EX-10.01 4 a13-27157_1ex10d01.htm EX-10.01

EXHIBIT 10.01

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 13, 2013 by and among AudioEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to a Subscription Agreement between the Company and each Purchaser (the “Purchase Agreement”) with respect to one or more closings (each a “Closing”) of the sale by the Company of Units consisting of Warrants and Shares (as defined below).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Purchasers agree as follows:

 

Definitions.  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Advice” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(c).

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Tucson, Arizona are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Closing Date” means the last date of the Closings.

 

“Closing Sale Price” means, for the Common Stock, the last trade price for such security on the principal trading market for such security, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or, if such principal trading market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the last trade price, then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00 P.M., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or, if no last trade price is reported for such security by Bloomberg Financial Markets, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets. If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors’ determination shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.00001 per share, of the Company.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

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“Effective Date” means the date that the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 6(a) is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

“Effectiveness Deadline” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, the one hundred twentieth (120th) calendar day following the Closing Date; provided, however, that if the Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business.

 

“Effectiveness Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

“Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

“Event Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Filing Deadline” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 6(a), the forty-fifth (45th) calendar day following the Closing Date, provided, however, that if the Filing Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Filing Deadline shall be extended to the next business day on which the Commission is open for business.

 

“FINRA” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(i).

 

“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 9(c).

 

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(c).

 

“Initial Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Liquidated Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

 

“New Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

“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.

 

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“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.

 

“Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Purchaser” or “Purchasers” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Registrable Securities” means all of (i) the Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares and (iii) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing, provided, that the Holder has completed and delivered to the Company a Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire and provided to the Company any other information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably require for inclusion in a Registration Statement pursuant to applicable law; and provided, further, that with respect to a particular Holder, such Holder’s Shares and Warrant Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (A) a sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in which case, only such security sold by the Holder shall cease to be a Registrable Security); or (B) becoming eligible for resale by the Holder under Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required thereunder and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.

 

“Registration Statements” means any one or more registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation the Initial Registration Statement, the New Registration Statement and any Remainder Registration Statements), amendments and supplements to such Registration Statements, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statements.

 

“Remainder Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“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.

 

“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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“Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire” means a questionnaire in the form attached as Annex B hereto, or such other form of questionnaire as may reasonably be adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock that form a component of the Units issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which exchanges in the United States are open for the buying and selling of securities.

 

“Units” means the Units issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Warrants” means the Warrants that form a component of the Units issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Warrant Shares” means the Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

1.                                      Registration.

 

(a)                                 On or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the 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 or, if Rule 415 is not available for offers and sales of the Registrable Securities, by such other means of distribution of Registrable Securities as the Holders may reasonably specify (the “Initial Registration Statement”).  The Initial Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1 (except if the Company is then ineligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-1, in which case such registration shall be on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering) subject to the provisions of Section 6(e) and 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” section attached hereto as Annex A (which may be modified to respond to comments, if any, provided by the Commission or to reflect any non-material changes).  Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 6, if the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Initial Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”), in either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and subject to the payment of Liquidated Damages in Section 6(c), if applicable, if the Commission or any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering, unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will first be reduced by Registrable Securities represented by holders of Warrant Shares (applied, in the case that some Warrant Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Warrant Shares held by such Holders) and second by Registrable Securities represented by

 

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Shares (applied, in the case that some Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Shares held by such Holders, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Shares held by such Holders).  If the Company amends the Initial Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by the Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company, one or more registration statements on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement (the “Remainder Registration Statements”).

 

(b)                                 The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable and, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, no later than the Effectiveness Deadline (including filing with the Commission a request for acceleration of effectiveness in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep each Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earliest of (i) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold by the Holders; (ii) the date that all the Shares, the Warrant Shares and any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing cease to be Registrable Securities; and (iii) the second anniversary of the Closing Date (provided, however, that such two-year period will be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Purchaser is required to suspend sales of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) (the “Effectiveness Period”).  The Company shall, as soon as practicable after the Effective Date, file a final Prospectus with the Commission, as required by Rule 424(b).

