REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of this 15^th day of October, 2007, by and among Black Nickel Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Paul T. Mannion, Jr., Andrew Reckles and Robert Prag (each a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”).

 

A. The Company has issued a total of two million four hundred thousand (2,400,000) shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) to the Holders. The respective ownership of each Holder is set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement.

 

B. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company agrees to grant to the Holders the registration rights set forth herein. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in Section 12 hereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Holders hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Registration.

 

(a) Demand Registration Rights. Commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the date the Company completes a business combination with a private company in a reverse merger or reverse take-over transaction or other transaction after which the Company would cease to be a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act (a “Reverse Merger”), the Holders shall each have a separate one-time right, by written notice to the Company, signed by the Holder ("Demand Notice"), to request the Company to register for resale all of the Registrable Securities included by the Holder in the Demand Notice (“Demand Registration Right”) under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 by filing with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of such Registrable Securities ("Demand Registration Statement").  The Demand Registration Statement required hereunder shall be filed on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, then such Registration Statement will be on Form S-1, Form SB-2, or such other appropriate form) by the applicable Filing Date. The Demand Registration Statement required hereunder shall contain the Plan of Distribution, attached hereto as Exhibit A (which may be modified to respond to comments, if any, received by the Commission).  The Company shall cause the Demand Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof and shall keep the Demand Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) two years after its Effective Date, (ii) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holder, or (iii) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold by the Holder pursuant to Rule 144(k) (“Effectiveness Period”). By 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on the business day immediately following the Effective Date of such Registration Statement, the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement (whether or not such filing is technically required under such Rule).

 

(b) Restrictions on Demand Registration. The Company may postpone for up to thirty (30) days the filing or the effectiveness of a Demand Registration Statement if the Company reasonably determines that such Demand Registration Statement would have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to engage in any acquisition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any merger, consolidation, tender offer, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their requests and, if any such requests are withdrawn, those requests for demand registration shall not count as a request for demand registration under Section 1(a) above and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such registration. The Company may delay the filing or effectiveness of a Demand Registration Statement hereunder only once in any twelve-month period.

(c) Continuing Demand Registration Rights. If all of the Registrable Securities to be included in the Demand Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 1(a) cannot be so included due to Commission Comments, and there is not an effective Registration Statement otherwise covering the Registrable Securities, then the Company shall prepare and file by the applicable Filing Date for such Registration Statement(s), such number of additional Registration Statements as may be necessary in order to ensure that all Registrable Securities are covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement. Accordingly, for example, if shares included in an initial Registration Statement filed under Section 1(a) are removed from such Registration Statement filed under Section 1(a) due to Commission Comments and Commission Comments again require shares to be removed for such newly filed Registration Statement under this Section 1(c), then the Company will prepare and file additional Registration Statements until such time as all such required shares are covered by effective Registration Statements. Any Registration Statements to be filed under this Section shall be for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415, on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, then such Registration Statement will be on Form S-1, Form SB-2, or such other appropriate form). Such Registration Statements shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Company shall cause such Registration Statements to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof and shall keep such Registration Statements continuously effective under the Securities Act during the Effectiveness Period. By 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on the business day immediately following the Effective Date of such Registration Statement, the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement (whether or not such filing is technically required under such Rule).

 

(d) Piggyback Registrations Rights. At any time there is not an effective Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to the Holders a written notice of such determination at least twenty (20) days prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement and shall automatically include in such Registration Statement all Registrable Securities for resale and offer on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415; provided, however, that (i) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company determines for any reason not to proceed with such registration, the Company will be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration, (ii) in case of a determination by the Company to delay registration of its securities, the Company will be permitted to delay the registration of Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities, (iii) each Holder is subject to confidentiality obligations with respect to any information gained in this process or any other material non-public information he, she or it obtains, (iv) each Holder is subject to all applicable laws relating to insider trading or similar restrictions; and (v) if all of the Registrable Securities of the Holders cannot be so included due to Commission Comments, then the Company may reduce the number of each Holders’ Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to the maximum number which would enable the Company to conduct such offering in accordance with the provisions of Rule 415.  The Holders shall be entitled to include all Registrable Securities for resale in the Registration Statement filed by the Company in connection with a public offering of equity securities by the Company after the date of this Agreement (the “Initial Registration Statement”), pursuant to Rule 415, so long as (1) such shares shall not be included as part of the underwritten offering of primary shares by the Company, unless the Company and underwriter agree to allow the inclusion of such Registrable Shares as part of the underwritten offering and, in such event, the Holders elect to include the Registrable Securities in the underwriting subject to an allocation among all holders of registration rights in the manner set forth in Section 1(e) hereof, (2) the underwriter approves the inclusion of such Registrable Securities in such Initial Registration Statement, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights, (3) the Holders shall enter into the underwriters’ form of lockup agreement as and to the extent requested by the underwriters, which may require that all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders not be sold or otherwise transferred without the consent of the underwriters for a period not to exceed 180 days from the closing of the offering contemplated by the Initial Registration Statement, and (4) if all of the Registrable Securities of the Holders cannot be so included due to Commission Comments, then the Company may reduce the number of each Holders’ Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to the maximum number which would enable the Company to conduct such offering in accordance with the provisions of Rule 415. The Company shall cause any Registration Statement filed under this Section 1(d) to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof and shall keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act during the Effectiveness Period. By 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on the business day immediately following the Effective Date of such Registration Statement, the Company shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement (whether or not such filing is technically required under such Rule).

(e) Cutback Provisions. In the event all of the Registrable Securities of the Holders cannot be included in a Registration Statement under Sections 1(a), 1(c) or 1(d) hereof due to Commission Comments or underwriter cutbacks, then the Company, unless otherwise prohibited by the Commission, shall cause the Registrable Securities of the Holders to be included in such Registration Statement to be reduced pro rata based on the number of registrable securities held by all holders of registration rights.

 

(f) Termination of Registration Rights. The registration rights afforded to the Holders under this Section 1 shall terminate on the earliest date when all Registrable Securities of the Holders either: (i) have been publicly sold by the Holders pursuant to a Registration Statement, (ii) have been covered by an effective Registration Statement which has been effective for an aggregate period of twelve (12) months (whether or not consecutive), or (iii) may be sold by the Holders pursuant to Rule 144(k).

 

2. Failure to Register.

 

(a) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date or (ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration of a Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, within five business days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review, or (iii) prior to the effective date of a Registration Statement, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such Registration Statement within 10 business days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for such Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a Demand Registration Statement registering for resale the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the Commission by the Effectiveness Date of the Registration Statement, or (v) all of the Registrable Securities are not registered for resale pursuant to one or more effective Registration Statements on or before the one year anniversary of the closing of a Reverse Merger or (vi) after the effective date of a Registration Statement, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, or the Holders are otherwise not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for more than 10 consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of 15 calendar days (which need not be consecutive calendar days) during any 12-month period (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event”, and for purposes of clause (i), (iv) and (v) the date on which such Event occurs, and for purpose of clause (ii) the date on which such five business day period is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (iii) the date which such 10 calendar day period is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (vi) the date on which such 10 or 15 calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as “Event Date”), then, in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.5% of the value of such unregistered Registrable Securities as of the date of the Reverse Merger, as determined by the Board of Directors based on the offering price of securities sold by the Company in a securities offering consummated simultaneously with the Reverse Merger or, if no securities offering shall occur, in good faith by the Board of Directors (the “Value”) for any unregistered Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. The parties agree that the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to any Holder under this Agreement shall be 15% of the Value. If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.

(b) If, within 12 months after closing of a Reverse Merger, Registration Statements covering all of the Registrable Securities are not effective, the Holders will each have the option (the “Repurchase Option”), at any time thereafter, to require the Company to repurchase all of the Holder’s Registrable Securities for the Repurchase Price (defined hereafter) or some lesser portion of the Holder’s Registrable Securities for a pro-rata portion of the Repurchase Price. To exercise the Repurchase Option, a Holder shall (i) provide written notice to the Company at any time after the 12-month anniversary of the closing of a Reverse Merger, where such notice shall include (a) the number of Registrable Securities the Holder desires to be repurchased by the Company, (b) the Repurchase Price of such Registrable Securities and (c) instructions as to how the Company shall render payment of the Repurchase Price (the “Repurchase Notice”) and (ii) surrender the original certificates representing the number of Registrable Securities to be repurchased, duly endorsed for transfer. Upon receipt of the Repurchase Notice and original Registrable Securities from the Holder, the Company shall, within 7 business days, deliver the Repurchase Price, as per the instructions in the Repurchase Notice, to the Holder and cancel the original certificates representing the Registrable Securities on the books and records of the Company. The “Repurchase Price” shall be equal to the Value. No such repurchase shall be applicable if the Holders are able to publicly sell their Registrable Securities under an applicable exemption from registration, without volume or manner of sale limitations.

 

3. Registration Procedures. Whenever any Registrable Securities are to be registered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall have the following obligations:

 

(a) The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective.

 

(b) The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which Prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Effectiveness Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-QSB, Form 10-KSB, Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the Commission on the same day on which the Securities Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.

(c) The Company shall furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the Commission at least one copy of such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by such seller, all exhibits and each preliminary Prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such seller may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final Prospectus, as such seller may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller.

 

(d) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by any seller of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Effectiveness Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Effectiveness Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

(e) The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify the Holder of any Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(f) The Company shall notify the Holders in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a 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 (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to each Holder (or such other number of copies as any Holder may reasonably request).

 

(g) The Company shall promptly notify the Holders in writing (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to the Holders by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

 

(h) If the Holders are required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an underwriter, at the reasonable request of any Holder, the Company shall furnish to such Holder, on the date of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as the Holder may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Holder, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Holder.

(i) If the Holders are required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an underwriter, then at the request of any Holder in connection with such Holder's due diligence requirements, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i) the Holder, (ii) the Holder’s legal counsel, and (iii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Holder (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to the Holder) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the Securities Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement of which the Inspector has knowledge. Each Holder agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and the Holder) shall be deemed to limit the Holder's ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

 

(j) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning the Holders provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning the Holders is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to the Holders and allow the Holders, at the Holders’ expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.

 

(k) The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) secure designation and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement on The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market or the American Stock Exchange, or (iii) if, despite the Company's best efforts to satisfy, the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to secure the inclusion for quotation on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board for such Registrable Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its best efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(k).

(l) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as any Holder may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Holder may request.

 

(m) If requested by any Holder, the Company shall (i) as soon as practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) as soon as practicable make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) as soon as practicable, supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by the Holder holding any Registrable Securities.

 

(n) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

(o) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the effective date of a Registration Statement.

 

(p) The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission in connection with any registration hereunder.

 

(q) Within two (2) business days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

(r) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date of a Registration Statement, the Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise required (a "Grace Period"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Holder in writing of the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each notice the Company will not disclose the content of such material, non-public information to the Holder) and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and (ii) notify the Holder in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that no Grace Period shall exceed five (5) consecutive days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of twenty (20) days and the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) trading days after the last day of any prior Grace Period (each, an "Allowable Grace Period"). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Holder receives the notice referred to in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Holder receives the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions of Section 3(e) hereof shall not be applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of the Holder in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which the Holder has entered into a contract for sale, and delivered a copy of the Prospectus included as part of the applicable Registration Statement (unless an exemption from such Prospectus delivery requirements exists), prior to the Holder’s receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the Holder has not yet settled.

4. Obligations of the Holders.

 

(a) At least five (5) business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement, the Company shall notify the Holders in writing of the information the Company requires from each Holders if the Holder’s Registrable Securities are to be included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of the Holder that the Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.

 

(b) The Holders, by the Holders’ acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless any Holder has notified the Company in writing of the Holder’s election to exclude all of the Holder’s Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.

 

(c) The Holders agree that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(e) or 3(f), the Holders will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until the Holders’ receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Sections 3(e) or 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of the Holders in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which the Holders have entered into a contract for sale prior to the Holders’ receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(e) or 3(f) and for which the Holders have not yet settled.

 

(d) The Holders covenant and agree that they will comply with the Prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

5. Registration Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company’s 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, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and one counsel for all Holders and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding discounts, commissions and placement agent fees) and other Persons retained by the Company (all such expenses being herein called “Registration Expenses”), shall be borne by the Company. Further, the Company shall pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.

