Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Reno, State of Nevada, on July 30, 2004.
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC
By /s/ Rudi E. Moerck
-------------------------------------
Rudi E. Moerck
President
ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Rudi E. Moerck President and Director
------------------------------------------------(Principal Executive Office and authorized
Rudi E. Moerck representative of the Registrant in the
United States) July 30, 2004
/s/ Edward Dickinson
----------------------------------------------- Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Edward Dickinson (Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer) July 30, 2004
/s/ Jon Bengtson* Chairman of the Board
----------------------------------------------- Director July 30, 2004
Jon Bengtson
/s/ Michel Bazinet* Director July 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------
Michel Bazinet
/s/ James Golla* Director July 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------
James Golla
/s/ George Hartman* Director July 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------
George Hartman
/s/ Christopher Jones* Director July 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------
Christopher Jones
II-6
/s/ David King* Director July 30, 2004
-----------------------------------------------
David King
By: /s/ Rudi E. Moerck
----------------------------------
Rudi E. Moerck, Attorney-In-Fact
II-7
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated under
the Securities Act have been included herewith or have been filed previously
with the SEC as indicated below.
Exhibit No. Description Incorporated by Reference/
Filed Herewith (and Sequential Page #)
---------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------
4.1 Articles of Continuance Incorporated by reference to the Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 18, 2002.
4.2 Bylaw No. 1 Incorporated by reference to the Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 18, 2002.
4.3 Form of Common Share Certificate Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement
on Form 10-SB filed with the SEC on November 25,
1996, File No. 1-12497.
4.3 Form of Series 2003B Warrant, as Incorporated by reference to the Company's
amended Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No.
333-117125, filed with the SEC on July 2, 2004.
4.5 Amended and Restated Shareholder Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current
Rights Plan dated October 15, 1999, Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 19,
between the Company and Equity 1999, File No. 1-12497.
Transfer Services, Inc.
5 Opinion of Goodman and Carr LLP as to Filed herewith
legality of securities offered
10.1 Settlement Agreement dated June 4, Filed herewith
2004 with Toyota On Western, Inc. and
Louis Schnur
[Portions of this Exhibit have been omitted
pursuant to Rule 24b-2, are filed separately
with the SEC and are subject to a confidential
treatment request.]
10.2 Registration Rights Agreement dated Filed herewith
June 4, 2004 with Toyota On Western,
Inc.
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP Filed herewith
23.2 Consent of Goodman and Carr LLP Included in Exhibit No. 5.
24 Powers of Attorney Included on the signature page hereof.
-----------------------
II-8
July 16, 2004
The Board of Directors of
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.
1725 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 140
Cody, Wyoming 82414
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
We have acted as Canadian counsel to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., a corporation
incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Corporation"), in
connection with the preparation of the Corporation's Registration Statement on
Form S-3, File No. 333-117125, (the "Registration Statement") for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 3,600,000
common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Corporation for sale from time to
time by the selling shareholders identified in the Registration Statement. In
connection with the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have conducted or caused
to be conducted such searches as we have considered necessary, advisable or
relevant. We have also prepared or examined all such documents, corporate
records of the Corporation, certificates of officers of the Corporation, and
other materials as we considered advisable or relevant. We have also examined
such statutes, corporate and public records and other documents including
certificates or statements of public officials, and considered such matters of
law, as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter
expressed. For the purposes of the opinions set forth below, we have assumed,
with respect to all documents examined by us, the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity
to authentic or original documents of all documents submitted to us as
certified, conformed, telecopied or photostatic copies and the legal capacity at
all relevant times of any natural person signing any such document.
We are solicitors qualified to carry on the practice of law in the Province of
Ontario only. We express no opinion as to any laws, or matters governed by any
laws, other than the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of
Canada applicable to the Corporation as such laws exist on the date hereof.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. the 1,875,000 Common Shares described in the Registration
Statement as being issued and outstanding have been legally issued as
fully paid and non-assessable shares; and
2. assuming such Common Shares are issued in compliance with the
terms and conditions of the governing warrants, including receipt of
the exercise price specified in the governing warrants, 1,750,000
Common Shares described in the Registration Statement as being issuable
upon the exercise of warrants to purchase common shares, will, when
issued, be legally issued as fully paid and non-assessable shares.
1
We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under "Legal Matters" in the
prospectus which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement and to the
filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Yours very truly,
/s/ Goodman and Carr LLP
-------------------------
JG:jm
2
[Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Rule
24b-2 and are subject to a confidential treatment request. Copies of
this exhibit containing the omitted information have been filed
separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The omitted
portions of this document are marked with a ***.]
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE
This Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release (this "Agreement") is
entered into as of June 4, 2004 (the "Effective Date"), by and among Altair
Nanotechnologies, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Canada with
principal offices in Reno, Nevada ("Altair"), on the one hand; and Louis Schnur,
a natural person who is a resident of Chicago, Illinois ("Schnur"); and Toyota
on Western, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Illinois ("Toyota"), on the other hand. Schnur, Toyota and their affiliates (as
defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) are collectively
referred to herein as the "Schnur Parties."
For the purpose of resolving the issues between or among the parties,
Altair, Toyota and Schnur hereby agree as follows:
1. Issuance of Additional Stock. Not later than 15 days following the date
of this Agreement, Altair shall issue 100,000 shares of Altair common
stock to Toyota (the "Settlement Shares").
2. Registration of Stock. Not later than 30 days following the date of
this Agreement and pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement attached as Exhibit A, Altair shall file a registration
statement registering the re-sale of (1) the Settlement Shares and (2)
the 1,750,000 shares of Altair common stock and also the shares of
Altair common stock underlying warrants (the "Warrants") represented by
Warrant Certificate Nos. 2003B-1, 2003B-2 or 2003B-3 acquired by Toyota
from Altair on March 31, 2003 in a private placement and currently held
by Toyota or Toyota's transferees.
3. Amendment of the Warrant. Contemporaneously with the execution of this
Agreement, the parties shall execute the First Amendment to the Warrant
in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B with respect to each of
the Warrants.
4. ***
5. Communications. The Schnur Parties agree for a period of one year from
the date of this Agreement as follows:
5.1. Except as disclosure shall be required by law, the Schnur Parties
shall not, directly or indirectly, issue any Public Communication
(as defined below) regarding Altair or its present or former
officers, directors, or business operations. "Public
Communication" means (a) any press release, Internet posting, or
radio or television announcement or (b) any other written,
recorded or verbal communication that is reasonably likely to be
seen or heard by more than five individuals, including but not
limited to mailings, facsimile distributions and email
distributions.
5.2. The Schnur Parties shall not, directly or indirectly, take any
steps to pursue a proxy contest for the election of any person not
nominated by Altair to the Altair board of directors;
5.3. Except as disclosure may be required by law, the Schnur Parties
shall not, directly or indirectly, submit any communications or
complaints to the SEC or any self regulatory organization relative
to Altair unless the Schnur Party seeking to submit the
communication or complaint to the SEC has first reported the
communication or complaint to Altair's Audit Committee and given
Altair's Audit Committee 90 days to address the communication or
complaint;
5.4. Except as disclosure may be required by law and subject to the
notice requirement of Section 5.3 above, the Schnur Parties shall
not, directly or indirectly, send faxes or other written
communications to Altair's officers, directors or legal counsel
more frequently than once every 90 days.
6. Confidentiality. The provisions of Exhibit C to this Agreement are
incorporated herein by reference.
7. Release by Altair.
7.1. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4 below, Altair hereby
releases and forever discharges the "Schnur Releasees" consisting
of Schnur, Toyota and their current and former respective lenders,
shareholders, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions,
officers, directors, owners, associates, predecessors, successors,
heirs, assigns, agents, partners, employees, insurers,
representatives, lawyers, and all persons acting by, through,
under, or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any
and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in
law or in equity, and any suits, debts, liens, contracts,
agreements, promises, liabilities, claims, demands, damages,
losses, costs, or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or
unknown, fixed or contingent (the "Claims"), that Altair now has
or may hereafter have against the Schnur Releasees, or any of
them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the
beginning of time to the date hereof, including, without
limitation, any and all Claims arising out of, based upon, or in
any way relating to transactions with Altair, the Altair Releasees
(as defined below), Christopher Dillow, Irvine Management
Consulting Inc., CMGI, Equity Alert, Market Pathways, C. Van
Mussher, IR Image, or Patagon Securities Corp.
7.2. Altair represents and warrants that there has been no assignment
or other transfer of any interest in any Claim that it may have
against the Schnur Releasees, or any of them, and Altair agrees to
indemnify and hold the Schnur Releasees, and each of them,
harmless from any liabilities, claims, demands, damages, costs,
expenses, and attorneys' fees incurred by the Schnur Releasees, or
any of them, as a result of any person asserting any such
assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that
this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent
to recovery by the Schnur Releasees against Altair under this
indemnity.
