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EXHIBIT 10.76
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into as of
May 31, 2000, by and between ValiGen N.V., a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the Netherlands (the "Company"), and the
undersigned purchaser (the "Purchaser").
This Agreement is one of a number of substantially identical Stock
Purchase Agreements which are being entered into by the Company and pursuant
to which the Company is selling up to 3,294,107 shares (the "Authorized Number
of Series A Shares"), or up to $35 million, of its Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value Euro .01 per share (the "Series A Stock"), and
warrants to purchase Common Shares (defined below) to investors (such other
agreements being referred to herein as "Other Purchase Agreements"). The sales
of shares of Series A Stock under this Agreement and the Other Purchase
Agreements are to be separate sales, and each of this Agreement and the Other
Purchase Agreements are separate agreements.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, upon and subject to the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement, Purchaser desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company
desires to sell to Purchaser, the number of shares of Series A Stock specified
below (the "Shares") and having the rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions set forth in the Articles of Association of the Company and the
Certificate of Designation for the Series A Stock in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A (respectively, the "Articles" and the "Certificate of
Designation");
WHEREAS, in respect of the Shares so purchased the Purchaser will
receive a warrant (a "Warrant") to acquire shares of common stock, par value
Euro .01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company in an amount equal to
55% of the number of such Shares at a purchase price of $12.50 per share;
WHEREAS, as a further inducement to the Purchaser, the Company is
granting to the Purchaser certain registration rights set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in reliance on the truth and accuracy of the foregoing
and in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
the Company and Purchaser agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE PURCHASE
1.1 Purchase and Sale. Upon and subject to the terms and conditions
contained herein, the Company shall sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser shall
purchase from the Company, the Shares and the Warrant (the "Transaction").
1.2 Number of Shares. The number of shares of Series A Stock to be
purchased and sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be 705,882.
1.3 Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price (the "Purchase Price")
for the Shares and the Warrant to be paid by Purchaser to the Company shall be
$7,499,996.25 equal to the product of the number of Shares to be purchased and
sold pursuant to this Agreement multiplied by $10.625 per Share.
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1.4 Deliveries. At Closing (defined below):
(a) The Company shall deliver to Purchaser:
(i) a certificate evidencing the Shares;
(ii) the Warrant; and
(iii) certificates of officers of the company and
opinions of United States and Netherlands counsel
of the Company in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Purchaser.
(b) Purchaser shall deliver to the Company;
(i) the Purchase Price.
1.5 Closing. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares
contemplated hereby (the "Closing") shall be held on May 31, 2000 at 10:00
A.M. (New York Time) at the offices of Brown & Wood, One World Trade Center,
New York, NY 10048, unless such date is extended by the Company upon written
notice to Purchaser, but in no event shall (i) such extension be to a date
later than thirty (30) days immediately following the date of this Agreement
or (ii) the Closing take place unless at least $20 million of the Series A
Stock has been previously sold or will be sold at the Closing.
1.6 Subsequent Sales of Preferred Stock. The Company may sell up to the
balance of the Authorized Number of Series A Shares and associated Warrant not
sold pursuant to this Agreement to such additional investors as it may select,
pursuant to Other Purchase Agreements substantially identical to this
Agreement and at a price not less than $10.625 per share, provided that the
sale occurs not later than thirty (30) days immediately following the date of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule of the Company attached
hereto (the "Company Disclosure Schedule"), the Company hereby represents and
warrants to Purchaser as follows:
2.1 Authority of the Company. The Company has all requisite authority to
enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transaction. This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
2.2 Organization and Good Standing of the Company and Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company is a limited liability company, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Netherlands, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry on
its business as now being conducted. The Company is duly qualified or licensed
to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
nature of its business or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes
such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) on the
Company.
(b) Each Subsidiary (as defined below) is a corporation or
limited liability company, duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has all
corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted, is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
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standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except
where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.
(c) Except for directors qualifying shares, all of the
outstanding capital stock or other voting securities of each Subsidiary is
owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Lien and
free of any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the
right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other voting
securities).
2.3 Capitalization; Ownership of the Shares. The authorized capital
stock of the Company consists of 32,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
Euro .01 per share ("Common Stock"), 6,000,000 preferred Shares Class A,
nominal value Euro .01 per share, of which 3,294,107 shares will be designated
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, 6,000,000 preferred Shares Class B,
nominal value Euro .01 and 6,000,000 preferred Shares Class C, nominal value
Euro .01. Of these authorized amounts, 7,767,224 shares of Common Stock are
issued and outstanding, and 2,577,909 shares of Common Stock are reserved for
issuance pursuant to outstanding options and warrants. The Shares are, and
upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Articles, the Certificate of
Designation and the Warrant, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Shares and exercise of the Warrant (collectively, the
"Conversion Shares") shall be and all outstanding Shares of Common Stock are,
and the shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants
will be, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, issued in full
compliance with all applicable securities laws and without violation of any
preemptive rights, with the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions
described in the Articles, and free and clear of any pledges, options, claims,
liens, charges, encumbrances, and security interests of any kind or nature
(collectively, "Liens") other than those created by Purchaser. The Company has
the full right, power and authority to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares
and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Articles, the
Conversion Shares, to Purchaser without obtaining the consent or approval of
any person or governmental authority. Upon delivery of the certificate
evidencing the Shares to Purchaser and Purchaser's payment of the Purchase
Price in accordance with this Agreement, Purchaser will acquire the Shares
free and clear of adverse claims, other than those created by Purchaser.
