REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of June 2
1999, by and among Gum Tech International, Inc., a Utah corporation, with
headquarters located at 246 East Watkins Street, Phoenix AZ 85004 (the
"COMPANY"), and the undersigned buyers (each, a "BUYER" and collectively, the
"BUYERS").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties hereto dated as of even date herewith (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyers
the Company's (i) eight percent (8%) Senior Secured Redeemable Notes (the
"NOTES"), (ii) Series A Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED SHARES"), and (iii)
Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the "WARRANTS"); and
B. The Warrants may be exercised by the holders thereof to purchase
shares (the "WARRANT SHARES") of the Company's common stock, no par value per
share (the "COMMON STOCK"), and, under certain circumstances, (i) the Notes
and/or Preferred Shares may be redeemed for shares of Common Stock ("REDEMPTION
SHARES") and (ii) the Company may pay interest on the Notes in shares of Common
Stock (the "COUPON SHARES"); and
C. To induce the Buyers to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 ACT"), and
applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "INVESTOR" means a Buyer, any transferee or assignee thereof to whom
a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound
by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any
transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee assigns its
rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of
this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
b. "PERSON" means a corporation, a limited liability company, an
association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a
governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
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c. "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements (as defined
below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933
Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous
basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
d. "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Redemption Shares, the Coupon
Shares and the Warrant Shares and any shares of capital stock issued or issuable
with respect to the Redemption Shares, the Coupon Shares, the Warrant Shares,
the Notes, the Preferred Shares or the Warrants as a result of any stock split,
stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise.
e. "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement of the
Company filed under the 1933 Act.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as
practicable but in no event later than 30 days after the date of issuance of the
relevant Notes, Preferred Shares and Warrants, file with the SEC a Registration
Statement or Registration Statements (as is necessary) on Form S-3 covering the
resale of all of the Registrable Securities. In the event that Form S-3 is
unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is
available for such a registration, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d).
The initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for
resale at least 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 3(b). The Company shall use its best efforts to have the
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than 120 days after the issuance of the relevant Notes,
Preferred Shares and Warrants.
b. ALLOCATION OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. The initial number of
Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and each increase
in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro
rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by
each Investor at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial
number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by
the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such
Person's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata
portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included
in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which
ceases to hold any Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining
Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by
such Investors.
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c. LEGAL COUNSEL. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Buyers holding a
majority of the Registrable Securities shall have the right to select one legal
counsel to review and oversee any offering pursuant to this Section 2 ("LEGAL
COUNSEL"), which shall be Katten Muchin & Zavis or such other counsel as
thereafter designated by the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities.
The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the
Company's obligations under this Agreement.
d. INELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not
available for any registration of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company
shall (i) register the sale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate
form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as
soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been
declared effective by the SEC.
e. SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SHARES REGISTERED. In the event the number of
shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a)
is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities or an Investor's
allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(b), the
Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as
to cover all of such Registrable Securities (based on the market price of the
Common Stock), in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later
than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises. The Company shall
use it best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to
become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. For
purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a
Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of the
Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable Securities
issued or issuable upon (i) redemption of or payment of interest on the Notes,
(ii) redemption of the Preferred Shares and (iii) exercise of the Warrants is
greater than the quotient determined by dividing (x) the number of shares of
Common Stock available for resale under such Registration Statement by (y) 1.25.
