Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement is made and entered into as
of December 7, 2001 (this "AGREEMENT"), by and between IGEN International, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Acqua Wellington Opportunity I
Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
(the "PURCHASER").
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the
Purchaser (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"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 "AFFILIATED," "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"BLACKOUT PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(n).
"BOARD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"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.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON STOCK" means the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par
value.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earliest of (x) the 105th day following the Funding Date, before
which the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
registration statement to become effective, and (y) the date which is within
seven (7) Business Days of the date on which the Commission informs the Company
that the Commission (i) will not review the Registration Statement or (ii) that
the Company may request the acceleration of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.
"EVENT" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"FILING DATE" means the date the Registration Statement is
filed which date, using the Company's commercially reasonable efforts, shall be
within twenty-one (21) days following the Funding Date.
"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities including, including without
limitation, the Purchaser and its assignees.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"LIQUIDATED DAMAGES" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(d).
"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.
"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 in such Prospectus.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the "Common Shares") and upon any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar event with respect to
such Common Shares.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statement and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, 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 in such
registration statement.
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"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.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SPECIAL COUNSEL" means any special counsel to the Holders.
2. REGISTRATION. On or prior to the 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 (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). The Company shall (i) not permit any
securities other than the Registrable Securities to be included in the
Registration Statement, (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act
(including filing with the Commission a request for acceleration of
effectiveness in accordance with Rule 12dl-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act
within seven (7) Business Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally
or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a Registration
Statement will not be "reviewed," or not be subject to further review) as soon
as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
Effectiveness Date, and (subject to the provisions of Section 3(n) hereof) to
keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until such date as is the earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or (y) the date
on which the Registrable Securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant
to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written
letter, addressed to the Company's transfer agent to such effect (the
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD").
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission as soon as
practicable and in any event on or prior to the 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) in accordance with the method
or methods of distribution thereof as specified by the Holder (except if
subsequently otherwise directed by the Holder), and use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective and
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remain effective as provided herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that not less than three
(3) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any
document that would be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall
furnish to the Holder and any Special Counsel, copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the timely review of such Special Counsel. The
Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto relating to the Purchaser or the transactions
contemplated hereby to which the Holder or any Special Counsel shall reasonably
object in writing within three (3) Business Days of their receipt thereof;
provided, however, that if Special Counsel does not respond within such
three-day period, the Company shall not incur any liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 7(d)(i) hereof for the time period of such delay.
(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 (subject to
Section 3(n) hereof) 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 under the Securities Act; (iii) respond
promptly to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and promptly provide the Holders
true and complete copies of all correspondence from 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 any Special Counsel promptly (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less
than three (3) Business Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such
Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than three (3) Business Days
following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed;
(B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of
such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on
such Registration Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment relating to the Purchaser or the transactions
contemplated hereby, when the same has become effective; provided, however, that
if Special Counsel does not respond within such time period, the Company shall
not incur any liquidated damages pursuant to Section 7(d)(i) hereof for the time
period of such delay; (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
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any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (v) 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 be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
The Company shall promptly furnish to Special Counsel, without
charge, any correspondence from the Commission or the Commission's staff to the
Company or its representatives relating to any Registration Statement.
(d) Use its commercially reasonable 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.
(e) If requested by the Holder of a majority in interest of
the Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as
the Company reasonably agrees 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.
(f) Furnish to the Holder and any Special Counsel, 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.
(g) Promptly deliver to the Holder and any Special Counsel,
without charge, as many copies of the Registration Statement, 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 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 commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with
the selling Holders and any 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 reasonably requests
in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period (subject to Section 3(n)
hereof) and to do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to
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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.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates or via the Deposit Withdrawal Agent
Commission ("DWAC") representing Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request at least
two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(v), as promptly as 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all
Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on
the Nasdaq National Market and any other securities exchange, quotation system,
market or over-the-counter bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed as and when required pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of
any twelve (12)-month period (or ninety (90) days after the end of any twelve
(12)-month period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day
of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, which statement shall conform to the requirements of
Rule 158.
(m) 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.
(n) 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(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as
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contemplated by Section 3(c), (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates,
if any, will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act as applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement, (iii) it shall comply with federal
securities laws and (iv) it shall furnish to the Company information regarding
such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities 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
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time prior to the filing
of each Registration Statement, supplemented Prospectus and/or amended
Registration Statement.
