EXHIBIT B
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of ____________, 200_, by and among China Natural Gas, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto (each a
"Investor" and collectively, the "Investors").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated
as of the date hereof among the Company and the Investors (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
that are defined in the Purchase Agreement will have the meanings given such
terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1:
"Advice" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).
"Effective Date" means, as to a Registration Statement, the date on which
such Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.
"Effectiveness Date" means (a) with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed under Section 2(a), the earlier of: (a)(i) the
90th calendar day following the Closing Date; provided, that, if the Commission
reviews and has written comments to the filed Registration Statement that would
require the filing of a pre-effective amendment thereto with the Commission,
then the Effectiveness Date under this clause (a)(i) shall be the 135th calendar
day following the Closing Date, and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the
date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that the initial
Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comments; and (b) with respect to any additional Registration
Statements that may be required pursuant to Section 2(b), the earlier of (i) the
90th calendar day following (x) if such Registration Statement is required
because the Commission shall have notified the Company in writing that certain
Registrable Securities were not eligible for inclusion on a previously filed
Registration Statement, the date or time on which the Commission shall indicate
as being the first date or time that such Registrable Securities may then be
included in a Registration Statement, or (y) if such Registration Statement is
required for a reason other than as described in (x) above, the date on which
the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional
Registration Statement(s) is required; provided, that, if the Commission reviews
and has written comments to a Registration Statement that would require the
filing of a pre-effective amendment thereto with the Commission, then the
Effectiveness Date under this clause (b)(i) for such Registration Statement
shall be the 135th calendar day following the date that the Company first knows,
or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is
required under such Section, and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date
on which the Company is notified by the Commission that such additional
Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comments.
"Effectiveness Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Filing Date" means (a) with respect to the initial Registration Statement
required to be filed under Section 2(a), the 45th calendar day following the
Closing Date; and (b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements
that may be required pursuant to Section 2(b), the 45th calendar day following
(x) if such Registration Statement is required because the Commission shall have
notified the Company in writing that certain Registrable Securities were not
eligible for inclusion on a previously filed Registration Statement, the date or
time on which the Commission shall indicate as being the first date or time that
such Registrable Securities may then be included in a Registration Statement, or
(y) if such Registration Statement is required for a reason other than as
described in (x) above, the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably
should have known, that such additional Registration Statement(s) is required.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from
time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"Losses" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"New York Courts" means the state and federal courts sitting in the City of
New York, Borough of Manhattan.
"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 a Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means: (i) the Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares,
(iii) any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued
to any placement agent as compensation in connection with the financing subject
of the Purchase Agreement, and (iv) any securities issued or issuable upon any
stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event,
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or any conversion price adjustment with respect to any of the securities
referenced in (i), (ii), or (iii) above or any securities issued in exchange for
or replacement thereof.
"Registration Statement" means the initial registration statement required
to be filed in accordance with Section 2(a) and any additional registration
statement(s) required to be filed under Section 2(b), including (in each case)
the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statements or
Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto,
and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the
Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Warrants" means the Common Stock purchase warrants issued or issuable to
the Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and to any placement agent
identified on Schedule A hereto in accordance with the terms of the engagement
or similar agreements between the Company and any such agents.
"Warrant Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants.
2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all
Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective
Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415, on Form SB-2 (or on such other form appropriate for such purpose).
Such Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant
to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such
Registration Statement) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A.
The Company shall cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as soon as possible but, in any event, no later than
its Effectiveness Date, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the
date which is the earlier of (i) three years after its Effective Date, (ii) such
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time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have been publicly sold by the Holders, or (iii) such time as all of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold by the
Holders pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company
pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to
the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "Effectiveness
Period").
(b) If for any reason the Commission does not permit all of the
Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a), or for any other reason any outstanding Registrable
Securities are not then covered by an effective Registration Statement, then the
Company shall prepare and file by the Filing Date for such Registration
Statement, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale of all
Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective
Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415, on Form SB-2 (or on such other form appropriate for such purpose).
Each such Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise required
pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such
Registration Statement) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A.
The Company shall cause each such Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as soon as possible but, in any event, by its
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act during
the entire Effectiveness Period.