 

(c)                                  Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(a), 7(h) and 7(i), if (i) the Initial Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Deadline, (ii) the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, is not declared effective by the Commission (or otherwise does not become effective) for any reason on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline or (iii) after its Effective Date, (A) such Registration Statement ceases for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement), to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or (B) the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities for any reason for more than an aggregate of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days (or forty-five (45) consecutive calendar days if the Company receives comments on its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013) or sixty (60) calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) during any twelve (12) month period,  (any such failure or breach in clauses (i) through (iii) above being referred to as an “Event,” and, for purposes of clauses (i) or (ii), the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (iii), the date on which such thirty (30), forty-five (45) or sixty (60) calendar day period is exceeded, being referred to as an “Event Date”), then, 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 earlier of (1) the applicable Event is cured, (2) termination of the Company’s obligations hereunder, and (3) the Registrable Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without manner of sale or volume restrictions, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in Common Stock (valued at the Closing Sales Price on the Event Date and at the Closing Sales Price on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date)), as

 

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liquidated damages and not as a penalty (“Liquidated Damages”), equal to one percent (1%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any unregistered Registrable Securities then held by such Holder (which remedy shall be exclusive of any other remedies available under this Agreement or under applicable law).  The parties agree that (1)  notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Purchase Agreement, no Liquidated Damages shall be payable with respect to any period after the expiration of the Effectiveness Period (except in respect of an Event described in Section 6(c)(iv) herein), (it being understood that this sentence shall not relieve the Company of any Liquidated Damages accruing prior to the Effectiveness Deadline) and (2) in no event shall the Company be liable in any thirty (30) day period for Liquidated Damages under this Agreement in excess of one percent (1%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by the Holders pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, except in the case of a payment made on an Event Date and the monthly anniversary of such Event Date.  The 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, except in the case of the first Event Date.  The Company shall not be liable for Liquidated Damages under this Agreement as to any Registrable Securities which are not permitted by the Commission to be included in a Registration Statement from the time that it is determined that such Registrable Securities are not permitted to be registered until such time as the provisions of this Agreement as to the Remainder Registration Statements required to be filed hereunder are triggered, in which case the provisions of this Section 6(c) shall once again apply, if applicable.  In such case, the Liquidated Damages shall be calculated to only apply to the percentage of Registrable Securities which are permitted by the Commission to be included in such Registration Statement.  The Effectiveness Deadline for a Registration Statement shall be extended without default or Liquidated Damages hereunder in the event that the Company’s failure to obtain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on a timely basis results from the failure of a Purchaser to timely provide the Company with information requested by the Company and necessary to complete the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act (in which the Effectiveness Deadline would be extended with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Purchaser). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to pay any Holder aggregate Liquidated Damages greater than five percent (5%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

(d)                                 Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire not more than three (3) Trading Days following the date of this Agreement.  At least five (5) Trading Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement for any registration under this Agreement, the Company will notify each Holder of the information the Company requires from that Holder other than the information contained in the Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire, if any, which shall be completed and delivered to the Company promptly upon request and, in any event, within three (3) Trading Days prior to the applicable anticipated filing date.  Each Holder further agrees that it shall not be entitled to be named as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or use the Prospectus for offers and resales of Registrable Securities at any time (and shall not be entitled to, or eligible to receive, any Liquidated Damages), unless such Holder has returned to the Company a completed and signed Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire and a response to any reasonable requests for further information as described in the previous sentence.  If a Holder of Registrable Securities returns a Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire or a request for further information, in either case, after its respective deadline, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as are required to name such Holder as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto and to include (to the extent not theretofore included) in the Registration Statement the Registrable Securities identified in such late Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire or request for further information, provided, however,

 

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that the Company shall not be obligated to file more than one post-effective amendment or supplement in any 60-day period following the date such Registration Statement is declared effective for the purpose of naming Holders as selling security holders who are not named in such Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness. Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that the information in the Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire or request for further information as described in this Section 6(d) will be used by the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement and hereby consents to the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement.

 

(e)                                  If Form S-1 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 promptly after 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-1 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the Commission.  The Holders acknowledge that as of the Closing Date and at the time of the Filing Deadline the Company will not be eligible to use a Form S-3 to register the resale of the Registrable Securities.

 

2.                                      Registration Procedures

 

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a)                                 Not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any similar or successor reports or any prospectus supplement the substance of which is limited to any of the foregoing filings), (i) furnish to the Holder copies of such Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, as proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such Holder (it being acknowledged and agreed that if a Holder does not object to or comment on the aforementioned documents within such two (2) Trading Day or one (1) Trading Day period, as the case may be, then the Holder shall be deemed to have consented to and approved the use of such documents) and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act.  The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which a Holder reasonably objects in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing within the two (2) Trading Day or one (1) Trading Day period described above, as applicable, and for such period as the Company and such Holder are attempting in good faith to resolve the objection of such Holder, any time period or deadline for purposes of Section 6(c) shall be extended for such period and no Liquidated Damages shall accrue or be payable for such period.

 

(b)                                 (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments (including post effective amendments) and supplements, 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; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable 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

 

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Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that pertains to the Holders as “Selling Stockholders” but not any other comments or any comments that would result in the disclosure to the Holders of material and non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period (subject to the terms of this Agreement) in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented; provided, however, that each Purchaser shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus, if required, to the Persons to whom such Purchaser sells any of the Shares or the Warrant Shares (including in accordance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act), and each Purchaser agrees to dispose of Registrable Securities in compliance with the “Plan of Distribution” described in the Registration Statement and otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. 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 7(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 Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the Commission on the same day on which the Exchange Act report which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement was filed.