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)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v), 3(c)(vi) or 3(n), 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(j), or until it is advised in writing (the
"ADVICE") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be
resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement.
(o) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding
the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "BOARD") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose and which the Company would be required to disclose
under the Registration Statement, then the Company may suspend effectiveness of
a registration statement and suspend the sale of Registrable Securities under a
Registration Statement for a period not to exceed twenty (20) consecutive days,
provided that the Company may not suspend its obligation pursuant to this
Section 3(n) for more than forty-five (45) days in the aggregate during any
twelve (12) month period (each, a "BLACKOUT PERIOD"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
such suspension shall be permitted for consecutive twenty (20) day periods,
arising out of the same set of facts, circumstances or transactions.
(p) Within two (2) Business Days after the Registration
Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the
Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the
Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement) confirmation that the Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the Commission in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES.
All reasonable 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 the Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective
and whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the
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Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation the following: (i) all registration
and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with
respect to filings required to be made with the Nasdaq National Market and each
other securities exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required
hereunder to be listed, (B) with respect to filings required to be made with the
Commission, and (C) in compliance with 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 requested 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 (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company
in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company's independent public
accountants (including the expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated
with the delivery by independent public accountants of a comfort letter or
comfort letters). 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, the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder. The Company shall not be responsible
for any underwriting discounts and commissions, transfer taxes or the legal fees
of Special Counsel.
5. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
the Purchaser, its permitted assignees and each of its directors, fund managers,
officers and employees, and each Person who controls any such Purchaser (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act), its permitted assignees and the directors, fund managers, officers and
employees of each such controlling Person, and the respective successors,
assigns, estate and personal representatives of each of the foregoing, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all claims,
losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, judgments, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of investigation) and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) (collectively, "LOSSES"), arising out
of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, the final Prospectus, as supplemented
or amended, if applicable, 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 the 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, which information was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder and Special Counsel expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or as a result of the failure of the Holder to
deliver a Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, to a purchaser in connection
with an offer or sale. 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. Such
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indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party (as defined in Section 5(c) hereof)
and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Holders.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY PURCHASER. Purchaser and its permitted
assignees shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, officers and employees and 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 and employees of
such controlling Persons, and the respective successors, assigns, estate and
personal representatives of each of the foregoing, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising
solely out of or based solely upon failure of the Purchaser to deliver the
prospectus when required or any untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or
arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in
the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in or omitted from any information so furnished in writing by such
Holder or the Special Counsel to the Company specifically for inclusion in the
Registration Statement or such Prospectus and that such information was
reasonably relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement,
such Prospectus or such form of prospectus 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 Supplement. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, the Holder shall be liable under this Section
5(b) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as
a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
(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 promptly shall 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 materially and
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)
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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 reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party
(including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection
with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within twenty (20) Business Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; PROVIDED, that
the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to
reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder or pursuant to applicable law).
(d) CONTRIBUTION. If a claim for indemnification under Section
5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Holder shall be liable or required to contribute under this Section
5(c) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as
a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
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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. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any Person 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. RULE 144.
As long as any Holder owns Registrable Securities, the Company
covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file
within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the
Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act and (only if such filings are not available via EDGAR) to promptly furnish
the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. As long as any
Holder owns Registrable Securities, if the Company is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare
and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule
144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial
statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements
in form and substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be
required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in the time
period that such filings would have been required to have been made under the
Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such further
action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such Person to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including providing
any legal opinions of counsel to the Company referred to in the Purchase
Agreement. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such
Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has
complied with such requirements. This Agreement shall terminate on the date on
which the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a registration
statement or may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
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(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in
effect, nor shall the Company or any of its Affiliates, 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. 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 if the rights so granted are inconsistent with
the rights granted to Holders set forth herein, or otherwise prevent the Company
with complying with all of its obligations hereunder.
(c) NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Neither the Company nor any
of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant
hereto) may include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement.
(d) FAILURE TO FILE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER EVENTS.