Section 2.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, convertible securities or other
rights or agreements to which the Company is bound relating to the issuance or
sale of shares of the Company's capital stock or any other equity interest in
the Company or obligating the Company to issue or sell any shares of the
Company's capital stock or other equity interest in the Company.
2.4 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Transaction do not conflict with, or
result in any breach or violation of, or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation under, or result in the
creation of any Lien upon the Shares or any of the assets of the Company
under, (i) the Articles or the articles of association or certificate of
incorporation of any Subsidiary, (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license
applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iii) any judgment, order,
decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule, or regulation applicable to the Company
or any Subsidiary. No consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any government or any
court, administrative entity or commission or other governmental authority or
agency (a "Governmental Entity") is required by or with respect to the Company
or any Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of
this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the
Transaction.
2.5 Financial Statements. The financial statements (the "Financial
Statements") of the Company's predecessors listed in Schedule 2.5 have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods reflected, except as may be
indicated therein. The Financial Statements fairly present in all material
respects the financial position of the Company's predecessors as of the dates
thereof and the results of operations, stockholder's equity, and cash flows of
the Company's predecessors for the periods then ended, subject to normal
year-end adjustments and any other adjustments described therein. The pro
forma financial statements (the "Pro Forma Statements") of the
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Company listed in Schedule 2.5 fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 1999, after
giving pro forma effect to the to the transactions discussed in the notes to
the Pro Forma Statement (assuming that such transactions occurred on the dates
set forth in the Pro Forma Financial Statements) in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
2.6 Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company and the Subsidiaries have no
liabilities or obligations (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise) of the type required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, except for
liabilities or obligations (i) reflected or reserved against in the Financial
Statements or the Pro Forma Statements, or (ii) incurred since the date
thereof in the ordinary course of business, and which have not, individually
or in the aggregate, had a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
2.7 Litigation. There is no suit, action, judicial or arbitral
proceeding or investigation pending with respect to which the Company has
received service of process or other formal notice, or to the knowledge of the
Company threatened, against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary that
(i) seeks to delay or prevent the consummation of, or would materially
adversely affect the Company's ability to consummate, the Transaction, or (ii)
individually or in the aggregate with any related such suit, action,
proceeding or investigation, involves a claim against the Company in an
amount, or which involves a claim of unspecified amount that would, if
determined adversely to the Company, result in a Material Adverse Change with
respect to the Company, nor is the Company or any Subsidiary in default under
any material judgment, decree, injunction, or order of any Governmental Entity
or arbitrator to which the Company or any of its assets is bound.
2.8 Compliance with Laws; Company Permits. To the knowledge of the
Company, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any
applicable law, rule, or regulation or any order of any Governmental Entity,
and no investigation by any Governmental Entity concerning any such possible
violation is pending or threatened, except for such violations which would
not, individually or in the aggregate with any related such violation,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) the
Company and the Subsidiaries hold or are a party to all licenses, permits,
registrations, franchises, variances, exemptions, and other authorizations,
consents, and approvals necessary to conduct its business as presently
conducted, except for such failures to hold or be a party to such
authorizations, consents and approvals which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.
2.9 Proprietary Rights.
(a) The Company and the Subsidiaries own or have the right to
use, free and clear of all liens and restrictions, or, to the knowledge of the
Company, any third party claims, all material know-how, formulae, processes,
inventions, designs, programs, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade
names, copyrights and other proprietary rights (collectively, "Proprietary
Rights") used in the conduct of the Company's business as now conducted or
proposed to be conducted in its business plan without, to the knowledge of the
Company, infringing upon the right or claimed right of any person under or
with respect to the foregoing. The Company has not received any communications
alleging that the Company has violated or, by conducting its business as
proposed, would violate any of the patents, trade names, copyrights or trade
proprietary rights of any other person or entity. The Company and the
Subsidiaries are not in default under any material term of any license or
other agreement relating to such Proprietary Rights and, to the Company's
knowledge, each party other than the Company and the Subsidiaries to each such
license or other agreement is not in default thereunder. All such licenses and
agreements are valid, enforceable and in full force and effect.