 

(c)                                  Notify the Holders (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably practicable (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to such filing): (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 any Registration Statement (in which case the Company shall provide to each of the Holders true and complete copies of all comments that pertain to the Holders as a “Selling Stockholder” or to the “Plan of Distribution” and all written responses thereto, but not any other comments or responses or information that 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 that pertains to the Holders as “Selling Stockholders” or the “Plan of Distribution”; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority 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; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes 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 the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate

 

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development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided that, any and all such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; and provided, further, that notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential, each such Holder makes no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.

 

(d)                                 Use commercially reasonable 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, as soon as practicable.

 

(e)                                  If requested by a Holder, furnish to such 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 or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided, that the Company shall have no obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system; provided further, that the Company shall have no obligation to provide an unredacted form of any exhibit if the Company has filed or the Commission has granted a confidential treatment request with respect to such exhibit.

 

(f)                                   Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

(g)                                  If requested by a Holder, cooperate with such Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to (i) the Holder upon effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering the resales of the Shares or (ii) a transferee pursuant to transfers made pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement and the Warrants and under law, 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 reasonably request.

 

(h)                                 Following the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 7(c), as promptly as reasonably practicable (taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event), 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

 

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Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.  If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 7(c) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus.  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable.  The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 7(h) to suspend the availability of a Registration statement and Prospectus, without the payment of partial Liquidated Damages otherwise required pursuant to Section 6(c), for periods not to exceed the time periods set forth in Section 2(c)(iii)(B).

 

(i)                                     The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and any Affiliate thereof, (ii) any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) affiliations, (iii) any natural persons who have the power to vote or dispose of the common stock and (iv) any other information as may be requested by the Commission, FINRA or any state securities commission.  During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of Registrable Securities because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three (3) Trading Days of the Company’s request, any Liquidated Damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.

 

(j)                                    Neither the Company nor any subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall identify any Purchaser as an underwriter in any public disclosure or filing with the Commission or any trading market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and any Purchaser being deemed an underwriter by the Commission shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from including the disclosure found in the “Plan of Distribution” section attached hereto in the Registration Statement, provided, further, if any Purchaser is required to be identified as an underwriter by the Commission or the trading market, prior to the Company so naming such Purchaser, the Company shall promptly notify such Purchaser and such Purchaser shall be entitled to either (i) agree to be so named, or (ii) withdraw as a selling stockholder with respect to the applicable Registration Statement.  If any such Purchaser refuses to be so named as an underwriter or to withdraw from the applicable Registration Statement, such Purchaser shall not be entitled to any Liquidated Damages or to recover from the Company any other damages or losses caused by such refusal.

 

3.                                      Registration Expenses.  All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Agreement (excluding any underwriting discounts and selling commissions and all legal fees and expenses of legal counsel for any Holder) shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement.  The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with any trading market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading and (B) with respect to compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holder), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone and

 

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delivery expenses incurred by the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  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.  In no event shall the Company be responsible for any underwriting, broker or similar fees or commissions of any Holder or any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.

 

4.                                      Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 Indemnification by the Company.  The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, partners, members, managers, stockholders, Affiliates 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, partners, members, managers, stockholders, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees, all of which shall be payable quarterly in arrears as they are incurred) (collectively, “Losses”), that arise out of or are based upon (i) 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 to state 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, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A) such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged 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 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 each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 7(c)(iii)-(vi), related to the use by a Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated and defined in Section 10(c) below, to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected or (C) to the extent that any such Losses arise out of the Purchaser’s (or any other indemnified Person’s) failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required, pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was corrected in such Prospectus or supplement.  The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.  Such indemnity shall

 

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remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party (as defined in Section 9(c)) and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Holders.

 

(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 (all of which shall be payable quarterly in arrears as they are incurred), as incurred, arising out of or are based upon 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 any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (A) to the extent that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein or (B) 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 approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a 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 (C) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 7(c)(iii)-(vi), to the extent related to the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 10(c).  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.

 

(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 have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, unless such failure materially prejudices 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, in the reasonable judgment of such counsel, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility (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); provided,

 

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that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnified Parties.  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 or delayed.  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.

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, 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 9) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, quarterly in arrears as they are incurred; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is finally judicially determined to not be entitled to indemnification hereunder).