The Company and the Holders agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and
maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Period or
if certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, if (i) the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date, or is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date, or (ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a
request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 12dl-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act within seven (7) Business Days of the date that the Company is
notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a
Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review,
or (iii) the Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the
Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all Registrable
Securities at any time during the Effectiveness Period, without being succeeded
within a reasonable period by a subsequent Registration Statement filed with and
declared effective by the Commission, or (iv) the Company has breached Section
3(n) of this Agreement (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
"EVENT"), the Company shall pay as liquidated damages for such failure and not
as a penalty (the "LIQUIDATED DAMAGES") to each Holder an amount equal to one
percent (1%) for the first calendar month and two percent (2%) per calendar
month thereafter of such Holder's pro rata share of the purchase price paid by
all Holders for all shares of Common Shares purchased and then outstanding
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for each thirty (30) day period, or portion
thereof, following the Event until the applicable Event has been cured. Payments
to be made pursuant to this Section 7(d) shall be due and payable immediately
upon demand at the option of the Holders in cash. The parties agree that the
Liquidated Damages represent a reasonable estimate on the part of the parties,
as of the date of this Agreement, of the amount of damages that may be incurred
by the Holders if the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date or has not been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to
the Effectiveness Date and maintained in the manner contemplated herein during
the Effectiveness Period or if any other Event as described herein has occurred.
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(e) SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT, CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.
(i) The Company and the Holders acknowledge and agree
that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of
this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement were not performed in accordance with
their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof or thereof, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which any of them may be entitled by law or
equity.
(ii) Both the Company and the Purchaser (i) hereby
irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York and the courts of the State of New York
located in New York county for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement and (ii) hereby waive, and agree
not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or
proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit,
action or proceeding is improper. Both the Company and the Purchaser consent 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 in this Section 7(e) shall affect
or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(f) 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 a majority of the Holders.
(g) NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earlier of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 p.m., eastern
standard 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 for notice later than 5:00 p.m., eastern
time, on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., eastern time, on such date, (iii)
the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized
overnight courier service or (iv) actual receipt by the party to whom such
notice is required to be given.
(x) if to the Company:
IGEN International, Inc.
16020 Industrial Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Tel. No.: (301) 869-9800
Fax No.: (301) 208-3799
Attention: Richard Massey
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with a copy to:
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel. No.: (202) 778-9076
Fax No.: (202) 778-9100
Attention: Thomas F. Cooney, III
(y) if to the Purchaser:
Acqua Wellington Opportunity I Limited
Shirlaw House
87 Shirley Street
P.O. Box SS-19084
Nassau, Bahamas
Attention: Michael Taylor
Fax No.: (242) 328-6919
with a copy to:
Jenkens & Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP
The Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Attention: Christopher S. Auguste
Tel. No.: (212) 704-6000
Fax No.: (212) 704-6288
or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice. Any notice sent by facsimile shall be confirmed by other means
pursuant to this Section 7(g).
(h) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of a majority of
Holders.
(i) ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights of each
Holder hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
assignable by each Holder to any transferee of such Holder of all or a portion
of the shares of Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in writing
with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such
agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such
assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or
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assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such
transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such
transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the
transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the
written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section, the transferee or
assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions
of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with
the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement and shall be for no less
than 50% of the Registrable Securities. In addition, each Holder shall have the
right to assign its rights hereunder to any other Person so long as such
assignment is for no less than 30% of the Registrable Securities with the prior
written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders (and to
subsequent) successors and assigns.
(j) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(k) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard
to principles of conflicts of law thereof. This Agreement shall not be
interpreted or construed with any presumption against the party causing this
Agreement to be drafted.
(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 to be invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable in any respect, 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 herein are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.
(o) 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
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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 and shall not be counted as outstanding.
(p) FORCE MAJEURE. If either party is prevented from
performing any of its obligations under this Agreement due to any cause beyond
the party's reasonable control, including, without limitation, an act of God, an
act of terrorism, fire, flood, explosion, war, strike, embargo, government
regulation, civil or military authority, the time for that party's performance
will be extended for the period of the delay or inability to perform due to such
occurrence.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
persons as of the date first indicated above.
IGEN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ Samuel J. Wohlstadter
-------------------------
Name: Samuel J. Wohlstadter
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
ACQUA WELLINGTON PRIVATE
PLACEMENT FUND, LTD.
By: /s/ Michael W. Taylor
----------------------
Name: Michael W. Taylor
Title: Director