(b) The Company and the Subsidiaries have taken security
measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of all the
Proprietary Rights, which measures are reasonable and customary in the
industry in which the Company and the Subsidiaries conduct business. Each of
the Company's employees, consultants, and other persons who, either alone or
in concert with others, developed, invented,
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discovered, derived, programmed or designed any of the Proprietary, or who has
knowledge of or access to information about any Proprietary Rights, has
entered into a written agreement (i) providing that the Proprietary Rights and
other information are proprietary to the Company and are not to be divulged or
misused and (ii) transferring to the Company, without any further
consideration being given therefor by the Company, all of such employee's,
consultant's, or other person's rights, title and interest in and to such
Proprietary Rights with respect to such Proprietary Rights and information.
The Company is not aware that any of its employees, consultants or prospective
employees who have signed such agreements is in violation thereof, nor is it
aware that any former employee or consultant has made any claim of ownership
in or rights with respect to any of the Proprietary Rights.
2.10 Business Plan. The business plan dated March 2000, a copy of which
was provided to the Purchaser, sets forth management's current plans and
objectives for the Company in all material respects.
2.11 Contracts. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries is in material
breach of any contract the breach of which is reasonably likely, individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
2.12 No Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisors or
similar fee or compensation in connection with the Transaction based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Except as set forth on the Disclosure Schedule of Purchaser attached
hereto (the "Purchaser Disclosure Schedule"), Purchaser represents and
warrants to the Company as follows:
3.1 Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Purchaser is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the state of its organization and has the requisite corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted. Purchaser is
duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business and operations makes such
qualification or licensing necessary.
3.2 Authority. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transaction. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Purchaser and the consummation by Purchaser
of the Transaction have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by Purchaser. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
3.3 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the Transaction will not conflict with, or
result in any breach or violation of, or default (with or without notice or
lapse of time or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation under, or result in the
creation of any Lien upon any of the assets of Purchaser under, (i) the
charter documents of Purchaser, (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession franchise or license
applicable to Purchaser or its assets, or (iii) subject to the governmental
filings and other matters referred to in the following sentence, any judgment,
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule, or regulation applicable to
Purchaser or its assets. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental
Entity or any other person is required by or with respect to Purchaser in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by
Purchaser or the consummation by Purchaser of the Transaction.
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3.4 Investment Intent; Ability to Bear Risk. Purchaser is acquiring the
Shares, the Warrant and the underlying Conversion Shares solely for investment
for its own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the
resale or distribution of any part thereof, and Purchaser has no present
intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing
the Shares, the Warrant or the underlying Conversion Shares. Purchaser is an
"accredited investor" within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities
Act, or an entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors
as described in Rule 501(a)(8) under the Securities Act. Purchaser understands
that the Shares, the Warrant and the underlying Conversion Shares may not be
resold except in compliance with the registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless an exemption therefrom is
available. Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for any of
the securities issued by the Company and that the Company has made no
assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Company's securities.
Purchaser is familiar with the business in which the Company conducts its
operations, and has the requisite business and financial knowledge and
experience to evaluate the merits and risks of its acquisition of the Shares,
the Warrant and the underlying Conversion Shares.
3.5 No Public Offering. The Purchaser understands that the Shares and
the Warrant are being offered in a transaction not involving any public
offering within any jurisdiction and the Shares, the Warrant and the
Conversion Shares have not been registered under the applicable securities
laws of any jurisdiction, and the Shares, the Warrant and, with appropriate
modification, any Conversion Shares, will bear a restricted transfer legend
unless the Company determines otherwise in compliance with applicable law.
3.6 Joint Transfers of Shares and Warrant. The Purchaser agrees, on its
own behalf and on behalf of each account for which the Purchaser acquires
Shares and related Warrants, that if at any time the Purchaser owns Shares the
Purchaser seeks to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer any Shares or
related Warrants, no such attempted resale or other transfer will be
recognized by the Company, the Registrar for the Shares and Warrants or any
other agents of the Company unless any such transfer is a joint transfer of
Shares and related Warrants.
3.7 Exculpation and Acknowledgments. Purchaser acknowledges that it has
made all investigations and conducted all due diligence it deems necessary
with respect to the Company and its investment in the Shares and the
underlying Conversion Shares and that neither any shareholder of the Company
nor the Company, nor any other person acting on behalf of any of them, has
made any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the condition,
merchantability, suitability or fitness for any particular purpose of any of
the assets owned or used by the Company, or made any representation or
warranty regarding the Company or any other matter relating to the Company
except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the Company
Disclosure Schedule). Purchaser acknowledges that all forward-looking
information received from or made available by or on behalf of the Company,
including projected statements of revenues, cash flow and other business and
financial condition and results, contain numerous uncertainties inherent in
attempting to make estimates, projections and other forecasts, are not
warranties of future performance or financial results, and involve numerous
assumptions about risks and events that are difficult to predict and many of
which are beyond the control of the Company, their financial advisers, and
other agents. Purchaser further acknowledges that it is familiar with such
uncertainties and assumptions, that it takes full responsibility for making
its own independent evaluation of possible future revenues, income, cash flow,
and other and financial condition and results, that it understands and has
taken into account the likelihood that actual future results will differ,
perhaps materially, from those reflected in any such forward-looking
statements, and that Purchaser shall have no claim against the Company, its
affiliates, its representatives, or other agents with respect to any such
forward-looking information.
3.8 Sufficient Funds. Purchaser possesses liquid capital or sources
therefor committed in writing sufficient to enable Purchaser to consummate the
Transaction and timely perform all of its obligations hereunder.
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3.9 No Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
person is entitled to or may be paid any broker's, finder's, financial
advisor's or similar fee or commission in connection with the Transaction
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser or its affiliates.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
4.1 Pre-emptive Rights. In the event that, at any time prior to a
Qualified IPO, the Company shall offer to sell any equity securities, or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for equity
securities for cash (other than pursuant to the exercise of the Warrants or of
any other warrants, options, or other rights to acquire shares existing on the
date hereof and other than in connection with any "corporate partnership"
agreement), the Purchaser shall be entitled to 20 days prior written notice of
such offer and to acquire shares on the same terms as such shares were
offered. The Purchaser shall be entitled to purchase (a) that number of shares
as will maintain the Purchaser's then existing ownership percentage of the
Company's capital stock, on a fully diluted basis or (b) in the event of a
sale of equity securities which follows a sale (or sales) of shares in
connection with a "corporate partnership" agreement, that number of shares as
will allow the Purchaser to regain its ownership percentage of the Company's
capital stock as in existence immediately prior to such sale (or sales).
4.2 Protective Rights.
(a) If the Company has not made the required filings for a
Qualified IPO within one year from the date hereof and has not completed a
Qualified IPO within one year and three months from the date hereof, in
addition to the voting rights provided under law, the written approval of the
holders of at least 55% of the Series A Stock will be required prior to the
Company taking the following actions:
(i) issue any capital stock senior to or on parity with
the Series A Stock, if the price per share of the underlying common stock is
less than $10.625 (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits and
similar events);
(ii) increase the number of shares reserved for
issuance under any plan or arrangement providing for the issuance of equity
securities of the company to employees, consultants or directors;
(iii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
guaranty any indebtedness in excess, in the aggregate, of $4,000,000; or
(iv) effect a sale or other conveyance of all or
substantially all the assets of the Company including any such transaction
accomplished through any consolidation or merger, in any case, where the
consideration received by the Company or its shareholders is less than one and
one-half times the Purchase Price (on an as-if-converted basis and subject to
appropriate adjustment for stock splits and similar events).
(b) Without the written approval of the holders of at least
55% of the Series A Stock, the Company shall not:
(i) Complete a public offering unless such offering is
a Qualified IPO;
(ii) amend the Company's Articles of Association if
such action would alter the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of the
Series A Stock, or increase or decrease the total number of authorized shares
of the Series A Stock or decrease or reclassify the authorized common stock
into a lesser number of shares;
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(iii) unless unanimously approved by disinterested
managing directors, enter into any agreements, directly or indirectly, other
than agreements for the purchase of equity securities with respect to which
the preferred shareholders have preemptive rights pursuant to Section 4.1,
with directors, officers, employees, or stockholders who own a more than 5%
common share interest of the Company (assuming exercise of all outstanding
options), other than any such agreements approved by the board which the board
determines in good faith are at fair market value;
(iv) reclassify any stock ranking on a parity with or
junior to the Series A Stock into shares having any preference over or being
on parity with the Series A Stock; or
(v) pay or declare any dividend or redeem, repurchase
or acquire or grant any right or warrant to subscribe to any class of capital
stock to the holder any share of stock ranking on a parity with or junior to
the Series A Stock (except for shares repurchased from employees, consultants,
or directors pursuant to plans approved by the Board of Managers).
ARTICLE 5
INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties. Solely for purposes of
Sections 5.2 and 5.3, the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement shall survive until 18 months after the date of this Agreement.
5.2 Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless Purchaser and its affiliates against any losses, liabilities,
damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, and judgments, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses and costs of investigation, but
excluding consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, diminution in
value, damage to reputation or the like (collectively, other than such
excluded items, "Losses") actually suffered or incurred by any such
indemnified party arising out of or resulting from (i) the breach of any
representation and warranty made by the Company in this Agreement, or (ii) the
breach of any covenant or agreement by the Company contained in this
Agreement.
5.3 Indemnification by Purchaser. Purchaser shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Company against any Losses actually suffered or incurred by it
arising out of or resulting from (i) the breach of any representation and
warranty made by Purchaser in this Agreement, or (ii) the breach of any
covenant or agreement by Purchaser contained in this Agreement.
5.4 Losses Net of Insurance. The amount of any Losses under this Article
5 shall be determined net of any related amounts recovered or recoverable by
the indemnified party under insurance policies, indemnities or other
reimbursement arrangements with respect to such Losses.
5.5 Exclusive Remedy. The indemnification provided in this Article 5,
subject to the limitations set forth herein, shall be the exclusive remedy
available to an Indemnified Party for any breach of a representation,
warranty, covenant, or other agreement contained in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 6
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
6.1 Demand Registration.
(a) Any Purchaser may make a written request to the Company
for registration pursuant to this Agreement of all of the Registrable
Securities held by such Purchaser (a "Demand Registration"), such request
specifying the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold
and the intended method of disposition thereof, and the Company will, within
10 days after receipt of such request give written notice of
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such requested registration to all other Purchasers. The Company thereupon,
except as expressly provided herein, will use reasonable efforts to affect
such Demand Registration in the jurisdiction and under the Securities Act of
such jurisdiction selected by the Company of (x) the Registrable Securities
included in the initial request for registration and (y) all other Registrable
Securities the holders of which have made written request to the Company for
registration thereof within 15 days after the receipt of such written notice
from the Company; provided, that each Purchaser may only request one Demand
Registration hereunder, such Demand Registrations may only be requested during
the period commencing 180 days after the Company's initial public offering and
ending on the fifth anniversary of the closing of a firm commitment
underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock of the Company for a
total offering of not less than $20 million (before deduction of underwriters
commissions and expenses) and a pre-IPO valuation of the Company of at least
200% of the original purchase price of the Series A Stock (a "Qualified IPO"),
and the Company shall not be required to effect more than one registration
during any one year period. Notwithstanding the preceding proviso, any
Purchaser which acquires shares of Series A Stock with an aggregate Purchase
Price in excess of $5 million shall be entitled to request two Demand
Registrations, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement. A
registration will not count as a Demand Registration until it has become
effective under the applicable Securities Act.
(b) If the Purchasers who initiated the request for
registration intend to sell their Registrable Securities by means of an
underwriting (whether on a "best efforts" or a "firm commitment" basis), they
shall so advise the Company as part of their request, and the Company shall
include such information in the notice to the other Purchasers. In the event,
the other Purchasers shall have the right to include their shares of
Registrable Securities in the underwriting. The managing underwriter for such
offering and the Securities Act under which such offering is registered shall
be selected by the Board of Managers of the Company.
(c) If the Company shall furnish to the Purchasers so
requesting registration a certificate signed by the Company's Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer or President stating that in such officer's good faith
judgment it would be seriously detrimental or otherwise disadvantageous to the
Company and its shareholders for such a registration statement to be filed as
expeditiously as possible, the Company shall have a period of not more than
120 days within which to file such registration statement measured from the
date of the Company's receipt of such Purchaser's request for registration in
accordance with Section 6.1 hereof; provided, however, that the Company may
not utilize this right more than once in any one-year period.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the
Company shall not be required to effect a Demand Registration pursuant to this
Section 6.1 unless the aggregate value of the Registrable Securities to be
registered in such offering exceeds $5,000,000.
6.2 Piggy-back Registration. If, at any time, the Company files a
registration statement in any jurisdiction under the Securities Act of such
jurisdiction with respect to an offering of its Common Stock (i) for the
Company's own account (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8
or any substitute or equivalent form that may be adopted by the Commission in
such jurisdiction or a registration statement with respect to the first
registered offering of the Company's Common Stock to the public) or (ii) for
the account of any holders of its Common Stock, then each Purchaser shall be
entitled to register such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such
Purchaser may timely request on the same terms and conditions as the Company's
or such Purchaser's registration (a "Piggy-back Registration"); provided, that
the Purchasers shall have this right only (i) if the underwriters for the
primary offering approve that secondary shares be included and (ii) the shares
to be sold by the Purchasers shall not exceed 30% of the total number of
shares offered.
6.3 Reduction of Offering. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if
the managing underwriter of an offering described in Section 6.1 or Section
6.2 hereof delivers a written opinion to the Company that the amount of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such offering by the
Purchasers, the Company and any other persons exceeds the amount of such
Registrable Securities which can be successfully sold in such offering, then
the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the account of each
Purchaser shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount
of securities to be included in such offering to the
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amount recommended by such managing underwriter; provided, that the amount of
Registrable Securities to be offered for the account of each participating
Purchaser shall be reduced only after the amount of securities to be offered
for the account of the Company and all securityholders who do not have
registration rights pursuant to this Agreement has been reduced to zero.
6.4 Procedures. Whenever any Purchaser requests that any Registrable
Securities be registered pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, the Company will use
reasonable efforts to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities
as promptly as is practicable in the jurisdiction selected by the Company for
such registration under the Securities Act of such jurisdiction, and in
connection with any such request:
(a) The Company will as expeditiously as possible prepare and
file with the Commission of such jurisdiction a registration statement on any
form for which the Company then qualifies and which counsel for the Company
shall deem appropriate and available for the sale of the Registrable
Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method
of distribution thereof, and use its reasonable efforts to cause such filed
registration statement to become and remain effective for a period of not less
than three months or such shorter period in which the disposition of all
securities in accordance with the intended methods of disposition set forth in
such registration statement shall be completed, and to comply with the
provisions of such Securities Act (to the extent applicable to the Company)
with respect to such dispositions.
(b) The Company will furnish to each participating Purchaser
and each managing underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such
registration statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto (in each case
including all exhibits thereto) and the prospectus included in such
registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), in each case
in conformity with the requirements of such Securities Act, as each such
Purchaser or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
sale of the Registrable Securities.
(c) The Company will provide a transfer agent and registrar
for all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not
later than the effective date of such registration statement.
(d) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to qualify the
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under such other securities or blue
sky laws of any political subdivisions of the jurisdiction in which the
Company has selected to register the Registrable Securities as each Purchaser
reasonably requests; provided that the Company will not be required to (A)
qualify generally to do business in any such political subdivision where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph (d), (B)
subject itself to taxation in any such political subdivision or (C) consent to
general service of process in any such political subdivision.
(e) The Company will as promptly as is practicable notify each
Purchaser, at any time when a prospectus relating to the sale of the
Registrable Securities is required by law to be delivered in connection with
sales by an underwriter or dealer, of the occurrence of any event requiring
the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchaser of such Registrable Securities, such
prospectus will not contain an 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 light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading and promptly make available to each Purchaser and to the
underwriters any such supplement or amendment. Each Purchaser agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of
the kind described in the preceding sentence, such Purchaser will forthwith
discontinue the offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until receipt by
such Purchaser and the underwriters of the copies of such supplemented or
amended prospectus and, if so directed by the Company, such Purchaser will
deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in
such Purchaser's possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the
Company shall give such notice, the Company shall extend the period during
which such registration statement shall be maintained effective as provided in
paragraph (a) above by the number of days during the
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period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to the date
when the Company shall make available to the Purchasers such supplemented or
amended prospectus.
(f) The Company will enter into customary agreements
(including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other
actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the sale
of such Registrable Securities.
(g) The Company will use its best efforts to obtain a cold
comfort letter from the Company's independent public accountants, in customary
form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort
letters in such transactions.
(h) The Company will make available for inspection by any
participating Purchaser, any underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by any such Purchaser or underwriter, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and
cause the Company's officers, managing directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Purchaser, underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement.
(i) The Company will use its best efforts to cause all such
Registrable Securities to be listed on the securities exchange in such
jurisdiction on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed.
The Company may require, as a condition precedent to its registration
obligations under this Article 6, that each Purchaser promptly furnish in
writing to the Company such information regarding such Purchaser, the plan of
distribution of the Registrable Securities and other information as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request or as may be legally required
in connection with such registration.
6.5 Registration Expenses. All expenses incurred by the Company in
connection with the Company's performance of or compliance with this Article
6, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees
(including for filings with the Commission and/or any Self Regulatory
Organization in the jurisdiction selected by the Company for registration of
Registrable Securities), (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities
or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in
connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities) of the
jurisdiction selected by the Company for registration of Registrable
Securities, (iii) printing expenses, (iv) fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities, and (v) fees and
expenses of counsel and independent certified public accountants for the
Company (all such expenses being herein called "Registration Expenses"), and
fees and expenses of one counsel for the participating Purchasers shall be
paid by the Company except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section
6.5. Each participating Purchaser shall pay any underwriting fees, discounts
or commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities and any
out-of-pocket expenses of such Purchaser.
6.6 Other Conditions Relating to Registrations. The Company shall not be
required to furnish any audited financial statements at the request of any
Purchaser other than those statements customarily prepared at the end of its
fiscal year, unless (i) the requesting Purchaser shall agree to reimburse the
Company for the out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Company in the preparation
of such other audited financial statements or (ii) such other audited
financial statements shall be required by the Commission in the jurisdiction
selected by the Company for registration of Registrable Securities as a
condition to declaring a Demand Registration effective under the Securities
Act of such jurisdiction.
6.7 Indemnification by the Company. The Company hereby agrees to
indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Purchaser, its officers and
directors, if any, and each person, if any, who controls such Purchaser within
the meaning of the Securities Act of the jurisdiction selected by the Company
for any registration under this Article 6, against all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses under such
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Securities Act, applicable securities laws of any political subdivision in
such jurisdiction, common law or otherwise caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration
statement or prospectus (and as amended or supplemented if the Company has
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any preliminary
prospectus, which registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus
shall be prepared in connection with a Demand Registration, or caused by any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement contained in or by
any omission or alleged omission from information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Purchaser in connection with a Demand Registration, provided
the Company will not be liable pursuant to this Section 6.7 if such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses have been caused by (a) any
Purchaser's failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or
prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, after the Company has
furnished such Purchaser with a sufficient amount of copies of the same or (b)
any untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished to the
Company by such Purchaser or controlling person for use in connection with the
offering of securities.
6.8 Indemnification by the Purchasers. In connection with any
registration statement in which a Purchaser is participating, each such
Purchaser shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as is
reasonably requested by the Company for use in any such registration statement
or prospectus and shall indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the
Company, its managing directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act of the
jurisdiction selected by the Company for any registration under this Article
6, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting
from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated in
the registration statement or prospectus of any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
but only to the extent such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
are caused by an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement contained in or
by an omission or alleged omission from information so furnished in writing by
such Purchaser in connection with the Demand Registration; provided that no
such Purchaser shall be liable under this Section 6.8 for any amounts
exceeding the product of (i) the offering price per share of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the registration statement in which such Purchaser is
participating, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Registrable
Securities being sold by such Purchaser pursuant to such registration
statement. If the offering pursuant to any such registration is made through
underwriters, each such Purchaser agrees to enter into an underwriting
agreement in customary form with such underwriters and to indemnify such
underwriters, their officers and directors, if any, and each person who
controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of the
jurisdiction selected by the Company for any registration under this Article 6
to the same extent as hereinabove provided with respect to indemnification by
such Purchaser of the Company.
6.9 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under Section 6.7 or Section 6.8 of notice of the
commencement of any action or proceeding, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is made against the indemnifying party under such
Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
such Section. In case any such action or proceeding is brought against any
indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and,
to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnifying party, and after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified
party under such Section for any legal or any other expenses subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof
(other than reasonable costs of investigation) unless incurred at the written
request of the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding the above, the indemnified
party will have the right to employ counsel of its own choice in any such
action or proceeding if the indemnified party has reasonably concluded that
there may be defenses available to it which
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are different from or additional to those of the indemnifying party, or
counsel to the indemnified party is of the opinion that it would not be
desirable for the same counsel to represent both the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party because such representation might result in a conflict
of interest (in either of which cases the indemnifying party will not have the
right to assume the defense of any such action or proceeding on behalf of the
indemnified party or parties and such legal and other expenses will be borne
by the indemnifying party). An indemnifying party will not be liable to any
indemnified party for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected
without the consent of such indemnifying party.
6.10 Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6.7 or
Section 6.8 is unavailable under applicable law to an indemnified party in
respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to
therein, then each applicable 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, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party or parties on the other hand or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) of this sentence is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in such clause (i) but also the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on
the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the sale (before deducting
expenses) by the Company of any securities in the offering giving rise to such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses. Benefits received by any
Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the sale
(before deducting expenses) by such Purchasers of any securities in such
offering. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to
the total discounts and commissions received by such underwriter in connection
with such offering. The relative fault of the Purchasers on the one hand and
the Company on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Purchasers or by the Company and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or prevent such statement or omission. The Purchasers' respective obligations
to contribute pursuant to this paragraph are several in proportion to the
respective number of Registrable Securities they have sold pursuant to a
registration statement, and not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6.10 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 6.10, an indemnifying party
that is a Purchaser shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities
sold by such indemnifying party and distributed to the public were offered to
the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged 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 misrepresentation.
The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement obligations of the
Company hereunder shall be in addition to any liability the Company may
otherwise have hereunder. The provisions of Sections 6.7, 6.8, 6.9 and 6.10 of
this Agreement shall survive so long as Registrable Securities remain
outstanding, notwithstanding any transfer of the Registrable Securities by any
Purchaser or any termination of this Agreement.
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The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in Sections 6.7,
6.8, 6.9 and 6.10 of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Purchaser or any person controlling
any Purchaser and (iii) the sale of any Registrable Securities by any
Purchaser.
6.11 Transfer of Registration Rights. The registration rights
of any Purchaser under this Article 6 may be transferred by such Purchaser to
a transferee of its Registrable Securities who agrees in writing to be bound
by the provisions of this Agreement (a) if such transferee acquires at least
20% of such Purchaser's Registrable Securities (or, if the transferring
Purchaser acquired registration rights through a transfer pursuant to this
Section 6.11, at least 20% of the Registrable Securities held by the original
party to this Agreement), or (b) if such transferee is a partner or
stockholder of such Purchaser, without restriction as to the minimum amount
acquired.
6.12 "Market Stand-Off" Covenant. Each Purchaser hereby agrees
that, during the period of duration specified by the Company and an
underwriter of Common Stock or other securities of the Company following the
effective date of any registration statement of the Company filed under a
Securities Act (not exceeding 180 days or such longer period following such
effective date as may be required by law or regulation), such Purchaser shall
not, to the extent requested by the Company and such underwriter, directly or
indirectly sell, offer to sell, contract to sell (including, without
limitation, any short sale or grant of any option to purchase or otherwise
transfer or dispose of), other than to donees who agree to be similarly bound,
any Registrable Securities at any time during such period except Registrable
Securities which may be included in such registration; provided, however,
that:
(a) such agreement shall be applicable only to any such
registration statement of the Company which covers Common Stock (or other
securities) to be sold on its behalf to the public in an underwritten
offering;
(b) all officers and managing directors of the Company
will enter into similar agreements and the Company will use reasonable efforts
to cause holders of restricted securities of the Company to enter into similar
agreements; and
(c) such agreement shall expire five years after the
initial public offering.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
7.1 Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the Transaction shall be paid by the party incurring such
expenses.
7.2 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally or delivered by internationally recognized
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) or sent by facsimile
transmission to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
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(a) if to the Company, to:
ValiGen N.V.
c/o ValiGene S.A.
Tour Neptune 92086
Paris-La-Defense
Attention: Jean Louis Pourny, President & CEO
Telephone: 33-1-47-67-66-00
Fax: 33 1 49 06 07 15
(b) if to Purchaser, to the address set forth on the
signature page hereof
All such communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: (A) in the
case of a communication delivered by hand, when personally delivered; (B) in
the case of a communication sent by facsimile, upon transmission subject to
telephone confirmation of receipt; and (C) in the case of a communication sent
by Federal Express or other recognized overnight courier service, on the date
delivered at the designated address.
7.3 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) an "affiliate" of any person means another person
that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such first person.
(b) "Commission" shall mean the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Securities Act, and any equivalent agency in any jurisdiction outside the
United States.
(c) "Common Stock" shall mean the ordinary shares,
nominal value Euro .01 per share, of the Company.
(d) "Demand Registration" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.1.
(e) "Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse
Effect", when used in reference to the Company or Purchaser, means any change
or effect that, individually or in the aggregate with other changes or effects
of such type, is materially adverse to the business, operations, assets,
properties, condition, (financial or other) or results of operations of such
person and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that a
decline in general economic conditions or matters generally affecting
companies engaged in the business of the Company shall not be deemed to be a
"Material Adverse Change" or to have a "Material Adverse Effect."
(f) "person" means an individual, corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity;
(g) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A preferred
shares, nominal value Euro .01 per share, of the Company.
(h) "Qualified IPO" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.1.
(i) "Registration Expenses" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.4.
(j) "Registrable Securities" shall mean all shares of
Common Stock received by Purchasers upon conversion of Preferred Stock or
exercise of the Warrants, including Common Stock issued in
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respect thereof pursuant to stock splits, stock dividends and similar
distributions with respect to such shares, and any securities of the Company
granted registration rights pursuant to Section 4.9 of this Agreement.
(k) "Securities Act" shall mean the U.S. Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, and any similar statute of any
non-U.S. jurisdiction, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
(l) "Self Regulatory Organization" shall mean the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in the United States and any
similar organization in any non-U.S. jurisdiction.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean any entity of which
securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect
a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Company.
(n) "Warrants" shall mean the Warrants to Purchase
Ordinary Shares of ValiGen NV dated as of May 31, 2000.
7.4 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of the Company and the Purchasers of 50% or more
of the Authorized Number of Series A Shares sold. Either party may (a) extend
the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the
other party, or (b) waive compliance with any of the agreements contained in
this Agreement. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of
its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of
such rights. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or
not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless
expressly provided.
7.5 Interpretation. A reference made in this Agreement to a Section or
Exhibit shall be to a Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or
"including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without limitation" unless otherwise stated to the contrary.
7.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
7.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, which includes the Disclosure
Schedules hereto, constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
7.8 Governing Law. Except to the extent that the corporation law of the
Netherlands shall be applicable with respect to matters relating to the
internal corporate affairs of the Company, this Agreement and (unless
otherwise provided) all amendments, supplements, waivers and consents relating
thereto or hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
7.9 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests
or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by
operation of law or otherwise, by either of the parties without the prior
written consent of the other party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this
Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable
by, the parties and their respective successors and assigns, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as such validity, binding nature and
enforceability may be affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights.
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7.10 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any
provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of
any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and this
Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if
such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision
had never been contained herein, so long as the economic and legal substance
of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in a manner
materially adverse to either party hereto.
7.11 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended to
confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have each caused this Agreement to
be signed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the
date first written above.
VALIGEN N.V.
By: /s/Jean Louis Poumy
Name: Jean Louis Pourny
Title: President & CEO
PURCHASER
By: /s/ Carl Goldfischer
Name: Carl Goldfischer
Title: CFO
Address of Record for Corporate Purposes:
180 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
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