EXHIBIT 2.2
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement)
is made and entered into as of
, 2005 by and between Sonus Pharmaceuticals,Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (Buyer), and the undersigned Stockholders of
Buyer (collectively theStockholders) with reference to the following recitals.
R
E C I T A L S
A. Buyer and
the Stockholders have entered into that
certain Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of December 22,
2004 (the Stock Purchase Agreement), providing for the sale of all
outstanding shares of capital stock of Synt:em S.A. (the Acquisition),
a French société anonyme (the Company). The Stock Purchase Agreement
contemplates that upon consummation of the Acquisition, (i) the holders of
shares of capital stock of the Company (Company Stock) will receive
shares of common stock of Buyer (Buyer Common Stock) in exchange for
their shares of Company Stock, (ii) the holders of Company Options and Company
Warrants who exercise their Company Options or Company Warrants on or before
the Closing Date will receive shares of Buyer Common Stock for shares of
Company Stock received upon such exercise, and (iii) the Company will become a
wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer.
B. Pursuant
to the Stock Purchase Agreement, Stockholders will become the beneficial owners
of Registrable Securities (defined below).
Buyer and Stockholders desire that Buyer grant Stockholders certain
registration rights regarding the Registrable Securities in order to facilitate
Stockholders ability to liquidate those securities. In addition, Stockholders have agreed to
certain restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain shares of Buyer Common
Stock received in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement.
C. As an
inducement and condition to entering into the Stock Purchase Agreement, Buyer
has agreed that Stockholders will be entitled to the registration rights as set
forth in this Agreement, and Stockholders have agreed to certain covenants as set
forth herein.
ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, these terms have these
meanings:
Business Day means any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in the City
of New York are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Buyer Common Stock has the meaning set forth in the
recitals.
Closing Date means the date of the closing of the Acquisition.
Common Stock means the common stock, $0.001 par
value per share, of Buyer.
Delay Notice has the meaning set forth in Article III,
Section 5(b).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, as the same are in effect from time to time.
Holder means any Stockholder and any permitted
assignee of all or any of Stockholders registration rights under this
Agreement.
Lock-up Shares has the meaning set forth in Article II,
Section 1(a).
Material Development Condition has the meaning set
forth in Article III, Section 5(b).
Other Holders has the meaning set forth in Article III,
Section 3.
Person means an individual or entity.
Prospectus means the prospectus included in any
Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented.
Registrable Securities means the Shares, but only so
long as such Shares are held by such Stockholder or another Holder or a
permitted transferee as provided in Article II, Section 1(e) and Article III,
Section 9.
Registration Expenses has the meaning set forth in Article III,
Section 6.
Registration Statement means any registration
statement within the scope of Article III, Section 2 or Article III,
Section 3 of this Agreement that covers any of the Registrable Securities,
including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements to
that Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and all
exhibits and all materials incorporated by reference in that Registration
Statement.
Requesting Securityholder has the meaning set forth
in Article III, Section 3.
Restricted Security has the meaning set forth in Article III,
Section 1.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 adopted under the Securities
Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule that may be adopted by
the SEC.
Rule 415 means Rule 415 adopted under the Securities
Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule that may be adopted by
the SEC.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, as the same are in effect from time to time.
Shares means the Common Stock issued to Stockholders
in the Acquisition and any other securities later issued, as a result of or in
connection with any stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split,
combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation,
exchange or distribution in respect of the Common Stock issued to Stockholders
in the Acquisition.
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Shelf Registration Period has the meaning set forth
in Article III, Section 2(b).
Shelf Registration Statements has the meaning set
forth in Article III, Section 2(a).
Stock Purchase Agreement has the meaning set forth
in the recitals.
Underwritten Offering means a registered offering in
which securities of Buyer are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.
Except where expressly indicated otherwise, all
references to sections in this Agreement are to sections of this
Agreement. Unless the context otherwise
requires, all capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Stock Purchase Agreement.