2
7.3. Altair agrees that if it hereafter commences, joins in, or in any
manner seeks relief through any suit arising out of, based upon,
or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder, or in any
manner asserts against the Schnur Releasees, or any of them, any
of the Claims released hereunder, then Altair shall pay to the
Schnur Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other
damages caused to the Schnur Releasees thereby, all attorneys'
fees and costs incurred by the Schnur Releasees in defending or
otherwise responding to that suit or Claim.
7.4. Notwithstanding any provision contained in Sections 7.1, 7.2, and
7.3 above, the release set forth herein does not extend to
releasing the Schnur Releasees, or any of them, from their
responsibilities, representations, warranties, promises,
obligations, covenants, and agreements contained in this Agreement
or the responsibilities, representations, warranties, promises,
obligations, covenants, and agreements contained within the four
corners of the various unexercised warrants held by the Schnur
Parties.
8. Release by Schnur Parties.
8.1. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.4 below, the Schnur
Parties hereby release and forever discharge the "Altair
Releasees" consisting of Altair and its current and former
respective lenders, shareholders, parents, subsidiaries,
affiliates, divisions, officers, directors, owners, associates,
predecessors, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, partners,
employees, insurers, representatives, lawyers, and all persons
acting by, through, under, or in concert with them, or any of
them, of and from any Claims that the Schnur Parties now have or
may hereafter have against the Altair Releasees, or any of them,
by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the
beginning of time to the date hereof, including, without
limitation, any and all Claims arising out of, based upon, or in
any way relating to transactions with the Schnur Parties, the
Schnur Releasees, Christopher Dillow, Irvine Management Consulting
Inc., CMGI, Equity Alert, Market Pathways, C. Van Mussher, IR
Image, or Patagon Securities Corp.
8.2. The Schnur Parties represent and warrant that there has been no
assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim that it
may have against the Altair Releasees, or any of them, and the
Schnur Parties agree to indemnify and hold the Altair Releasees,
and each of them, harmless from any liabilities, claims, demands,
damages, costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees incurred by the
Altair Releasees, or any of them, as a result of any person
asserting any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of
the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a
condition precedent to recovery by the Altair Releasees against
the Schnur Parties under this indemnity.
8.3. The Schnur Parties agree that if they hereafter commence, join in,
or in any manner seek relief through any suit arising out of,
based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder,
3
or in any manner asserts against the Altair Releasees, or any of
them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the Schnur
Parties shall pay to the Altair Releasees, and each of them, in
addition to any other damages caused to the Altair Releasees
thereby, all attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the Altair
Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to that suit or
Claim.
8.4. Notwithstanding any provision contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2, and
8.3 above, the release set forth herein does not extend to
releasing the Altair Releasees, or any of them, from their
responsibilities, representations, warranties, promises,
obligations, covenants, and agreements contained in this Agreement
or the responsibilities, representations, warranties, promises,
obligations, covenants, and agreements contained within the four
corners of the various unexercised warrants held by the Schnur
Parties.
9. Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
9.1. Schnur and Toyota, jointly and severally, hereby covenant,
represent, and warrant to the other parties to this Agreement as
follows:
9.1.1. Schnur and Toyota are correctly described and named in this
Agreement;
9.1.2. Before executing this Agreement, Schnur and Toyota became fully
informed of the terms, contents, provisions, and effect of this
Agreement and the attached exhibits;
9.1.3. This Agreement is fully and forever binding on, and enforceable
against Schnur and Toyota in accordance with its terms;
9.1.4. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and any other
documents, agreements, or instruments executed or delivered by
Schnur and Toyota pursuant hereto and the consummation of the
transactions herein or therein contemplated does not conflict with
or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument
to which Schnur and Toyota is a party or any provision of law,
statute, rule, or regulation applicable to Schnur and Toyota or
any judicial or administrative order or decree by which Schnur and
Toyota is bound;
9.1.5. In entering into and signing this Agreement, Schnur and Toyota
have had the benefit of the advice of attorneys of their own
choosing, and they enter into this Agreement freely by their own
choosing and judgment, and without duress or other influence;
9.1.6. Schnur and Toyota have made an investigation to their
satisfaction of all facts and reasons why it should enter into
this Agreement and agree, based upon Schnur's and Toyota's
knowledge, experience, and investigation, that this Agreement is
fair and just;
4
9.1.7. Schnur and Toyota represent that they have not relied upon, and
will not rely upon any statements, acts, or omissions by any of
the other parties, other than as set forth in this Agreement, in
making their decision to enter into this Agreement;
9.1.8. This Agreement is duly executed by Schnur and Toyota with full
knowledge and understanding of its terms and meaning, on Schnur's
and Toyota's own judgment and upon the advice of each of their
attorneys and financial and tax advisors;
9.1.9. This Agreement is not and shall not be construed as an admission
of wrongdoing or liability by any party, any of which wrongdoing
or liability is and has been specifically denied by each party. It
is expressly understood and agreed that the terms of this
Agreement are contractual and not merely recitals, and that the
agreements contained herein and the consideration transferred is
intended to compromise doubtful and disputed claims, avoid and
terminate litigation, and buy peace, and that no payments made and
no release or other consideration given by any party shall be
construed as an admission of wrongdoing or liability by any party,
all wrongdoing or liability being expressly denied by each party;
and
9.1.10. Schnur and Toyota acknowledge that their aforesaid representations
are a material inducement to every other party to enter into this
Agreement.
