Exhibit 10.2

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of January 9, 2015, by and among Capricor Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each individual identified on the signature pages hereto.

 

This Agreement is made in connection with that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company and each purchaser identified on the signature pages thereto (each, a “Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

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 Holders (as defined below) agree as follows:

 

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

 

Advice” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other person which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any securities into which such common stock may hereinafter be reclassified.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Effective Date” means each date that the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) and any post-effective amendment thereto is declared effective by the Commission.

 

Effectiveness Deadline” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, the 90th calendar day following the Closing Date (or, in the event the Commission reviews and has written comments to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, the 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 2(b).

 

Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

 

Event Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Filing Deadline” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 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 3(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 5(c).

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Initial Registration Statement” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Agreement.

 

Liquidated Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

 

Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

New Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

 

Principal Market” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed and quoted for trading, which, as of the Closing Date, shall be the OTCQB Market.

 

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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.

 

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

 

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

 

Registrable Securities” means all of the Shares and 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 Questionnaire; and provided, further, that with respect to a particular Holder, such Holder’s 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) such securities 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 requirement thereunder and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the 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), including (in each case) the amendments and supplements to such Registration Statements, including pre- and post-effective amendments thereto, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statements.

 

Remainder Registration Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

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.

 

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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 (a) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff, provided, that any such oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests are reduced to writing by the Commission, and (b) the Securities Act.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Selling Stockholder 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 issued or issuable to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Special Registration Statement” means a registration statement relating to any employee benefit plan on Form S-8 or similar form or, with respect to any corporate reorganization or other transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, a registration statement on Form S-4 or similar form.

 

Trading Day” means (a) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Trading Market (other than the OTC Markets Group Inc.), or (b) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Markets Group Inc.), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Markets Group Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (a) or (b) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

 

Trading Market” means whichever of the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market or the OTC Bulletin Board, the OTCQX Marketplace or the OTCQB Marketplace operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 

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2.                  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 (or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering) and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement) a “Plan of Distribution” section substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A (which may be modified to respond to comments, if any, provided by the Commission). Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2, in the event 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 reasonable best 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; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall be obligated to use its reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with SEC Guidance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and subject to the payment of liquidated damages in accordance with Section 2(c), if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, any such limitation imposed pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be allocated among the Registrable Securities of the Holders on a pro rata basis, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holders. In the event 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 reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by the Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, 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”). No Holder shall be named as an “underwriter” in any Registration Statement without such Holder’s prior written consent.

 

(b)               The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto 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, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, filing with the Commission a request for acceleration of effectiveness in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act within five Business Days after the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or will not be subject to further review and that the effectiveness of such Registration Statement may be accelerated), and shall use its reasonable best 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 publicly sold by the Holders; (ii) such time as all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold (A) without limitations as to volume of sales, method of sale requirements or notice requirements pursuant to Rule 144 and (B) without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c)(1); or (iii) the date that is one year following the Closing Date (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Company shall, by 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the first Trading Day after the Effective Date, file a final Prospectus with the Commission, as required by Rule 424(b).

 

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(c)                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 and except for the reasons as set forth in Section 3(h), (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 (other than due to a change in the “Plan of Distribution” or the inaccuracy of any information regarding the Holders), in each case, at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period and for more than an aggregate of 20 consecutive calendar days or 45 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) during any 12-month period (other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement by a Holder, due to such Holder’s failure to return a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire within the time period provided by Section 2(d)) (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 20 or 45 calendar day period is exceeded, being referred to as an “Event Date”), then in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law: (x) within five Business Days after an Event Date relating to a failure in clause (i) only, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities held by such Holder on such Event Date; and (y) on each 30-day anniversary (or pro rata portion thereof) following any Event Date (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a failure in clause (i), in which case each 30-day anniversary shall be measured commencing on the 31st day following such Event Date) until the date that the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any unregistered Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. The amounts payable pursuant to the foregoing clauses (x) and (y) are referred to collectively as “Liquidated Damages”. The parties agree that (1) the Company will not be liable for any Liquidated Damages under this Agreement with respect to any Registrable Securities that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without manner of sale or volume restrictions, (2) 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 and in no event shall the aggregate amount of Liquidated Damages payable to a Holder exceed, in the aggregate, 10.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and (3) in no event shall the Company be liable in any 30-day period for Liquidated Damages under this Agreement in excess of 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by the Holders pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Company fails to pay any Liquidated Damages pursuant to this Section 2(c) in full within five Business Days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 2.0% per month (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such Liquidated Damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if two or more Events are occurring simultaneously, the Company shall only be liable for liquidated damages under this Section 2(c) as if one Event is occurring. Unless otherwise specified in this Section 2(c), 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing shall preclude any Holder from pursuing or obtaining any available remedies at law, specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this Section 2(c) in accordance with applicable law. 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 due solely to SEC Guidance 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 2(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 in accordance with SEC Guidance 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 Holder 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.

 

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(d)               Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire not more than ten Trading Days following the date of this Agreement. At least ten 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 Questionnaire, if any, which shall be completed and delivered to the Company promptly upon request and, in any event, within three 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, unless such Holder has returned to the Company a completed and signed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire and a response to any requests for further information as described in the previous sentence. Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that the information in the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or request for further information as described in this Section 2(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.