ARTICLE II. RESTRICTIVE PROVISIONS
1. Lock-Up
Agreement.
(a) Except as
provided in Article II, Section 1(e), each Stockholder hereby severally,
and not jointly, agrees that it will not (i) offer, sell, contract to
sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares which
constitute the Closing Date Purchase Price under the Stock Purchase Agreement
(the Lock-up Shares) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any Lock-up Shares, (ii) enter into a transaction which
would have the same effect, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or other
arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of the Lock-up Shares, whether any such
aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Lock-up Shares
or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iv) publicly disclose
the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter
into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement (unless, without in
any way limiting the restrictions in clauses (i) through (iii) above,
in the reasonable judgment of Stockholder, such disclosure is required under Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act, or by other legal or regulatory requirement).
(b) Except as
provided in Article II, Section 1(e), the restrictions set forth in Article II,
Section 1(a) shall lapse on December 31, 2005.
(c) Each Stockholder
further severally and not jointly, agrees that Stockholder shall not effect any
sale, transfer or other disposition of any Shares unless:
(i) such
sale, transfer or other disposition is made in conformity with the volume and
other requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
(ii) such sale,
transfer or other disposition is effected pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act;
(iii) an
authorized representative of the SEC shall have rendered written advice to
Stockholder to the effect that the SEC would take no action, or that the staff
of the SEC would not recommend that the SEC take action, with respect to such
proposed sale, transfer or other disposition, and a copy of such written advice
and all other related communications with the SEC shall have been delivered to
Buyer; or
(iv) Stockholder
shall have furnished Buyer with a written opinion of counsel, reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer, to the effect that such sale, transfer or other
disposition will not require registration of such shares under the Securities
Act.
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(d) Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the restrictions set forth in Article II,
Section 1(a) shall lapse as provided in Article III, Section 2(b).
(e) Notwithstanding
Article II, Sections 1(a)-(b) above, Shares may be transferred (i)
in the case of an individual, to any member of the immediate family of such
individual or to any trust for the benefit of the individual or any such family
member or members, (ii) in the case of an entity, to any shareholder, general
or limited partner of affiliate of such Holder; provided that written notice is
given to Buyer and such assignee or transferee agrees in writing to be bound by
all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
(f) The
restrictions set forth in Article II, Section 1(a) shall not be
waived, released or otherwise modified for the benefit of any Holder, unless
similar restrictions of each of the other Holders are waived, released or
otherwise modified to the same extent and with respect to a number of
securities that bears the same proportion to the total number of securities of
each of the Holders bound by any such restriction as the number of securities
of any such Holder affected by any such waiver, release or modification bears
to the total number of such Holders securities bound by such similar
restriction.
ARTICLE III. REGISTRATION RIGHTS
1. Securities
Subject to this Agreement. The
securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Registrable
Securities but, with respect to any particular Registrable Security, only so
long as such securities continue to be Restricted Securities and only so long
as such securities are held by a Holder or permitted transferee or assignee. A Registrable Security that has ceased to be
a Registrable Security cannot thereafter become a Registrable Security. A Restricted Security is a Registrable
Security (i) which has not been sold pursuant to an effective Registration
Statement in accordance with the intended plan and method of distribution
therefor set forth in the final Prospectus forming part of such Registration
Statement, (ii) which has not been sold pursuant to Rule 144, and
(iii) which cannot, at that time, be sold by its Holder, together with all
other Registrable Securities (or securities that would be Registrable
Securities but for operation of this clause (iii)) beneficially owned by such
Holder, without limitations as to volume under Rule 144. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that if on or
after the second anniversary of the Closing Date, such Stockholder provides Buyer
with an opinion of counsel stating that such Stockholder is not an affiliate
as that term is defined under the Securities Act and has not been an affiliate
during the preceding three months, Buyer shall cause to be removed any
restrictive legends from the stock certificates issued to such Stockholder in
the Acquisition.