 

(d)                                 Contribution.  If a claim for indemnification under Section 9(a) or 9(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, 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 9 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 9(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 9(d), (A) no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net 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 and (B) no contribution will be made under circumstances where the maker of such contribution would not have been required to indemnify the Indemnified Party under the fault standards set forth in this Section 9.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

 

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5.                                      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 (unless an exemption therefrom is available) in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and shall sell the Registrable Securities only in accordance with a method of distribution described in the Registration Statement.

 

(c)                                  Discontinued Disposition.  By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 7(c)(iii)-(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed.  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable.  The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6(c) and Section 7(h).

 

(d)                                 Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, or waived unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and Holders holding no less than two-thirds of the Registrable Securities issued and issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Transaction Documents on the Closing Date, provided that any party may give a waiver as to itself.  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 Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(e)                                  Notices.  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(f)                                   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.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.  The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder (except in connection with a Fundamental Transaction (as such term is defined in the Warrants), provided that the Company is in compliance with

 

E-14


 

the provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Warrants) without the prior written consent of all the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.  Each Holder may assign its respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement; provided in each case that (i) the Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and related obligations under this Agreement, and for the transferee or assignee to assume such obligations, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business Days, (ii) the Company is promptly, and in any event within three (3) Business Days, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) at or before the time the effectiveness of such transfer or assignment, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein and (iv) the transferee or assignee is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D.

 

(g)                                  Execution and Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more 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 and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.  If any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature were the original thereof.

 

(h)                                 Governing Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

(i)                                     Cumulative Remedies.  Except as provided herein, the remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.

 

(j)                                    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 good faith 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.

 

(k)                                 Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(l)                                     Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights.  The obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder.  The decision of each Purchaser to purchase the Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement has been made independently of any other Purchaser.  Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser

 

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pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Each Purchaser acknowledges that no other Purchaser has acted as agent for such Purchaser in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Purchaser will be acting as agent of such Purchaser in connection with monitoring its investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents (as such term is defined in the Warrants).  Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose.  The Company acknowledges that each of the Purchasers has been provided with the same Registration Rights Agreement for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Purchasers and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser.

 

(m)                             Termination.  This Agreement shall be automatically terminated with respect to any Holder and shall have no force or effect with respect to such Holder upon the termination of the Purchase Agreement with respect to such Holder (other than such Holder’s obligations under Section 9).  Nothing in this Section 6(m) shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

AUDIOEYE, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Nathaniel T. Bradley

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

Each Purchaser executing the Signature Page in the form attached hereto and delivering the same to the Company or its agents shall be deemed to have executed this Registration Rights Agreement and agreed to the terms hereof.

 

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Registration Rights Agreement

Purchaser Counterpart Signature Page

 

The undersigned, desiring to enter into this Registration Rights Agreement between the undersigned, AudioEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other parties thereto, in or substantially in the form furnished to the undersigned, hereby agrees to join the Registration Rights Agreement as a party thereto, with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereto, and to be bound in all respects by the terms and conditions thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

NAME OF INVESTING ENTITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

ADDRESS FOR NOTICE:

 

 

 

c/o:

 

 

 

 

Street:

 

 

 

 

City/State/Zip:

 

 

 

 

Attention:

 

 

 

 

Tel:

 

 

 

 

Fax:

 

 

 

 

Email:

 

 

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ANNEX A

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering the shares of common stock issued to the selling stockholders and issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued to the selling stockholders to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the shares of common stock and warrants from time to time after the date of this prospectus.  We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock.  We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the offer and sale of the shares of common stock.

 

The selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents.  If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions.  The shares of common stock may be sold on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market and in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.  These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions.  The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

·                  ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

·                  block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·                  purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·                  an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·                  privately-negotiated transactions;

 

·                  settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

·                  broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

·                  through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·                  a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

·                  any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as permitted by that rule, or Section 4(1) under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of those provisions.

 

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Broker dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales.  If the selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal.  Such commissions will be in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction will not be in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

 

In connection with sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume.  The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales.  The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law.  The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the warrants or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.  The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The selling stockholders and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales and in which case may be subject to certain statutory liabilities under the Exchange Act.

 

The selling stockholders will be subject to the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act unless subject to an exemption therefrom, including under Rule 172 thereunder.

 

Each selling stockholder has informed us that it is not a registered broker-dealer and does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common stock.  Upon our 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 no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups, which, in the aggregate, would exceed 8.0%.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.  In addition, in some states the shares of common stock

 

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may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

 

There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Each selling stockholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholder and any other participating person.  To the extent applicable, Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.  All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.

 

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that each selling stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any and any related legal expenses incurred by it.  We will indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreement, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution.  We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholders specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution.

 

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