 

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3.                  Registration Procedures.

 

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

 

(a)                Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one 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), (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 five Trading Day or one 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 reasonable best 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 the respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct such review. The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any 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 five Trading Day or one Trading Day period described above, as applicable.

 

(b)               (i) Subject to Section 3(h), 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 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 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 until such time as all of such Registrable Securities cease to be Registrable Securities or shall have been disposed of (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 in the event the Company informs the Holders in writing that it does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Holders are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities, each such Holder shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus to the Persons to whom such Holder sells any of the Registrable Securities, and each Holder 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 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the 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.

 

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(c)                Notify the Holders (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (v) 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 via facsimile or electronic mail (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one Trading Day prior to such filing) and 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 or post-effective amendment and whenever the Commission comments in writing on any Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto (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 “Selling Stockholders” or to the “Plan of Distribution” and all written responses thereto, but not 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 thereto, 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; and (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 amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

 

(d)               Use 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, as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

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(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.

 

(f)                Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its reasonable best 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 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 a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement 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 3(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 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 amendment 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 (v) of Section 3(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 reasonable best 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 3(h) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12-month period without incurring liability for Liquidated Damages otherwise required pursuant to Section 2(c).

 

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(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, Inc. (“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 five 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; provided, however, if the failure of the Holder to furnish the required information results in the occurrence of an Event under Section 2(c), any Liquidated Damages that are accruing at such time shall be tolled and any such Event that occurs as a result thereof shall be suspended until such time as the Holder furnishes such information.

 

4.                  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 Holders; (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for the 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. 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. Expenses of any Registration Statement abandoned prior to the effectiveness thereof at the request of the Holders shall be borne by the Holders.

 

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5.                  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 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, that arise out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, form of prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), 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, form of prospectus or amendment 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 (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, 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, Prospectus, 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 3(c)(iii)-(v), related to the use by a 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 and defined in Section 6(d) below, or (C) any such Losses arise out of the Holder’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.

 

(b)               Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, and notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, 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 out of or are based solely upon (i) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, or (ii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, form of prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, 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, form of prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A) such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein or (B) 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 any Registration Statement, Prospectus, form of prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), or (C) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(v), such Losses are 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 6(d). 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.

 

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(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 the defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) 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 (iii) 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 would 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); provided, 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 prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. 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 and such settlement does not include any non-monetary limitation on the actions of any Indemnified Party or any of its affiliates or any admission of fault or liability on behalf of any such Indemnified Party.

 

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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 5) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within 20 Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; 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. The failure to deliver written notice to the Indemnifying Party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such Indemnifying Party of any liability to the Indemnified Party under this Section 5, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

(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 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 5 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), (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 5. 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.

 

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The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties and are not in diminution or limitation of the indemnification provisions under the Purchase Agreement.

 

6.                  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                Remedies. Subject to the limitations set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, 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 agree that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)               No Piggyback on Registrations; Prohibition on Filing Other Registration Statements. Neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in a Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities and the Company shall not, prior to the initial Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, enter into any new agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders. After the Closing Date, the Company shall not file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities other than a Special Registration Statement until the earlier of (i) the date that the Initial Registration Statement or New Registration Statement, as the case may be, is declared effective or (ii) the date that all Registrable Securities are eligible for resale by non-affiliates without volume or manner of sale restrictions under Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirements under Rule 144. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be prohibited from preparing and filing with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering of Common Stock by existing stockholders of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of registration rights held by such stockholders or from filing amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)                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.

 

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(d)               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 3(c)(iii)-(v), 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 reasonable best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.

 

(e)                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 a Special Registration Statement, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within seven days after the date of the delivery 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; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(e) that are (i) eligible for resale pursuant to 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 or (ii) the subject of a then-effective Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each such Holder and, thereupon, (A) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(e) in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof), and (B) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to this Section 6(e) for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities.

 

(f)                Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this Section 6(f), 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, and any amendment to any provision of this Agreement made in accordance with this Section 6(f) shall be binding on all Holders. 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; provided, that no amendment or waiver to any provision of this Agreement relating to naming any Holder or requiring the naming of any Holder as an underwriter may be effected in any manner without such Holder’s prior written consent. Section 2(a) may not be amended or waived except by the written consent of each Holder affected by such amendment or waiver.

 

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(g)               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.

 

(h)               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 (except by merger or in connection with another entity acquiring all or substantially all of the Company’s assets) or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign its respective rights with respect to any or all of its Shares 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 within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of 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 Company received the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, and (iv) the transferee is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D.

 

(i)                 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. In the event that 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.

 

(j)                 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.

 

 

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

 

(l)                 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

 

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(m)             Construction. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. Any references to paragraphs, subparagraphs, sections or subsections are to those parts of this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

 

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

 

  COMPANY
     
  Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By:    
  Name: Linda Marbán, Ph.D.
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

  

[SIGNATURE PAGES OF holders FOLLOW]

 

 
 

 

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

 

  HOLDER:
     
  AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
     
  By:  
   
  Name:
  Title:
   
  Address for Notice of Authorized Signatory:
   
  c/o                                                           
     
  Street:  
     
  City/State/Zip:    
     
  Attention:    
     
  Telephone No.:    
     
  Facsimile No.:    
     
  E-mail Address: