REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 13, 2005, is between Allion Healthcare, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Allion) and Crestview Capital Master, LLC (the Warrant Holder).
The Warrant Holder has been issued a warrant (the Warrant) to purchase shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of Allion (Common Stock), and Allion has agreed to grant to the Warrant Holder the registration rights provided for herein.
The parties agree as follows:
1. Request for Registration. At any time after the IPO Date (as defined in the Warrant), the Warrant Holder shall have the right, by written notice signed by the Warrant Holder and given to Allion (the Demand Notice), to request that Allion register all of the Warrant Holders Registrable Shares (a Demand Registration) under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act); provided that the Warrant Holder may not give a Demand Notice prior to December 31, 2005. Allion shall as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 60 days after the date on which Allion receives the Demand Notice, file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement on a form deemed appropriate by Allions counsel covering all the Warrant Holders Registrable Shares, and Allion shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective within 90 days of such filing. In the event that a Demand Registration involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter or underwriters participating in such offering advise the Warrant Holder in writing that the total number of Registrable Shares to be included in such offering exceeds the amount that can be sold in (or during the time of) such offering without delaying or jeopardizing the success of such offering (including the price per share of the Registrable Shares to be sold), then the number of Registrable Shares (which have registration rights with respect to such offering) shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (based upon the number of shares requested or proposed to be registered by the Warrant Holder, Allion and each other holder of equity securities of Allion eligible to register its shares in the offering) to a number deemed satisfactory by such managing underwriter or underwriters. In the event that the Warrant Holder is unable to register all of its Registrable Shares in an underwritten offering effected in response to a Demand Registration, the Warrant Holder shall have the right to make an additional demand for registration of the remaining Registrable Shares on Form S-3 pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act and shall be entitled to issue an additional Demand Notice for such Demand Registration in accordance with this Section 1. For purposes of this Agreement, Registrable Shares means the shares of Common Stock of Allion issued or issuable upon exercise of the Warrant. Registrable Shares shall cease to be such when (a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Shares has become or been declared effective and they have been disposed of pursuant to that registration statement, (b) eligible to be sold, transferred or distributed pursuant to or in compliance with Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act without limitation as to volume, or (c) they have been otherwise transferred and Allion has delivered new certificates not subject to any stop transfer order or other restriction on transfer and not bearing a legend restricting transfer in the absence of an effective registration statement.
Allion shall not be obligated to effect a registration pursuant to this Section 1:
(a) after Allion has already effected one registration pursuant to this Section 1 that either did not involve an underwritten offering or involved an underwritten offering in which the Warrant Holder was not subjected to any reduction in the number of Registrable Shares it was entitled to include in such registration, that registration has been declared or ordered effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of that registration statement has been issued within 30 days of that effectiveness (provided that Allion shall be deemed to have effected a registration pursuant to this Section 1 if it files a registration statement pursuant to this Section 1 and such registration statement is subsequently withdrawn because the Warrant Holder requests for any reason whatsoever that such registration statement be withdrawn); or
(b) if, at the time it receives a Demand Request, Allion would be required to prepare any financial statements other than those it customarily prepares or Allion determines in good faith in its reasonable judgment that the registration and offering would interfere with any material financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization or other material corporate transaction or development involving Allion that is pending or contemplated at the time and promptly gives the Warrant Holder written notice of that determination (in which case Allion shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than 60 days after receipt of the Demand Request).
2. Market Stand-off Agreement. The Warrant Holder agrees, if requested by Allion and an underwriter of Common Stock of Allion and if imposed generally on officers and directors of Allion and acquirers of Common Stock of Allion or rights to Common Stock in acquisitions by Allion and its subsidiaries, not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Stock held by the Warrant Holder during the 180-day period following the effective date of any registration statement of Allion prepared and filed under the Securities Act. If requested by the underwriters, the Warrant Holder shall execute a separate agreement to the foregoing effect. Allion may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Common Stock subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said 180-day period.
3. Expenses of Registration. Allion shall pay all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for Allion, fees of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, and expenses of listing the Registrable Securities on any exchange or securities market. All (a) underwriting discounts, selling commissions and brokerage fees, (b) stock transfer taxes incurred in respect of the Registrable Shares being sold, (c) fees and expenses of the Warrant Holder and their respective counsel and (d) other fees and expenses required to be paid by the Warrant Holder under applicable law shall be borne and paid ratably by the Warrant Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in any such registration.
- 2 -
4. Registration Procedures. In the case of each registration effected by Allion pursuant to this Agreement, Allion shall:
(a) keep such registration statement effective until the Warrant Holder has completed the distribution described in the registration statement, or the Warrant has expired unexercised, or two years have elapsed from the issue date of the Warrant, whichever occurs first;
(b) furnish the Warrant Holder copies of any registration statement and each preliminary or final prospectus, or supplement or amendment required to be prepared pursuant to this agreement, as the Warrant Holder may from time to time reasonably request;
(c) prepare and promptly file with the SEC and promptly notify the Warrant Holder of the filing of any amendments or supplements to such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary to correct any statements or omissions if, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Registrable Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event with respect to Allion shall have occurred as a result of which any such prospectus or any other prospectus as then in effect would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
(d) use its best efforts to qualify as soon as reasonably practicable the Registrable Shares included in the registration statement for sale under the securities or blue-sky laws of such states and jurisdictions within the United States as shall be reasonably requested by the Warrant Holder; provided that Allion shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business, to become subject to taxation or to file a consent to service of process generally in any of the aforesaid states or jurisdictions.