9.1.11. Investment Representations.
a. Purchase for Own Account. Toyota is the sole and true party
in interest, is acquiring the Settlement Shares for its own account for
investment, is not purchasing the Settlement Shares for the benefit of
any other person, and has no present intention of holding or managing
the Settlement Shares with others or of selling, distributing or
otherwise disposing of any portion of the Settlement Shares. Toyota has
its principal place of business in the state of Illinois.
b. Disclosure and Review of Information. Toyota acknowledges
and represents that it has received and reviewed copies of Altair's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and
Altair Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2004 (the "SEC Filings"). In addition, Toyota acknowledges and
represents that Toyota has been given a reasonable opportunity to
review all documents, books and records of Altair pertaining to this
investment, and has been supplied with all additional information
concerning Altair and the Settlement Shares that has been requested by
Toyota, has had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and
receive answers from Altair or its representatives concerning this
investment, and that all such questions have been answered to the full
satisfaction of Toyota. Toyota has received, and acknowledges that it
is receiving, no representations, written or oral, from Altair or its
officers, directors, employees, attorneys or agents other than those
contained in this Agreement and the SEC Filings. In making its decision
5
to purchase the Securities, Toyota has relied solely upon its review of
the SEC Filings, this Agreement, and independent investigations made by
it or its representatives without assistance of Altair.
c. Speculative Investment. Toyota understands that (i) it must
bear the economic risk of the investment in the Settlement Shares for
an indefinite period of time because the Settlement Shares have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") or qualified under the Securities Act or the
securities laws of any other jurisdiction and (ii) its investment in
Altair represented by the Settlement Shares is highly speculative in
nature and is subject to a high degree of risk of loss in whole or in
part. Toyota has adequate means of providing for its current needs and
possible contingencies, and is able to bear the high degree of economic
risk of this investment, including, but not limited to, the possibility
of the complete loss of Toyota's entire investment and the limited
transferability of the Settlement Shares, which may make the
liquidation of this investment impossible for the indefinite future.
d. Accredited Schnur Parties Status. Toyota is an "accredited
investor" within the meaning of Rule 501(a) promulgated under the
Securities Act in that, among other reasons, all equity owners of
Toyota had individual income (exclusive of any income attributable to
my spouse) in excess of $200,000 in each of the most recent two years
and reasonably expect to have an individual income in excess of
$200,000 for the current year and/or) alimony paid, and have an
individual net worth, or my spouse and I have a combined individual net
worth, in excess of $1,000,000.
e. Investment Experience. Toyota has experience as an investor
in securities and acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk of
its investment in the Securities. By reason of Toyota's business or
financial experience or the business or financial experience of its
professional advisors who are unaffiliated with and who are not
compensated by Altair or any affiliate or selling agent of Altair,
directly or indirectly, Toyota has the capacity to protect its own
interests in connection with its purchase of the Securities. Toyota has
not been organized solely for the purpose of acquiring the Securities.
f. Restricted Securities. Toyota understands that the
Settlement Shares are and will be "restricted securities" under the
Securities Act inasmuch as they are being acquired from Altair in a
transaction not involving a public offering, and that, under the
Securities Act and applicable regulations thereunder, such securities
may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in
certain limited circumstances.
g. Legends. Toyota understands that the certificates
evidencing the Settlement Shares will bear the legend set forth below,
together with any other legends required by the laws of the Province of
Ontario and any other state or province with jurisdiction:
6
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR QUALIFIED UNDER APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AND HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
ONLY AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS A REGISTRATION STAEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, IS IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT
TO SUCH SECURITIES OR ALTAIR HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION IN FORM
AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO ALTAIR PROVIDING THAT AN
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, IS AVAILABLE.
h. The legend set forth above shall be removed by Altair from
any certificate evidencing any of the Settlement Shares only (i) upon
receipt by Altair of an opinion in form and substance satisfactory to
Altair that such legend may be removed pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act, or (ii) upon confirmation that a registration
statement under the Securities Act is at that time in effect with
respect to the legended Settlement Share and that such transfer will
not jeopardize the exemption or exemptions from registration pursuant
to which the respective Settlement Shares was issued.
9.2. Altair hereby covenants, represents, and warrants to the other
parties to this Agreement as follows:
9.2.1. Altair is correctly described and named in this Agreement;
9.2.2. Before executing this Agreement, Altair became fully
informed of the terms, contents, provisions, and effect of
this Agreement and the attached exhibits;
9.2.3. This Agreement is fully and forever binding on, and
enforceable against Altair in accordance with its terms;
9.2.4. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and any other
documents, agreements, or instruments executed or
delivered by Altair pursuant hereto and the consummation
of the transactions herein or therein contemplated does
not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
material agreement or instrument to which Altair is a
party or any provision of law, statute, rule, or
regulation applicable to Altair or any judicial or
administrative order or decree by which Altair is bound;
9.2.5. In entering into and signing this Agreement, Altair has
had the benefit of the advice of attorneys of its own
choosing, and enter into this Agreement freely by their
own choosing and judgment, and without duress or other
influence;
7
9.2.6. Altair has made an investigation to its satisfaction of
all facts and reasons why it should enter into this
Agreement and agree, based upon Altair's knowledge,
experience, and investigation, that this Agreement is fair
and just;
9.2.7. Altair represents that it has not relied upon, and will
not rely upon any statements, acts, or omissions by any of
the other parties, other than as set forth in this
Agreement, in making its decision to enter into this
Agreement;
9.2.8. This Agreement is duly executed by Altair with full
knowledge and understanding of its terms and meaning, on
Altair's own judgment and upon the advice of its attorneys
and financial and tax advisors;
9.2.9. This Agreement is not and shall not be construed as an
admission of wrongdoing or liability by any party, any of
which wrongdoing or liability is and has been specifically
denied by each party. It is expressly understood and
agreed that the terms of this Agreement are contractual
and not merely recitals, and that the agreements contained
herein and the consideration transferred is intended to
compromise doubtful and disputed claims, avoid and
terminate litigation, and buy peace, and that no payments
made and no release or other consideration given by any
party shall be construed as an admission of wrongdoing or
liability by any party, all wrongdoing or liability being
expressly denied by each party; and
9.2.10. Altair acknowledges that its aforesaid representations are
a material inducement to every other party to enter into
this Agreement.
10. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of,
and shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the parties to
this Agreement, and each of them. This Agreement is intended to
release, and inure to the benefit of, each of the parties' respective
related parties.
11. Miscellaneous Terms. Each of the parties to this Agreement further
agrees as follows:
11.1. Modifications. No modification, amendment or waiver of any
of the provisions contained in this Agreement, or any
future representations, promise, or condition in
connection with the subject matter of this Agreement,
shall be binding upon any party to this Agreement unless
made in writing and signed by such party or by a duly
authorized officer or agent of such party.
11.2. Severability. In the event any non-material provision of
this Agreement or the application of any such provision is
held to be void, voidable, unlawful or for any reason
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision shall,
as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability; but, the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect, and any such prohibition or unenforceability
in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such non-material provision in any other
8
jurisdiction. In good faith, the parties shall use their
best efforts, or if such efforts are unsuccessful, the
parties agree that a court or arbitrator may reform such
provision, to replace the provision that is contrary to
law with a legal one approximating to the extent possible
the original intent of the parties.
11.3. No Representations. Except for statements expressly set
forth in this Agreement, no party has made any statement
or representation to any other party regarding a material
fact relied upon by any other party in entering into this
Agreement and no party has relied upon any statement,
representation, or promise of any other party, or of any
representative or attorney for any other party, in
executing this Agreement or in making the settlement
provided for in this Agreement.
11.4. Independent Advice From Counsel. Each of the parties has
received prior independent legal advice from legal counsel
of its choice with respect to the advisability of making
the settlement provided for in this Agreement and with
respect to the advisability of executing this Agreement.
All parties agree and acknowledge that, with respect to
this Agreement and the agreements described herein, Altair
has been represented solely by Stoel Rives LLP, and the
Schnur Parties have been represented solely by Jenkens &
Gilchrist, A Professional Corporation. Each party
represents and warrants that his or its attorney has
reviewed the Agreement, and that his or its attorney has
approved the Agreement as to form and substance.
11.5. Knowing and Voluntary Consent; Adequate Investigation.
Each of the parties has read this Agreement carefully,
knows and understands the Agreement's content, and has
investigated all facts and matters pertaining to the
subject matter of this Agreement as such party deems
necessary or desirable. This Agreement shall be final and
binding upon the parties regardless of any claims of
mistake of fact or law, or any other circumstances
whatsoever, and may not be set aside for any reason
whatsoever.
11.6. Attorneys' Fees. In the event of any dispute, controversy,
litigation or other proceedings (including proceedings in
bankruptcy) concerning or related to the enforcement of an
arbitration award under this Agreement, the prevailing
party shall be entitled to reimbursement of all of its
costs, including reasonable attorney and expert witnesses
fees and costs, and court or arbitration fees and costs.
11.7. Governing Law. The parties agree that the laws of the
State of Nevada shall govern the interpretation and
enforcement of this Agreement, without giving effect to
its choice of law rules.
11.8. Dispute Resolution. Any controversy or claim arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the breach of this
Agreement (other than claims in which the sole remedy
sought is specific performance of one or more provisions
set forth in this Agreement, which claims may be brought
in state or federal court located in Reno, Nevada) shall
be settled through an arbitration proceeding Reno, Nevada
administered by the American Arbitration Association under
its Commercial Arbitration Rules. With respect to any such
9
arbitration, within 15 days after the commencement of
arbitration as given in the American Arbitration
Association's Commercial Arbitration Rules, each party
shall select one person to act as arbitrator and the two
selected shall select a third arbitrator within 10 days of
their appointment. Each party may select an arbitrator
from the list of arbitrators provided by the American
Arbitration Association or either party may appoint any
other qualified individual to serve as arbitrator. If the
arbitrators selected by the parties are unable or fail to
agree upon the third arbitrator, the third arbitrator
shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association.
The arbitrators will have no authority to award punitive
or other damages not measured by the prevailing party's
actual damages, except as may be required by statute. The
arbitrators, in their sole discretion, may include an
injunction or a direction to any party in their decision.
The arbitration shall be governed by the Commercial
Dispute Resolution Procedures of the American Arbitration
Association in effect at the time the dispute is filed for
arbitration. Any party to an arbitration under this
Section may commence an action in a court of competent
jurisdiction to enforce an arbitration award and/or to
remedy a refusal to arbitrate.
11.9. Authority. Each party represents that all necessary
corporate proceedings have been taken by it to authorize
the settlement and mutual releases contemplated by this
Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby, and that
this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby have
been executed by each party, and shall constitute valid
and binding agreements.
11.10. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
and delivered in any number of counterparts or copies by
the parties to this Agreement. When each party has signed
and delivered at least one counterpart to each other party
to this Agreement, each counterpart shall be deemed an
original and, taken together, shall constitute one and the
same Agreement, which shall be binding and effective as to
the parties to this Agreement.
11.11. Notices. All notices and other communications under this
Agreement shall be in writing, shall specifically refer to
this Agreement, and shall be delivered or transmitted by
facsimile, reliable overnight courier or other reliable
delivery service, and shall be addressed as follows:
If to the Schnur Parties: Louis Schnur
Toyota On Western
6941 South Western Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60636
Facsimile: (773) 776-4584
With a copy to: Jenkens & Gilchrist,
A Professional Corporation
600 Congress Avenue, Suite 2200
Austin, Texas 78701
Attn: J. Rowland Cook
Facsimile: (512) 404-3520
10
If to Altair: Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.
204 Edison Way
Reno, Nevada 89502
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: (775) 856-1619
With a copy to: Stoel Rives LLP
201 S. Main Street, Suite 1100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Attn: Bryan T. Allen
Facsimile: (801) 578-6999
Such notices and other communications shall be deemed given on the day
on which received. Any party may change his or its address for receipt of
notices and requests hereunder by notice duly given to the other party in
accordance with these provisions.
(Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows)
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Settlement
Agreement and Mutual Release to be effective as of the date written above.
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Rudi E. Moerck
-------------------------------------
Name: Rudi E. Moerck
-------------------------------------
Title: President
-------------------------------------
/s/ Louis Schnur
----------------------------------------------
LOUIS SCHNUR, Individually
TOYOTA ON WESTERN, INC.
By: /s/ Louis Schnur
-------------------------------------
Name: Louis Schnur
-------------------------------------
Title: President
-------------------------------------
12
EXHIBIT A
(Registration Rights Agreement)
13
EXHIBIT B
(First Amendment to Warrant Certificate No. 2003B-1)
14
EXHIBIT C
Confidentiality
The provisions of this Exhibit C are incorporated by reference into the
Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release dated June 4, 2004 among Altair, Schnur
and Toyota (the "Settlement Agreement"). Terms not otherwise defined in this
Exhibit C have the meanings given those terms in the Settlement Agreement.
***
Altair, Schnur and Toyota shall keep the provisions of this Exhibit C and the
provisions of Section 4 confidential to the maximum extent allowed by law. If
the Settlement Agreement is filed with the SEC, the party filing the Settlement
Agreement shall use its best reasonable efforts to obtain confidential treatment
from the SEC for Section 4 and this Exhibit C to the maximum extent allowed by
the SEC.
15
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into
as of June 4, 2004 between Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc., a corporation
organized under the laws of Canada (the "Company"), and Toyota on Western, Inc.,
a Illinois corporation ("Toyota"), in connection with that certain Settlement
and Mutual Release Agreement dated as of June 4, 2004 among the Company and
Toyota and Louis Schnur (the "Settlement Agreement").
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any other person that
directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control
with, that person.
"Business Day" means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which
banks in Reno, Nevada are open for the general transaction of business.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock and any securities into
which those shares may subsequently be reclassified.
"Control" (including the terms "controlling", "controlled by" or "under
common control with") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Investors" means Toyota and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of
Toyota who is or becomes a party to this Agreement and holds Registrable
Securities.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement, 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 such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and
supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all
material incorporated by reference in that prospectus.
"Register," "registered" and "registration" means a registration made
by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in
compliance with the 1933 Act (as defined below) and the declaration or ordering
of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or document.
"Registrable Securities" means (1) the Settlement Shares and (2) the
1,750,000 shares of Common Stock issued to Toyota on March 31, 2003 in a private
placement and currently held by Toyota or its transferees and (3) the Warrant
Shares.
"Registration Statement" means a registration statement of the Company
filed under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to that
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all material incorporated by reference in that Registration Statement.
"Required Investors" means the Investors holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities.
"SEC" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Settlement Shares" means the 100,000 shares of the Company's common
stock issued to Toyota pursuant to the Settlement Agreement.
"1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Warrants" means the warrants represented by Warrant Certificate Nos.
2003B-1, 2003B-2 and 2003B-3 that were acquired by Toyota from the Company on
March 31, 2003 in a private placement and currently held by Toyota or Toyota's
transferees.
"Warrant Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Warrants.
2. Registration.
(a) Registration Statement. Not later than 30 days following
the date of the Settlement Agreement (the "Filing Deadline"), the Company shall
prepare and file with the SEC one Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if
Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on a form of registration
statement that is then available to effect a registration for resale of the
Registrable Securities) covering the resale of the Registrable Securities in an
amount at least equal to the number of Registrable Securities. That Registration
Statement will cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act (including Rule
416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting
from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the
Registrable Securities. If the Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC
on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company will make payments to each
Investor (pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities), as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, 525 shares per day for each day
following the date by which the Registration Statement should have been filed
for which no Registration Statement is filed. Those payments shall be in lieu of
any other monetary damages the Investors may seek or obtain as a result of the
respective delay; provided, however, nothing in this Agreement will prohibit the
Investors from seeking specific performance of the Company's obligations under
this Agreement.
(b) Expenses. The Company shall pay all expenses associated
with the registration of the Registrable Securities, including filing and
printing fees, the Company's counsel and accounting fees and expenses, fees and
expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) associated with clearing the
Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities or "blue sky"
laws, listing fees, transfer taxes, fees of transfer agents and registrars, and
fees. The Company shall not be required to pay any other fees or expenses of the
2
Schnur Parties in connection with the registration, including, without
limitation, discounts, commissions, fees of counsel, fees of underwriters,
selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals
with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.
