Holder and the managing underwriters, if any, of opinions of counsel to
the Company and updates thereof addressed to each Holder and each such
underwriter, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to any such
managing underwriters and Special Counsel to the selling Holders covering the
matters customarily covered in opinions requested in Underwritten Offerings and
such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special Counsel and
underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, at the time of delivery
of any Registrable Securities sold pursuant thereto, use its best reasonable
efforts to obtain and deliver copies to the Holders and the managing
underwriters, if any, of "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the
independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company
or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
financial data is, or is required to be, included in the Registration
Statement), addressed to the Company in form and substance as are customary in
connection with Underwritten Offerings; (iv) if an underwriting agreement is
entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures
no less favorable to the selling Holders and the under-writers, if any, than
those set forth in Section 5 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable
to the managing underwriters, if any, and holders of a majority of Registrable
Securities participating in such Under-written Offering); and (v) deliver such
documents and certificates as may be reason-
-8-
9
ably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being
sold, their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters to evidence the
continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to
Section 3(m)(i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions
contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the
Company.
(n) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any
representative of such Holders, any under-writer participating in any
disposition of registrable Securities, and any attorney or accountant retained
by such selling Holders or underwriters, at the offices where normally kept,
during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and
cause the officers, directors, agents and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any
such Holder, representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection
with the Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is
determined in good faith by the Company in writing to be of a confidential
nature at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
such Persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
authorities; (ii) disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to
such Person, is required by law; (iii) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard by such Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such
Person from a source other than the Company and such source is not known by such
Person to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
(o) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(p) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities and the beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by such Holder as
is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the
Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any
such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise
as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the
right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not
required by the Securities Act or any similar Federal statute then in force) the
deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such
reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(h) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(d) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, 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.
-9-
10
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities
that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event
of the kind described in Sections 3(d)(ii), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or
3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 3(k), 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.
Each Holder agrees that, other than ordinary course brokerage
arrangements, in the event it enters into any arrangement with a broker-dealer
for the sale of any Registrable Securities through a block trade, special
offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a
broker or dealer, such Holder shall promptly deliver to the Company in writing
all applicable information required in order for the Company to be able to
timely file a supplement to the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act. Such information shall include a description of (i) the name of
such Holder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of
Registrable Securities involved, (iii) the price at which such Registrable
Securities were or are to be sold, and (iv) the commissions paid or to be paid
or discounts or concessions allowed or to be allowed to such broker-dealer(s),
where applicable.
4. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent specified in
Section 4(b), shall be borne by the Company whether or not pursuant to an
Underwritten Offering and whether or not the Registration Statement is filed or
becomes effective and whether or not any registrable Securities are sold
pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the
foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and
filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect
to filings required to be made with the NASDAQ and any Subsequent Market on
which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with
state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Holders in connection with Blue Sky
qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of
the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a
majority of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or by the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the Holders
(not to exceed $7,500), (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company
so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons
retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible
for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting
-10-
11
duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities
exchange as required hereunder.
(b) If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the
terms hereof, the Company shall be responsible for all costs, fees and expenses
in connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of the
Underwriters (including any underwriting commissions and discounts) and their
legal counsel and accountants. By way of illustration which is not intended to
diminish from the provisions of Section 4(a), the Holders shall not be
responsible for, and the Company shall be required to pay, the fees or
disbursements incurred by the Company (including by its legal counsel and
accountants) in connection with, the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement and related Prospectus for such offering, the maintenance of such
Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, the listing of the
Registrable Securities in accordance with the requirements hereof, and printing
expenses incurred to comply with the requirements hereof.
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 (including any underwriters retained by such Holder
in connection with the offer and sale of Registrable Securities), brokers
(including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a
result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common
Stock), investment advisors and employees of each of them, each Person who
controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and
employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs (including, with-out limitation, costs of preparation and
reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred,
arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any
form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that 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
pro-posed 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. 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
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or
-11-
12
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 the Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent
that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's pro-posed 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. 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; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a 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
-12-
13
ten (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party
(regard-less of whether it is ultimately deter-mined 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 sup-plied 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.
Not-withstanding 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. No Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Per-son who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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 dam-ages, 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
-13-
14
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 Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement
with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to
the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof.. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any
agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities
to any Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the
written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) 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 the Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any
agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and
the Underlying Shares, 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 of Registrable
Securities written notice of such determination and, if within twenty (20) 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; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Section 6(d) that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k)
of the Commission.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the
Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that, for the purposes of this sentence, Registrable
Securities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or an
Affiliate of the Company are not deemed outstanding. Notwithstanding the
fore-going, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given
by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such
waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the
-14-
15
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) 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 (i) the date of transmission, if
such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile
telephone number specified in this Section prior to 8:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission,
if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile
telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 8:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on
such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: NeoTherapeutics Inc.
157 Technology Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
Facsimile No.:(949) 788-6706
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth
660 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1600
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Facsimile No.: 949-725-4100
Attn: C. Craig Carlson, Esq. And
Robert E. Rich, Esq.
If to Montrose: Montrose Investments, Ltd.
300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75201
Facsimile: (214) 758-1221
Attn: Will Rose
If to Westover: Westover Investments L.P.
300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75201
Facsimile: (214) 758-1221
Attn: Will Rose
With copies to (for all
communications to
Montrose and Westover): Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn &
Berman LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
Facsimile No.: (212) 541-4630
-15-
16
Attn: Kenneth L. Henderson, Esq. And
Eric L. Cohen, Esq.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears
in the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) 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.
(h) 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.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without
regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party hereby
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal
courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to
the enforcement of the any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such
service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
(j) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(k) 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,
-16-
17
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(l) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or other-wise affect the meaning hereof.
(m) Shares Held by The Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the consent
or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is
required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates
(other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns thereof if such
Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its holdings of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
-17-
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
NEOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
WESTOVER INVESTMENTS L.P.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
MONTROSE INVESTMENTS L.P.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
-18-
19
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 the shares of
Common Stock offered hereby 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:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o 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;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o short sales;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o 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.
The Selling Stockholders may also engage in short sales against the box,
puts and calls and other transactions in securities of the Company or
derivatives of Company securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection
with these trades. The Selling Stockholders may pledge their shares to their
brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling
Stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer
and sell the pledged shares. The Selling Stockholders have advised the Company
that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements
with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares other
than ordinary course brokerage arrangements, nor is there an underwriter or
coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares by the
Selling Stockholders.
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)
-19-
20
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 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 Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
Upon the Company being notified by a Selling Stockholder that any
material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of
shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or
secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this
prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such Selling Stockholder and of
the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii)
the price at which such shares were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts
or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such
broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set
out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts
material to the transaction. In addition, upon the Company being notified by a
Selling Stockholder that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500
shares, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed.
The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders that the
anti-manipulative provisions of Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act
may apply to their sales of the shares offered hereby.
-20-