f. EFFECT OF FAILURE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EFFECTIVENESS OF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT. If (i) the Registration Statement covering all the
applicable Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant
to this Agreement is not (A) filed with the SEC within thirty (30) days
following the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)
(the "FILING DEADLINE") or (B) declared effective by the SEC within one hundred
and twenty (120) days following the Closing Date (the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE")
or (ii) on any day after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC sales of all the Registrable Securities required to be included on a
Registration Statement cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, because of a failure to keep the Registration
Statement effective, to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to
be made pursuant to the Registration Statement, or to register sufficient shares
of Common Stock), then, subject to Section 3(u), as partial relief for the
damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability
to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall not be
exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity), the Company
shall pay to each
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holder of Registrable Securities an amount in cash equal to the product of (I)
.0025 multiplied by (II) the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Notes
held by such holder plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon plus (b) the
aggregate Stated Value (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) of the
Preferred Shares held by such holder plus any accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon plus (c) the aggregate exercise price of the Warrant Shares receivable
upon exercise of the Warrants held by such holder plus (d) the product of (1)
the sum of the number of Redemption Shares, Coupon Shares and Warrant Shares
held by such holder multiplied by (2) the average of the Closing Sale Prices (as
defined in the Warrant) of the Common Stock during any period for which a
Registration Delay Payment (as defined below) is required to be made multiplied
by (III) the sum of (x) the number of days after the Filing Deadline that such
Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC, PLUS (y) the number of days
after the Effectiveness Deadline that the Registration Statement is not declared
effective by the SEC, PLUS (z) the number of days that sales cannot be made
pursuant to the Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the SEC. The payments to which a holder shall be entitled
pursuant to this Section 2(f) are referred to herein as "REGISTRATION DELAY
PAYMENTS." Registration Delay Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I) the
last day of the calendar month during which such Registration Delay Payments are
incurred and (II) the third business day after the event or failure giving rise
to the Registration Delayed Payments is cured. In the event the Company fails to
make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay
Payments shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month (prorated for partial
months) until paid in full. If the Company fails to pay the Registration Delay
Payments, including any interest thereon, within 15 business days of the date
such Registration Delay Payments are due, then the holder entitled to such
payments shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company continues to
fail to make such payments, to require the Company, upon written notice, to
immediately issue, in lieu of the Registration Delay Payments, including any
interest thereon, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of
(X) the sum of the Registration Delay Payments and all interest accrued thereon
divided by (Y) the lowest Closing Bid Price (as defined in the Warrant) in
effect during the period beginning on and including the date such written notice
is delivered to the Company and ending on and including the business day
immediately preceding the date such shares of Common Stock are received by the
holder entitled thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, no penalties shall accrue pursuant to this Section 2(f) after the date
upon which no Registrable Securities remain outstanding or all of the
Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k), whichever occurs
earlier.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
At such time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration
Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(e), the Company will use
its best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in
accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant
thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities (on or prior
to the thirtieth (30th) day after the date of issuance of any Preferred Shares
for the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)) and use
its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the
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Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing
(but in no event later than 120 days after the issuance of any Preferred Shares
for the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)), and
keep such Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times
until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the
Registrable Securities without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated
under the 1933 Act (or successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which (A) the
Investors shall have sold all the Registrable Securities and (B) none of the
Preferred Shares or Warrants is outstanding (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which
Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and
prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any 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 in which
they were made, not misleading. The term "best efforts" as used in the first
sentence of this Section 3(a) shall mean, among other things, that the Company
shall submit to the SEC, within two business days after the Company learns that
no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the staff of
the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on the Registration Statement,
as the case may be, a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement to a time and date not later than 48 hours after the
submission of such request.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration
Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated
under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period,
comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of
all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed
of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or
sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of
amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be
filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by
reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any
analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 ACT"), the Company shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC
on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the
requirement for the Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.
c. The Company shall permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon a
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto within a
reasonable time prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in
a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a
request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of Legal Counsel,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall furnish to
Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) any correspondence from the SEC or the staff
of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to any Registration
Statement, (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one
copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated
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therein by reference and all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included in such Registration
Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto.
d. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of
such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and
all exhibits, (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten
(10) copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all
amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such
Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents, including
copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably
request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
e. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify
the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other
securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as
Legal Counsel or any Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in
those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to
maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take
such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify
Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.
f. Subject to Section 3(u), as promptly as practicable after becoming
aware of such event, the Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in
writing of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus
included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omission 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, and promptly prepare a
supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or
amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as
Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also
promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus
or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and
when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become
effective (notification of such effectiveness
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shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and each Investor by facsimile on the same
day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC
for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus
or related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that
a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to
obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible
moment and to notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding
for such purpose.
h. The Company shall furnish to each Investor on the date of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement (and thereafter from time to time on
such dates as any Investor may reasonably request at such Investor's expense)
(i) an opinion of counsel representing the Company addressed to the Investors
regarding the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the absence of any
stop order, and (ii) in the case of an underwriting (a) a letter, dated such
date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors, and
(b) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for
purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is
customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
Investors.
i. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any Investor,
(ii) Legal Counsel and (iii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by
the Investors (collectively, the "INSPECTORS") all pertinent financial and other
records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
(collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each
Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply
all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however,
that each Inspector shall hold in strict confidence and shall not make any
disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or other information
which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which
determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a
court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (b) the information in
such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement of which the Inspector
has knowledge; provided further however, that each Investor agrees to comply
with all applicable provisions of Federal and state securities laws with respect
to trading in securities of the Company to the extent that such Investor
acquires material non-public information concerning the Company or any of its
subsidiaries as a result of the (i) exercise of any remedies provided for
pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) inspections provided in this Section 3(i).
Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow
the Company, at its expense, to undertake
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appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, the Records deemed confidential.
j. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of
information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure
of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities
laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of
such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of
such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investor's
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
k. The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each
securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by
the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable
Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) secure
designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement on the Nasdaq National Market System or, if, despite the
Company's best efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) or (ii), the Company
is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clause (i) or (ii), to secure the
inclusion for quotation on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market for such Registrable
Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for
at least two market makers to register with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable
Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with
satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(k).
l. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable
Securities being offered to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investors
may request.
m. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar of all such
Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration
Statement.
n. If requested by an Investor, the Company shall (i) immediately
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as an Investor requests to be included therein relating to the sale
and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation,
information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered
or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the
offering of the Registrable Securities; (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the
matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement
if requested by a holder of such Registrable Securities.
o. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered
with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
p. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders
as soon as practical, but not later than 90 days after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of
Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later
than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the effective
date of the Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration
hereunder.
r. Within two (2) business days after the Registration Statement which
includes the Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, 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 Investors
whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement)
confirmation that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
SEC in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.
s. In addition to the Company's obligations under Sections 3(b), 3(f)
and 3(g) and under the 1933 Act, no more than five business days after the last
date of each fiscal quarter of the Company while a Registration Statement is
effective or required to be effective the Company shall deliver to each Investor
a supplement (each a "SUPPLEMENT") to the prospectus included in such
Registration Statement which updates (as of the last date of such fiscal quarter
of the Company) the information contained in the Registration Statement relating
to (i) the total number of Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares outstanding, (ii)
the Conversion Price and Exercise Price, (iii) the total number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all outstanding Preferred Shares, the
exercise of all outstanding Warrants and the payment of the Notes (to the extent
the Company has elected to pay the Notes in Common Stock), (iv) the number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each Investor whose shares are
included in the Registration Statement, and (v) the number of shares of Common
Stock being offered by each Investor whose shares are included in the
Registration Statement. On or before the third business day prior to the last
day of each fiscal quarter of the Company while a Registration Statement is
effective or required to be effective, the Company shall deliver a written
request to each Investor for information to be included in the Supplement, which
must be delivered to the Company not more than two business days after the last
day of each fiscal quarter. On the date the Company delivers the Supplement to
the Investors, the Company shall file the Supplement with the SEC under Rule
424(b)(3) of the 1933 Act, or if the Supplement may not be filed under Rule
424(b)(3) of the 1933 Act, then under such other applicable provisions of the
1933 Act.
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t. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
u. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any
time after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC,
the Company may delay the disclosure of material non-public information
concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good
faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the
best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company,
otherwise required (a "GRACE PERIOD"); provided, that the Company shall promptly
(i) notify the Investors in writing of the existence of material non-public
information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in such notice the
Company shall not disclose the content of such material non-public information
to the Investors) and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and (ii)
notify the Investors in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends; and,
provided further, that during any consecutive 365 day period, there shall be not
more than two Grace Periods exceeding 30 days in the aggregate (each such period
an "ALLOWABLE GRACE PERIOD"). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace
Period above, the Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the holders
receive the notice referred to in clause (i) above and shall end on and include
the later of the date the holders receive the notice referred to in clause (ii)
above and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions of Sections 2(f)
and 3(g) shall not be applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace
Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by
the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise
thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its
transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of
an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of
the notice referred to in clause (i) and for which the Investor has not yet
settled.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least seven (7) business days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each
Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such
Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition
precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration
pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a
particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the
intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall
be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities
and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the
Company may reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has
9
notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of
such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
c. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or
the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s)
covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the
first sentence of 3(f). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company
shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a
transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of
Designations in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect
to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the
Investor's receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of
the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f) and for which
the Investor has not yet settled.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
brokerage commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 4.1(h) of the Securities Purchase Agreement,
fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel, shall be paid by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby
does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who holds such
Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents,
representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within
the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "INDEMNIFIED PERSON"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties,
charges, costs, attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint
or several, (collectively, "CLAIMS") reasonably incurred in investigating,
preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding,
investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or
governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC,
whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be
a party thereto ("INDEMNIFIED DAMAGES"), to which any of them may become subject
insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or
threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in
connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other
"blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in which
10
Registrable Securities are offered ("BLUE SKY FILING"), or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any material violation
of this Agreement by the Company (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i)
through (iv) being, collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). The Company shall reimburse the
Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement
contained in this Section 6(a): (I) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified
Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such
Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if
such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section
3(d); (II) shall not be available to the extent that such Claim is based on a
failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus
made available by the Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by
the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); (III) shall not apply to amounts paid by
an Indemnified Person in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; (IV) shall not apply, in the case of claims arising under
subsection (iii) above, to the extent that the Company's violation was the
direct result of an Indemnified Person's willful, deliberate or knowing
violation of any provision of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable
Securities by such Person pursuant to a Registration Statement; and (V) shall
not apply to sales made by an Investor during a Grace Period (assuming the
Company has properly notified the Investor of the existence of such Grace Period
pursuant to Section 3(u) hereof). Such indemnity shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified
Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the
Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor
is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly
indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner
as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and
together with an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim
or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages
arise out of or are based upon any
11
Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such
Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with
such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), such Investor will
reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with
respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does
not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
(including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is
to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the
indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel
mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or
the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in
the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Company shall
pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal counsel for the Investors, and
such legal counsel shall be selected by the Investors holding a majority in
interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to
which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation
or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall
furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim.
The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement
negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its written
consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably
withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without
the consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff
to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation. Following
12
indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be
subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with
respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for
which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to
the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
d. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by
periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation
or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
e. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to
(i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the
indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the
Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing
herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4.1(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
13
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable
Securities, promptly upon reasonable request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company provided to its stockholders and such other reports and
documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be
reasonably requested to permit the investors to sell such securities pursuant to
Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by
the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities
if: (i) the Investor 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 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) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition
of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933
Act and applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions contained herein; and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors who then hold two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities. Any
amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding
upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the
extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the Registrable
Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or
consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement
unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this
Agreement.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever
such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If
the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or
more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall
act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the
registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
14
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or
permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and
will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered
personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of
transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the
sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the
party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such
communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Gum Tech International, Inc.
245 East Watkins Street
Phoenix AZ 85004
Telephone: (602) 252-1617
Facsimile: (602) 252-6650
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Snell & Wilmer
One Arizona Center
Phoenix AZ 85004
Telephone: (602) 382-6000
Facsimile: (602) 382-6070
Attention: Richard Stagg, Esq.
If to a Buyer, to it at the address and facsimile number set forth on the
Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives
as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or at such other address and/or
facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party has specified by written notice given to each other party five days prior
to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given
by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B)
mechanically or electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine
containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first
page of such transmission or (C) provided by a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by
facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in
accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy,
shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. The corporate laws of the State of Utah shall govern all issues
concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other
questions concerning the
15
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall
be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect
to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State
of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the
laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby
irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal
courts sitting the City of New York, for the adjudication of any dispute
hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby
or discussed herein, 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
brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of 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 for such
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. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction. Each party hereby irrevocably waives any
right it may have, and agrees not to request, a jury trial for the adjudication
of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or arising out of this
Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Warrants, the
Notes and the Certificate of Designations constitute the entire agreement among
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There
are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set
forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Warrants, the Notes and the Certificate of Designations supersede
all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of
each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the
same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to
the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement
bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed,
all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may
reasonably request in order to carry out the
16
intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
j. All consents and other determinations to be made by the Investors
pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this
Agreement, by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities,
determined as if all of the Preferred Shares and the Warrants then outstanding,
or in the case of the Warrants, issuable, have been converted into or exercised
for Registrable Securities without regard to any limitation on conversions of
Preferred Shares or the exercise of the Warrants.
k. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of
strict construction will be applied against any party.
l. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit
of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
* * * * * *
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY: BUYERS:
GUM TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC. FISHER CAPITAL LTD.
By: /s/ Gary S. Kehoe By: /s/ Kenneth A. Simpler
------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Name: Gary S. Kehoe Name: Kenneth A. Simpler
Title: President Its: Vice President
WINGATE CAPITAL LTD.
By: /s/ Kenneth A. Simpler
---------------------------------
Name: Kenneth A. Simpler
Its: Vice President