2. Shelf
Registration.
(a) General. Buyer shall use its commercially reasonable
best efforts to file with the SEC a Registration Statement within five Business
Days following the Closing Date relating to the resale, from time to time, of
all the Registrable Securities (the Shelf Registration) in accordance with
the plan and method of distribution set forth in the Prospectus included in
such Registration Statement (the Shelf Registration Statement), subject to
the receipt by Buyer of all information relating to the Holders and the plan
and method of distribution necessary to allow Buyer to comply with its filing
requirements pursuant to Form S-3 under the Securities Act. Buyer shall promptly respond to any SEC
comments to such Shelf Registration Statement.
The Buyer will use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide the
Sellers Agents a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Shelf
Registration Statement. Buyer shall file
amendments to the Shelf Registration Statements to reflect transfers of
Registrable Securities to any Holder following the new Holders delivery to Buyer
of its written assumption of obligations contemplated by Article IV, Section 4
of this Agreement.
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(b) Effective
Period. Buyer will use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become
effective within 9 months of the Closing Date and keep the Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective until the earliest of (i) the date on or
following the second anniversary of the Closing Date (subject to extension as
provided in Article III, Section 4(b)) on which all Registrable
Securities may be immediately sold by the Holders without registration and
without restriction as to the number of Registrable Shares to be sold, or (ii) the
date on which all Registrable Securities are no longer Restricted Securities (the
Shelf Registration Period). In the
event, for any reason, the Registration Statement for the Shelf Registration is
not declared effective within 9 months of the Closing Date, the restrictive
provisions set forth in Section 1(a) of Article II above shall
terminate as of 9 months following the Closing Date. The termination of such restrictive
provisions shall be the sole remedy to the Sellers for the Buyers default of
this Section 2(b).
(c) Inclusion
of Other Securities. Buyer and any
other holder of Buyers securities who have existing contractual registration
rights may include its securities in the Shelf Registration effected pursuant
to this Section 2. Buyer agrees not to enter into any subsequent agreement
which would allow any other person to include its securities in the Shelf
Registration.
(d) Withdrawal. Subject to Article III, Section 5(b),
Buyer will withdraw the Shelf Registration Statement upon: (i) the receipt
from the SEC of a written request for withdrawal or (ii) having obtained
the written request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Shelf Registration Statement.
3. Piggyback
Registration. If, on or before the eighth
anniversary of the Closing Date, Buyer proposes to file a registration
statement with respect to any class of its equity securities, whether for its
own account (other than in connection with a registration statement on Form S-4
or S-8 or any successor or substantially similar form), or for the account of a
holder of securities of Buyer pursuant to demand registration rights granted by
Buyer to such holder (a Requesting Securityholder), or for the registration
of securities for sale by Buyer on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to
Rule 415, in either case, then Buyer shall give written notice of such
proposed filing to all Holders at least 20 days before the anticipated
filing date of such registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) during the time when the Shelf
Registration Statement contemplated by Article III, Section 2(b) is
effective and not suspended or withdrawn, and (ii) after two years following
the Closing Date, then the piggyback registration rights under this Section 3
shall apply only to Underwritten Offerings.
In either case, that notice shall offer to all Holders the opportunity
to have any or all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders included
in that registration statement. Each
Holder desiring to have its Registrable Securities registered under this Section 3
shall so advise Buyer in writing within 15 days after the date of receipt of
such notice (which request shall set forth the amount of Registrable Securities
for which registration is requested). Buyer
shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to include in that
registration statement all the Registrable Securities so requested to be
included therein. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if in connection with an Underwritten Offering the managing
underwriter or underwriters of any such proposed public offering advises Buyer
in writing that the total amount or kind of securities which the Holders, Buyer
and any other Persons (the Other Holders) intend to be included in such
proposed public offering is sufficiently large to materially and adversely
affect the success of such proposed public offering, then the amount or kind of
securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders and Other Holders shall be
reduced as follows: (i) if such Registration Statement is a primary
registration on behalf of Buyer, Buyer will include in such registration
(A) first, all securities to be offered by Buyer and (B) second, up
to the full amount of securities requested to be included in such registration
by the Holders and the Requesting Securityholders having contractual rights to
include securities in such underwritten offering (allocated pro rata among the
Holders and Requesting Securityholders having contractual rights to include
securities in such underwritten offering on the basis of the
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amount of securities requested to be included therein by each such
Holder or Requesting Securityholder), so that the total amount of securities to
be included in such offering is the full amount that, in the written opinion of
such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without materially and
adversely affecting the success of such offering; and (ii) if such
Registration Statement is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of
such Requesting Securityholders, Buyer will include in such registration:
(A) first, all securities of such Requesting Securityholders requested to
be included therein and (B) second, up to the full amount of securities
requested to be included in such registration by the Holders and other persons
(allocated pro rata among such Holders and such other persons on the basis of
the amount of securities requested to be included therein by each such Holder
or other person), provided that if such allocation would result in the Holders
including less than 25% of the securities to be allocated pursuant to this
clause (B), the Holders shall be allocated 25% of the securities to be
allocated pursuant to this clause (B) and the remaining securities shall be
allocated pro rata among the remaining persons, so that, in either case, the total amount of securities to be included
in such offering is the full amount, that in the written opinion of such
managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without materially and
adversely affecting the success of the offering. Anything to the contrary in this Agreement
notwithstanding, Buyer may withdraw or postpone a registration statement
referred to in this Section 3 at any time before it becomes effective,
without obligation to any Holder. If an
offering in connection with which a Requesting Securityholder is entitled to
registration under this Section 3 is an Underwritten Offering, any
Requesting Securityholder whose Registrable Securities are included in the
Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by Buyer, offer and sell
the Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering using the same
underwriter or underwriters and, subject to this Agreement, on the same terms
and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in the Underwritten Offering.
4. Registration
Procedures.
(a) General. Subject to Article III,
Sections 5(b) and (c), in connection with Buyers registration obligations
pursuant to Article III, Section 2 and, to the extent applicable, Article III,
Section 3, Buyer shall:
(i) prepare
and file with the SEC: (A) a new Registration Statement or such amendments
and post-effective amendments to an existing Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the time period set
forth herein, and (B) any amendments and post-effective amendments to any
Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any supplements to any
Prospectus included in any Shelf Registration Statement, as may be requested by
any Holder of Registrable Securities to reflect (1) any changes to the
plan of distribution contained in the Prospectus included in such Shelf
Registration Statement or (2) the identity of any transferee of
Registrable Securities, provided that, as soon as practicable, but in no event
later than three (3) Business Days (unless such Registration Statement relates
to an Underwritten Offering in which case such period shall be one (1) Business
Day) before filing any Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, other than any amendment or supplement made
solely as a result of incorporation by reference of documents filed with the
SEC subsequent to the filing of such Registration Statement, Buyer shall
furnish to the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement and the underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed
to be filed;
(ii) notify the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriters, if
any, promptly: (A) when a new Registration Statement, Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and, with
respect to any new Registration Statement or post-effective amendment, when it
has become effective, (B) of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (C) of any suspension of the qualification of the Registrable
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Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (D) if there is a
misstatement or omission of a material fact in any Registration Statement,
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or if any event
occurs that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement,
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference in order to make
the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; provided that upon
any occurrence specified in clauses (B), (C) or (D) Buyer shall use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to, at the earliest practicable date, obtain a
withdrawal of any stop order, the lifting of any suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification or amend the Registration
Statement, Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference in
order to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading;
(iii) if
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters or a Holder of
Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an Underwritten Offering,
promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information as the managing underwriters and the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities being sold in such Underwritten Offering agree
should be included therein relating to the sale of the Registrable Securities
including, without limitation, information with respect to the total number of
shares of Registrable Securities being sold to such underwriters, the purchase
price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to any other
terms of the Underwritten Offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in
such offering, and promptly make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment;
(iv) furnish to
each selling Holder of Registrable Securities and each managing underwriter, if
any, without charge, (i) preliminary drafts of the Registration Statement as
they become available, and (ii) as many conformed copies as may reasonably be
requested of the then effective Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendments thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including those
incorporated by reference);
(v) deliver to
each selling Holder of Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any,
without charge, as many copies of the then effective Prospectus (including each
Prospectus subject to completion) and any amendments or supplements thereto as
such Persons may reasonably request;
(vi) use
commercially reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders of Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any, and their
respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws
of such jurisdictions as any selling Holder of Registrable Securities or
underwriter reasonably requests in writing, provided that Buyer will not be
required to: (A) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would
not otherwise be required to qualify, but for this paragraph (vi),
(B) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction or
(C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(vii) otherwise
use commercially reasonable best efforts to comply in all material respects
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC relating to such
registration and the distribution of the securities being offered and make
generally available to its securities holders earnings statements satisfying Section 11(a)
of the Securities Act;
(viii) cooperate
and assist in any filings required to be made with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.;
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(ix) subject to
the proviso in paragraph (vi) above, cause the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the selling
Holders or the underwriters, if any, to complete the disposition of such
Registrable Securities (other than as may be required by the governmental
agencies or authorities of any foreign jurisdiction and other than as may be
required by a law applicable to a selling Holder by reason of its own
activities or business other than the sale of Registrable Securities);
(x) cooperate
with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any,
and their respective counsel, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which
certificates will not bear any restrictive legends; and cause such certificates
to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the selling Holders
or managing underwriters, if any, shall request; and
As a condition precedent to the participation in any
registration hereunder, Buyer may require each selling Holder of Registrable
Securities as to which such registration is being effected to furnish to Buyer
such reasonable information regarding such Person and the distribution of such
securities as Buyer may from time to time request.
(b) Discontinuance. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall,
upon receipt of any notice from Buyer of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Article III, Section 4(a)(ii),(B)(C) or (D) forthwith
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the then current
Registration Statement until: (A) such Holder is advised in writing by Buyer
that a new Registration Statement covering the offer of Registrable Securities
has become effective under the Securities Act or (B) such Holder receives
copies of any required supplemented or amended Prospectus, or until such Holder
is advised in writing by Buyer that the use of the Registration Statement may
be resumed. If so directed by Buyer, on
the happening of such event, each Holder will deliver to Buyer (at Buyers
expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders
possession, of the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities
at the time of receipt of such notice.
5. Certain
Limitations on Registration Rights.
(a) Hold-Back
Election. In the case of the
registration of any underwritten primary offering initiated by Buyer (other
than any registration by Buyer on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor or
substantially similar form and in which the Holders participate in any amount,
and other than in connection with (i) an employee stock option, stock
purchase or compensation plan or of securities issued or issuable pursuant to
any such plan or an acquisition of any securities or assets of another entity,
or (ii) a dividend reinvestment plan) or any underwritten secondary
offering initiated at the request of a Requesting Securityholder, each Holder
that includes Registrable Securities therein or is offerred the opportunity to
include Registrable Securities therein but declines to participate in the
offering, agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of securities of
Buyer, except as part of such underwritten registration, during the period
beginning 15 days prior to the expected date of execution of an underwriting
agreement relating to such underwritten offering and ending 90 days after such
closing date (or such shorter period as may be agreed to between the
underwriters thereof and Buyer or any other security holder of Buyer selling
securities in such offering), provided that the officers and directors of Buyer
and the other participants in the offering are bound by the same restrictions. These restrictions shall not be waived,
released or otherwise modified for the benefit of any person (including any
Holder) subject to such restrictions, unless similar restrictions of each of
the other such persons are waived, released or otherwise modified to the same
extent and with respect to a number of securities that bears the same
proportion to the total number of securities of each of the persons bound by
any such restriction as the number of securities of any such
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person affected by any such waiver, release or modification bears to
the total number of such persons securities bound by such similar
restriction. The parties acknowledge
that the expected date of execution of an underwriting agreement shall be made
in the good faith determination of the managing underwriter of such offering
and communicated in writing to such Holders.