 

6. Indemnification.

 

In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Holder, the directors, officers, members, partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls the Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "Claims") incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the Commission, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified Damages"), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary Prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the Commission) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, "Violations"). Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such Prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) and (ii) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Holder to deliver or to cause to be delivered the Prospectus made available by the Company, including a corrected Prospectus, if such Prospectus or corrected Prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c); and (iv) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Holder pursuant to Section 10.

 

(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Holder is participating, the Holder agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act (each, an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Holder expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c), the Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, further, however, that the Holder shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to the Holder as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Holder pursuant to Section 10.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

(d) The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.

 

(e) The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.

 

7. Contribution. To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 10(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement

8. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Person may participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten or sold through a placement agent unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting or placement agency arrangements approved by the Company, and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting or placement agency agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting or placement agency arrangements.

 

9. Reports under Securities Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holder the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit the Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), commencing not later than the completion of the Reverse Merger the Company agrees to:

 

(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

 

(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

 

(c) furnish to the Holders so long as the Holders own Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Holders to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

 

10. Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Holder to any transferee of all or any portion of the Holder’s Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; and (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein.

 

11. Amendment of Registration Rights. Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Holders.

 

12. Definitions.

 

(a) “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(b) “Commission Comments” means written comments pertaining solely to Rule 415 which are received by the Company from the Commission, and a copy of which shall have been provided by the Company to the Holder, to a filed Registration Statement which limit the amount of shares which may be included therein to a number of shares which is less than such amount sought to be included thereon as filed with the Commission.

 

(c) “Effective Date” means, as to a Registration Statement, the date on which such Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

(d) “Filing Date” means (a) with respect to the Registration Statement required to be filed under Section 1(a), the 30th day following the receipt by the Company of the Demand Notice, and (b) with respect to any Registration Statements required to be filed under Section 1(c), each such Registration Statement shall be filed by the six-month anniversary of the Effective Date of the Registration Statement required to be filed under Section 1(a) and for all subsequent Registration Statements, the six-month anniversary of the Effective Date of the immediately preceding Registration Statement required to be filed under Section 1(c), as applicable.

 

(e) “Person” means an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

(f) "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus

 

(g) “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Shares issued to the Holder and held by the Holder or its assignees, (ii) any shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder (whether issued before or after the date hereof) and held by the Holder or its assignees, (iii) any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any securities convertible into shares of Common Stock (including the Preferred Shares) or upon exercise of any warrants, options or similar instruments (whether such convertible securities, warrants, options or similar instruments are issued before or after the date hereof), and (iv) any other shares of Common Stock or any other securities issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with an exchange or combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.

 

(h) "Registration Statement" means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder (which, at the Company’s option, may be an existing registration statement of the Company previously filed with the Commission, but not declared effective), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement 

 

(i) "Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.  

 

(j) “Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

(k) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

(l) “Securities Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

13. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.

 

(b) Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Company:

 

Black Nickel Acquisition Corp. II

300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 260

Roswell, Georgia 30076

Telephone: (678) 353-2190 

Facsimile: (678) 353 - 2188

Attention: Paul T. Mannion, Jr., President

and

If to the Holders, to the addresses set forth on Schedule A:

or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

(c) Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.

 

(d) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Georgia, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement is brought against any party hereto, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled.

(e) This Agreement and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

(f) Subject to the requirements of Section 10, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.

 

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

 

(h) This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed by electronic signature of such Person.

 

(i) Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(j) All consents and other determinations required to be made by the Holder pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, by the Holder.

 

(k) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

(l) This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

 

(m) The obligations of the Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder, and no provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any obligations on a Holder vis-à-vis any other Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holder as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holder are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated herein.

 

(n) Currency. As used herein, "Dollar", "US Dollar" and "$" each mean the lawful money of the United States.

 

* * * * * *

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

HOLDERS:
By:	/s/ Paul T. Mannion, Jr.
	Paul T. Mannion, Jr.
By:	/s/ Andrew Reckles
	Andrew Reckles
By:	/s/ Robert Prag
	Robert Prag
COMPANY:
BLACK NICKEL ACQUISITION CORP. II
By:	/s/ Paul T. Mannion, Jr.
	Name: Paul T. Mannion, Jr.
	Title: President

Name and Address of Holder		Shares of Common Stock
Paul T. Mannion, Jr. 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 260 Roswell, Georgia 30076			800,000
Andrew Reckles 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 260 Roswell, Georgia 30076			800,000
Robert Prag 2455 El Amigo Road Del Mar, CA 92014			800,000

 

 

The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

-	privately negotiated transactions;

 

-	to cover short sales made after the date that this Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission;

 

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

 

-	a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

-	any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.

 

The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the Shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell shares of Common Stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.

 

Upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of Common Stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such Selling Stockholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such the shares of Common Stock were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition, upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares of Common Stock, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed if then required in accordance with applicable securities law.

The Selling Stockholders also may transfer the shares of Common Stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, that can be attributed to the sale of the securities will be paid by the Selling Stockholder and/or the purchasers. Each Selling Stockholder has represented and warranted to the Company that it acquired the securities subject to this registration statement in the ordinary course of such Selling Stockholder's business and, at the time of its purchase of such securities such Selling Stockholder had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute any such securities.

 

The Company has advised each Selling Stockholder that it may not use shares registered on this Registration Statement to cover short sales of Common Stock made prior to the date on which this Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission. If a Selling Stockholder uses this prospectus for any sale of the Common Stock, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders will be responsible to comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and Securities Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated, including, without limitation, Regulation M, as applicable to such Selling Stockholders in connection with resales of their respective shares under this Registration Statement.

 

The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares, but the Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

 

[Transfer Agent]

[Address]

Attention:

Re:    Black Nickel Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

[We are][I am] counsel to _________, a _________ corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Registration Rights Agreement with _____________ (the “Holder”) (the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___, 200_, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which names the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder.

 

In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC's staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

This letter shall serve as our standing instruction to you that the shares of Common Stock are freely transferable by the Holder pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance or reissuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holders as contemplated by the Company's Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated ___________, 200_.

 

_______________, 2007

 

[Addressed to Transfer Agent]

_______________________

_______________________

Attention: [________________________]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September __, 2007 (the "Agreement"), by and among Black Nickel Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and _________________________ (the "Holder"), pursuant to which the Company is obligated to register the Holders shares (the "Common Shares") of Common Stock of the Company, par value $.0001 per share (the "Common Stock").

 

This letter shall serve as our irrevocable authorization and direction to you (provided that you are the transfer agent of the Company at such time) to issue shares of Common Stock upon transfer or resale of the Common Shares.

 

You acknowledge and agree that so long as you have previously received (a) written confirmation from the Company's legal counsel that either (i) a registration statement covering resales of the Common Shares has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or (ii) sales of the Common Shares may be made in conformity with Rule 144 under the 1933 Act (“Rule 144”), (b) if applicable, a copy of such registration statement, and (c) notice from legal counsel to the Company or any Holder that a transfer of Common Shares has been effected either pursuant to the registration statement (and a prospectus delivered to the transferee) or pursuant to Rule 144, then as promptly as practicable, you shall issue the certificates representing the Common Shares registered in the names of such transferees, and such certificates shall not bear any legend restricting transfer of the Common Shares thereby and should not be subject to any stop-transfer restriction; provided, however, that if such Common Shares and are not registered for resale under the 1933 Act or able to be sold under Rule 144, then the certificates for such Common Shares shall bear the following legend:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

A form of written confirmation from the Company's outside legal counsel that a registration statement covering resales of the Common Shares has been declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act is attached hereto.

 

Please execute this letter in the space indicated to acknowledge your agreement to act in accordance with these instructions. Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact me at ____________.

 

Very truly yours,
Black Nickel Acquisition Corp. II (“Company”)
By:
	Name:
	Title:

THE FOREGOING INSTRUCTIONS ARE
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO
this ___ day of ________________, 2007
[TRANSFER AGENT]
By:
	Name:
	Title:
Enclosures
Copy: Holder