(c) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its
Filing Date, or (ii) a Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to its required Effectiveness Date (any such failure or
breach being referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (i) or (ii)
the date on which such Event occurs being referred to as "Event Date"), then in
addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable
law: on each such Event Date, and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event
Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the
applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in
cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the
aggregate Investment Amount paid by such Holder (or its predecessor-in-interest)
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to
the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a
month prior to the cure of an Event.
(d) Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed
Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a "Selling
Holder Questionnaire"). The Company shall not be required to include the
Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement who fails to
furnish to the Company a fully completed Selling Holder Questionnaire at least
two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date (subject to the requirements set forth
in Section 3(a)).
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the
Company shall:
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(a) Not less than three Trading Days prior to the filing of a
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, the Company shall furnish to each Holder copies of the "Selling
Stockholders" section of such document, the "Plan of Distribution" and any risk
factor contained in such document that addresses specifically this transaction
or the Selling Stockholders, as proposed to be filed which documents will be
subject to the review of such Holder. The Company shall not file a Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in which the
"Selling Stockholder" section thereof differs from the disclosure received from
a Holder in its Selling Holder Questionnaire (as amended or supplemented).
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus
used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for
its Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such
additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the
Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the
Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and, as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete
copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such
Registration Statement that would not result in the disclosure to the Holders of
material and non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act with respect to the Registration Statements and the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement.
(c) Notify the Holders as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the
case of (i)(A) below, not less than two Trading Days prior to such filing) and
(if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than
one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed
to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be
a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments
in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders
that pertain to the Holders as a Selling Stockholder or to the Plan of
Distribution, but not information which the Company believes would constitute
material and non-public information); and (C) with respect to each Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental
authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or
Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of
any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes
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the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in such 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 such
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of
such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a
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) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to
the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished)
promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission, which may be
furnished in electronic format.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of
each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. The
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, to register
or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders 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 all jurisdictions within the United States, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements.
(h) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to
a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statements, which certificates shall
be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(v), as
promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a
post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements 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, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
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required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance
of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the
Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement. In addition, the Company shall pay the fees of one
counsel for Investors to review such registration statement, provided that such
fees shall not exceed $5,000. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses
of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses
if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement),
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company
so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons
retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible
for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers, directors, agents, investment advisors, partners, members and
employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and
expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to
any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law in
connection with the offering covered by such registration statement, or any
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out
of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of
any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based
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solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
(it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this
purpose) or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified
in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective
Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the
Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of
an Advice or an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only if and to the
extent that following the receipt of the Advice or the amended or supplemented
Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been
corrected. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution,
threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as
incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder's failure
to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y)
any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent that, (1) such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved
Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or
in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an
event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of
an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder
in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt
by such Holder of an Advice or an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only
if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice or the amended or
supplemented Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss
would have been corrected. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder
hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise
to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be
brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
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the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in
any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or
Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable
fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or
preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading
Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether
it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require
such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or
5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
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payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are
in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties, provided that no Holder shall be required to contribute, in
the aggregate, an amount in excess of the proceeds actually received by such
Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of
any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as
the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each
Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for
any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to
it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
(c) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of
such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of
the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c), such Holder
will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement or until it is
advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.
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(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness
Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the
Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with
the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own
account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be
issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen calendar days after receipt of such notice,
any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks
applicable to all holders of registration rights.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this Section 6(e), may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of no less than a majority in interest of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of certain Holders and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at
least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent
relates.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if
such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (provided the sender
receives a machine-generated confirmation of successful transmission) at the
facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City
time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission,
if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile
number specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later
than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the Trading Day
following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight
courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is
required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be
as follows:
If to the Company: China Natural Gas, Inc.
Tang Xing Shu Ma Building, Suite 418
Tang Xing Road
Xian High Tech Area
Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
Facsimile:
Attention: Minqing Lu, CEO
With a copy to: Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP
1065 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10018
11
Facsimile: (212) 930-9725
Attn.: Thomas A. Rose, Esq.