(b) Material
Development Condition. With respect
to any Registration Statement filed or to be filed pursuant to Article III,
Section 2, if Buyer determines that, in its reasonable and good faith
judgment, it would (because of the existence of, or in anticipation of, any
acquisition or corporate reorganization or other transaction, financing
activity, stock repurchase involving Buyer or any subsidiary, or the unavailability
for reasons substantially beyond Buyers control of any required financial
statements) require public disclosure by Buyer of material non-public
information that is not included in such Registration Statement and that
immediate disclosure of such information would be seriously detrimental to Buyer
(a Material Development Condition), Buyer shall, notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement, be entitled, upon the giving of a written notice
that a Material Development Condition has occurred (a Delay Notice) from Buyer
to any Holder of Registrable Securities included or to be included in such
Registration Statement: (i) to cause sales of Registrable Securities by
such Holder pursuant to such Registration Statement to cease, or (ii) if
no such Registration Statement has yet been filed or declared effective, to
delay the filing or effectiveness of any such Registration Statement until, in
the good faith judgment of Buyer, such Material Development Condition no longer
exists (notice of which Buyer shall promptly deliver to any Holder of
Registrable Securities with respect to which any such Registration Statement
has been filed). Notwithstanding the
foregoing: (A) in no event may such cessation or delay (I) be for a
period of more than 45 consecutive days from the giving of the Delay Notice to
a Holder with respect to the Material Development Condition, as above provided,
(II) exceed 90 days in the aggregate in any 12 month period and (III)
prevent the Shelf Registration from being declared effective within nine (9)
months following the Closing Date under the Stock Purchase Agreement. In the event of any such cessation or delay,
the Shelf Registration Period with respect to such Holder and Registrable
Securities shall be extended by the number of days during the Shelf
Registration Period that such Holder is required to refrain from selling
Registrable Securities.
(c) Limitation
on Piggyback Registration Rights.
Anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement notwithstanding,
when, in the opinion of outside securities counsel for Buyer, the registration
of the Registrable Securities is not required by the Securities Act in
connection with a proposed sale of such Registrable Securities, the Holders
shall have no rights pursuant to Article III, Section 3 to request a
piggyback registration in connection with such proposed sale and Buyer shall
promptly provide to the transfer agent and the Holders or Holders broker or
brokers in connection with any sale transaction an opinion to that effect.
6. Registration
Expenses. All expenses incident to Buyers
performance of or compliance with this Agreement including, without limitation,
all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with
securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications or registrations, or the
obtaining of exemptions therefrom, of the Registrable Securities), printing
expenses (including expenses of printing Prospectuses), messenger and delivery
expenses, internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
fees and disbursements of its counsel and its independent certified public
accountants, securities acts liability insurance (if Buyer elects to obtain
such insurance), fees and expenses of any special experts retained by Buyer in
connection with any registration fees and expenses of other Persons retained by
Buyer and reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel for all selling Holders
(such selling Holders counsels fees shall not exceed $25,000) (such expenses
being referred to as Registration Expenses) shall be borne by Buyer, provided
that Registration Expenses shall not include any fees and expenses of more than
one counsel for
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the Holders, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Holders and
underwriting discounts, commissions or fees attributable to the sale of the
Registrable Securities.
7. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by Buyer. Buyer shall indemnify and
hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, but without duplication,
each Holder of Registrable Securities, and each Person who controls such Holder
(within the meaning of the Securities Act), against all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of investigation
and reasonable legal fees and expenses) resulting from any untrue statement of
a material fact in, or any omission of a material fact required to be stated
in, any Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus in light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as the same are contained
in any information furnished in writing to Buyer or to any underwriters by any
Holder expressly for use therein. Buyer
shall also indemnify underwriters participating in the distribution, their
officers, directors, employees, partners and agents, and each Person who
controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act), to the
same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the
Holders of Registrable Securities, if so requested.
(b) Indemnification
by Holders of Registrable Securities.
In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of
Registrable Securities is participating, each such Holder will furnish to Buyer
in writing such information and affidavits as Buyer reasonably requests for use
in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and shall
indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, but without
duplication, Buyer, its officers, directors, stockholders, employees, advisors
and agents, and each Person who controls Buyer (within the meaning of the
Securities Act), against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
(including reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable legal fees and
expenses) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact in, or any
omission of a material fact required to be stated in, any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
case of a Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished
in writing by such Holder to Buyer specifically for inclusion therein. In no event will the liability of any Holder
hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received
by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation. Holders of
Registrable Securities shall also indemnify Buyer and hold harmless, to the
full extent permitted by law, but without duplication, Buyer, its officers,
directors, employees, advisors and agents, and each Person who controls Buyer
(within the meaning of the Securities Act), against all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable costs of investigation
and reasonable legal fees and expenses) resulting from any violations or
alleged violations by Holders of Registrable Securities of Regulation M under
the Exchange Act.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings. Any
Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice
to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks
indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the
defense of such claim with counsel of such indemnifying partys choice,
provided that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the
right to employ separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the
defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such indemnified Person unless: (A) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified Person in a timely manner or (B) in
the reasonable judgment of any such indemnified Person, based upon the advice
of outside securities counsel, a conflict of interest
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exists between such indemnified Person and the indemnifying party with
respect to such claim (in which case, if the indemnified Person notifies the
indemnifying party in writing that such indemnified Person elects to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying
party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of
such indemnified Person). The
indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made
without its written consent. No
indemnified Person will be required to consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term given
by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified Person of a release from all
liability in respect of such claim. An
indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense
of the claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than
one counsel for all Persons indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect
to such claim.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification
provided for in Article III, Section 7(a) or Article III, Section 7(b)
is unavailable to an indemnified Person or insufficient to hold it harmless as
contemplated by Article III, Section 7(a) and Article III, Section 7(b),
then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
the indemnified Person as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or
expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits received by the indemnifying party and the indemnified Person, but
also the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified Person,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the
omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the
indemnifying party or parties on the one hand, or the indemnified Person or
Persons on the other hand, and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or
omission. 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 misrepresentations.
8. Participation
in Underwritten Registrations. No
Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such
Person: (i) agrees to sell such Persons Registrable Securities on the
basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons
entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and
signs all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements and in form and substance reasonably approved by Buyer. Nothing in this Section 8 shall be
construed to create any additional rights regarding the registration of
Registrable Securities in any Person otherwise than as set forth herein.
9. Transfer
of Registration Rights. The
registration rights of a Holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement
may be transferred (i) in the case of an individual, to any member of the
immediate family of such individual or to any trust for the benefit of the
individual or any such family member or members, (ii) in the case of an entity,
to any shareholder, general or limited partner of affiliate of such Holder;
provided that written notice is given to Buyer and such assignee or transferee
agrees in writing to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE IV.
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified
or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions may
not be given, except pursuant to a written amendment executed by Buyer and the Stockholders. Any amendment effected in accordance with
this paragraph shall be binding upon the Stockholders, each Holder and Buyer.
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2. Waivers. Any failure of any Stockholder or another
Holder, on one hand, or Buyer, on the other hand, to comply with any provision
of this Agreement may be waived by Buyer or Stockholder or that Holder,
respectively, only by a written instrument signed by the party granting the
waiver, but that waiver or the failure to insist upon strict compliance with
that provision shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to,
any subsequent or other failure. Any waiver
effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon Stockholder,
each Holder and Buyer.