5. Delay of Registration. The Warrant Holder shall have no right to take any action to restrain, enjoin or otherwise delay any registration as a result of any controversy that may arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this agreement.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth below in this Section 6(a), Allion shall indemnify the Warrant Holder offering Registrable Shares for sale pursuant to each registration that has been effected pursuant to this Agreement against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (collectively, Losses) arising out of or based on any untrue statement of a material fact or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement under which such Registrable Shares were registered under the Securities Act, or based on 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, and will reimburse such Warrant Holder for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that Allion shall pay for only one counsel for the Warrant Holder and Allion shall not be liable to the Warrant Holder in any such case (i) to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based on or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
- 3 -
omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement based upon written information furnished to Allion by such Warrant Holder or (ii) in the case of a sale directly by the Warrant Holder of Registrable Shares (including a sale of such Registrable Shares through any underwriter retained by such Warrant Holder engaging in a distribution on behalf of such Warrant Holder), such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was contained in a preliminary prospectus and corrected in a final or amended prospectus, and the Warrant Holder failed to deliver a copy of the final or amended prospectus at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Shares to the person or entity asserting any such Losses or (iii) to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based on or result from any other act or omission on the part of the Warrant Holder that is inconsistent with the Warrant Holders obligations hereunder or a violation of law.
(b) Subject to the limitations set forth below in this Section 6(b), the Warrant Holder shall, if Registrable Shares held by it are included in the securities as to which such registration is being effected, indemnify Allion, each of its directors and officers who sign such registration statement, each affiliate and control person of Allion, each underwriter, if any, of Allions securities covered by such registration statement, and each other security holder whose securities are included in such registration, and each affiliate thereof against all Losses arising out of or based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such registration statement under which such Registrable Shares were registered under the Securities Act, or based on 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, and will reimburse Allion, such directors, officers, employees, affiliates, or security holders or underwriters for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such Losses; provided, however that the Warrant Holder will be liable hereunder in any such case if and only to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information pertaining to the Warrant Holder, furnished in writing to Allion by the Warrant Holder specifically for use in the registration statement or the prospectus included therein. The liability of the Warrant Holder shall in any event be limited to the net proceeds to such Warrant Holder from the sale of the Registrable Shares.
(c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 6 (the Indemnified Party) shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the Indemnifying Party) promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and any claim or any litigation resulting therefrom. In case any action is brought against an Indemnified Party, and it notifies the Indemnifying Parties of the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it so determines, assume the defense thereof; provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such partys expense. After notice from the Indemnifying Party of its election to so assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party will not be liable to such Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof, unless, in the opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, there exists a conflict of interest between the
- 4 -
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, in which case, the Indemnifying Party shall pay the reasonable fees of no more than counsel for all such Indemnified Parties. Each Indemnified Party shall furnish such information regarding itself or the claim in question as an Indemnifying Party may reasonably request and as shall be reasonably required in connection with the defense of such claim and litigation resulting therefrom.
7. Conditions to Registration. As a condition to Allions obligation under this Agreement to cause a registration statement to be filed or Registrable Shares to be included in a registration statement, the Warrant Holder shall provide such information and execute such documents as may be required by the SEC in connection with such registration. Without limiting the foregoing, the Warrant Holder may not participate in any registration under this agreement which is underwritten unless the Warrant Holder (a) agrees to sell its securities on the basis provided in any such underwriting arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
8. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered by courier, or if mailed, when mailed by United States first-class, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party at the following addresses or by telecopy, receipt confirmed (or at such other address as shall be given in writing by any party to the other):
If to Allion, to:
Allion Healthcare, Inc.
1660 Walt Whitman Road
Melville, New York 11747
Fax: (631) 547-6532
Attention: Michael P. Moran
With a copy to:
Nixon Peabody LLP
990 Stewart Avenue, 3rd Floor
Garden City, New York 11530
Fax: (516) 832-7555
Attention: Allan H. Cohen
If to Warrant Holder, to:
95 Revere Drive
Suite A
Northbrook, IL 60062
Fax: 847 ###-###-####
Attention: Stewart Flink
- 5 -
9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement, and all rights and powers granted hereby, will bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.
11. Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Agreement may be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or of the United States of America located in the County of New York, State of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction for such purpose. The parties hereby irrevocably waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction or inconvenient forum.
12. Headings. The headings preceding the text of the sections and subsections hereof are inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction, or effect.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile copies of original signatures shall be effective as original signatures.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth all of the promises, covenants, agreements, conditions and undertakings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, inducements or conditions, express or implied, oral or written. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the party sought to be charged with effect of such amendment.
[end of text; signature page follows]
- 6 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.
ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | Michael P. Moran | |||
Title: | President & Chief Executive Officer | |||
CRESTVIEW CAPITAL MASTER, LLC | ||||
By: |
| |||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
- 7 -