If to a Investor: To the address set forth under such Investor's
name on the signature pages hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears
in the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties
and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each
Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner
and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(i) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party
agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and
defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought
against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or agents) will
be commenced in the New York Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts 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 Proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any New York Court, or that such
Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party
hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to
process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via
registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery)
to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement
and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of
process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in
any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party
hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, any and all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either
12
party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement,
then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other
party for its attorney's fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the
investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.
(j) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(k) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(l) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(m) Independent Nature of Investors' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Investor under this Agreement are several and not joint with
the obligations of each other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in
any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under this
Agreement. Nothing contained herein or in any Transaction Document, and no
action taken by any Investor pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the
Investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of
entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in
concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Each Investor
acknowledges that no other Investor will be acting as agent of such Investor in
enforcing its rights under this Agreement. Each Investor shall be entitled to
independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the
rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any
other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such
purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Investors has been provided
with the same Registration Rights Agreement for the purpose of closing a
transaction with multiple Investors and not because it was required or requested
to do so by any Investor.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
CHINA NATURAL GAS, INC.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF INVESTORS TO FOLLOW]
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
NAME OF INVESTING ENTITY
By:______________________________________________
Name:
Title:
ADDRESS FOR NOTICE
c/o: ____________________________________________
Street:__________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _________________________________
Attention: _____________________________________
Tel: _____________________________________
Fax: _____________________________________
Email: _____________________________________
15
Annex A
Plan of Distribution
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees,
assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of
their shares of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility
on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at
fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of
the following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits Investors;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o to cover short sales made after the date that this Registration Statement
is declared effective by the Commission;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a
security interest in some or all of the Shares owned by them and, if they
default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured
parties may offer and sell shares of Common Stock from time to time under this
prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or
other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of
selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in
interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
16
Upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that
any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale
of Common Stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution
or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to
this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such Selling Stockholder and of
the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii)
the price at which such the shares of Common Stock were sold, (iv)the
commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s),
where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any
investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in
this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition,
upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that a donee
or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares of Common Stock, a supplement to
this prospectus will be filed if then required in accordance with applicable
securities law.
The Selling Stockholders also may transfer the shares of Common Stock in
other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors
in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this
prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved
in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions
received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the
shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or
discounts under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and
similar selling expenses, if any, that can be attributed to the sale of
Securities will be paid by the Selling Stockholder and/or the purchasers. Each
Selling Stockholder has represented and warranted to the Company that at the
time of its purchase of such securities such Selling Stockholder had no
agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute any such securities.
The Company has advised each Selling Stockholder that it may not use shares
registered on this Registration Statement to cover short sales of Common Stock
made prior to the date on which this Registration Statement shall have been
declared effective by the Commission. If a Selling Stockholder uses this
prospectus for any sale of the Common Stock, it will be subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders
will be responsible to comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities
Act and Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated,
including, without limitation, Regulation M, as applicable to such Selling
Stockholders in connection with resales of their respective shares under this
Registration Statement.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, but the Company will not receive any proceeds from
the sale of the Common Stock. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
17
Annex B
CHINA NATURAL GAS, INC.
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the "Common Stock"), of China
Natural Gas, Inc. (the "Company") understands that the Company has filed or
intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
Registration Statement for the registration and resale of the Registrable
Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of ___, 200_ (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), among the Company
and the Investors named therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is
available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All
capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
______________________________________________________________________
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a)
above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3
below are held:
______________________________________________________________________
(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural
person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power
to vote or dispose of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
______________________________________________________________________
2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: _____________________________________________________________________
18
Fax: _________________________________________________________________________
E-Mail:_________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person:_________________________________________________________________
3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes No
Note: If yes, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(b) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes No
(c) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that
you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of
business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable
Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the
Registrable Securities?
Yes No
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be
identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
5. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the
Selling Securityholder.
Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the
beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other
than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.
Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
19
6. Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5%
of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position
or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or
its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or
changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date
hereof and prior to the Effective Date for the Registration Statement.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The
undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company
in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement
and the related prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated: ____________________________ Beneficial Owner:
By: _____________________________
Name:____________________________
Title:___________________________
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND
RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP
1065 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10018
Facsimile: (212) 930-9725
Attn.: Thomas A. Rose, Esq.