3. Notices. All notices and other communications pursuant
to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered
personally, sent by facsimile, sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier
or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage
prepaid, to the parties at the addresses set forth below or to such other
address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the
other parties hereto in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or communication shall be
deemed to have been delivered and received (A) in the case of personal delivery,
on the date of such delivery, (B) in the case of facsimile, on the date
sent if confirmation of receipt is received and such notice is also promptly
mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), (C) in
the case of a nationally-recognized overnight courier in circumstances under
which such courier guarantees next business day delivery, on the next business
day after the date when sent, and (D) in the case of mailing, on the third
business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such
communication is posted:
If to a Holder other than Stockholder, at the most
current address given by that Holder to Buyer, in accordance with this Section 3.
(a) if to Buyer,
to:
Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
22026 20th Avenue SE
Bothell, WA 98021
Attention: Michael
Martino, President and CEO
Facsimile No.:425 489-0626
Telephone No.: 425 487-9500
with a copy to:
Stradling
Yocca Carlson & Rauth
660 Buyer Center Drive, Suite 1600
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Telephone: (949) 725-4000
Facsimile: (949) 725-4100
Attention: K.C. Schaaf, Esq.
(b) If to Stockholder,
to:
Telephone:
Facsimile:
Attention:
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4. Successors
and Assigns. Except as provided in Article II,
Section 1(e), the obligations of the Stockholders under the Restrictive
Provisions set forth in Article II of this Agreement may not be delegated by
the Stockholder to any Person. The
Registration Rights set forth in Article III of this Agreement may not be
assigned by the Stockholder to any Person, except as provided in Article III, Section 9. Any such
assignment shall not be effected unless and until the assignee assumes in
writing all the obligations under this Agreement that correspond to the rights
being assigned to that assignee, as determined in good faith by Buyer.
5. Right
to Decline Transfer. In furtherance
of the provisions contained in this Agreement, Buyer and its transfer agent and
registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of
Registrable Securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach
of this Agreement.
6. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the
Stock Purchase Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all other prior
and contemporaneous agreements and understandings both written and oral between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
7. Governing
Law; Equitable Relief.
(a) This
Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted,
construed and governed by and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.
(b) The
parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties would
not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of
this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or
were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions (or similar equitable relief) to prevent breaches of this Agreement
and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the State
of New York and the United States District Court for the District of New York,
this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or
in equity.
8. Descriptive
Headings. The descriptive headings
herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to
be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
9. Gender. Whenever required by the context, the
masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, and vice versa
and the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
11. Validity. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and
to such end the provisions of this Agreement are agreed to be severable.
12. Parties
in Interest. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and its
successors and permitted assigns and, except as expressly provided herein,
nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall confer upon any other person
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any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by
reason of this Agreement nor shall any such person be entitled to assert any
claim hereunder. In no event shall this
Agreement constitute a third party beneficiary contract.
13. Personal
Liability. This Agreement shall not
create or be deemed to create or permit any personal liability or obligation on
the part of any direct or indirect stockholder of Stockholder or Buyer, or any
officer, director, employee, agent, representative or investor of any party
hereto.
14. Remedies
Cumulative. Except as otherwise
provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party
will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred
hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any
one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.
15. Additional
Actions. From time to time, at
either partys request and without further consideration, the other party
hereto (and any Holder in addition to the Stockholders) shall execute and
deliver such additional documents and take such other actions as may be
necessary or desirable to effectuate this Agreement.
16. Representation
of Counsel. Each party to this
Agreement has been represented by counsel during the preparation and
negotiation of this Agreement, and therefore waives any rule of construction
that would construe ambiguities against the party drafting this Agreement.
17. WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE
EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH
PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH
PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR
ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH
OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER
VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 18.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed
this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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SONUS
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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STOCKHOLDER
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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