(c) Effectiveness. The Company shall use its best efforts to
have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable. The
Company shall notify the Investors by facsimile or email as promptly as
practicable after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall
simultaneously provide the Investors with copies of any related Prospectus. If
(A) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared
effective by the SEC within 120 days after the Filing Deadline (the
"Effectiveness Deadline") then the Company shall make to each Investor (pro rata
based upon the number of Registrable Securities held by such Investor), as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, 525 shares per day for each day
following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been
effective. Those payments will be in lieu of any other monetary damages the
Investors may seek or obtain as a result of the respective delay; provided,
however, nothing in this Agreement will prohibit an Investor from seeking
specific performance of the Company's obligations under this Agreement.
(d) Underwritten Offering. If the company elects, in its
discretion, to engage an underwriter with respect to any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company is entitled to select an investment banker
and manager to administer the offering, which investment banker or manager will
be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Investors.
3. Company Obligations. The Company shall use its best efforts to
effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the
terms hereof, and the Company will, as expeditiously as possible,
(a) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement
to become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period (the
"Effectiveness Period") that will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the date on
which all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, as
amended from time to time, have been sold and (ii) the date on which the
Settlement Shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k);
(b) prepare and file with the SEC the amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the period
specified in Section 3(a) and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and
the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable
Securities;
(c) (i) provide copies to and permit a single counsel
designated by the Investor holding the largest amount of Registrable Securities
(which shall be Jenkens & Gilchrist unless the Company is otherwise notified) to
review the initial Registration Statement no fewer than four Business Days prior
to the filing of the initial Registration Statement with the SEC and (ii)
provide to that single counsel copies of all post-effective amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement.
(d) furnish to the Investors and their legal counsel (which
may be by email or portable document format (PDF) file) (i) one copy of any
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and each preliminary prospectus
3
and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) the reasonably
requested number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus,
and all amendments and supplements thereto;
(e) in the event the Company selects an underwriter for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its reasonable obligations
under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriter of the offering;
(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent
the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and (ii) if
an order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of the order at the earliest possible
moment;
(g) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
Investors and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of the Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue
sky laws of the jurisdictions requested by the Investors and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in those
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company is not required to (i) qualify to
do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Section 3(g), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in
any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section
3(g), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;
(h) if applicable, list all Registrable Securities covered by
a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer
quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the
Company are then listed;
(i) immediately notify the Investors, at any time when a
Prospectus relating to Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under
the 1933 Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any 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 omits to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and at the
request of any Investor, promptly prepare and furnish to that Investor a
reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus
as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the
Registrable Securities, that Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements in the Registration Statement not misleading
in light of the circumstances then existing;
(j) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act
and take other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the
registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and
(k) with a view to making available to the Investors the
benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell shares of Common Stock
4
to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to (i) make
and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six months after the date that all of the
Settlement Shares may be resold pursuant to Rule 144(k) or any other rule of
similar effect or (B) the date that the Registrable Securities shall have been
resold; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish to each
Investor upon request, as long as that Investor owns any Registrable Securities,
(A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting
requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy of the Company's most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) other information
as may be reasonably requested in order to avail the Investor of any rule or
regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of those Registrable Securities
without registration.
4. Due Diligence Review; Information. The Company shall make available,
during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Investors,
advisors to and representatives of the Investors, all financial and other
records, all SEC filings and all other corporate documents and properties of the
Company as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of the review, and cause
the Company's officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time
period, to supply all information reasonably requested by the Investors or any
representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other
inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time
to time after the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the
sole purpose of enabling the Investors and the representatives, advisors and
underwriters and their respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial
and ongoing due diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of the
Registration Statement.
Except for disclosures to any Investor whose representative or
Affiliate occupies a seat or has observation rights with respect to the board of
directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company shall not
disclose material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or
representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of the information
the Company identifies the information as being material nonpublic information
and provides the Investors, the advisors and representatives with the
opportunity to accept or refuse to accept that material nonpublic information
for review and any Investor wishing to obtain that information enters into an
appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.
5. Obligations of the Investors.
(a) Each Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company the
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 registration of the Registrable
Securities and shall execute the documents in connection with the registration
as the Company may reasonably request. At least seven Business Days prior to the
first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall
notify each Investor of the information the Company requires from that Investor
if that Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in
the Registration Statement. An Investor shall provide that information to the
Company at least five Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date
5
of the Registration Statement if that Investor elects to have any of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement.
(b) Each Investor, by its 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 a Registration
Statement hereunder.
(c) In the event the Company, at the request of the
Investors, decides to engage the services of an underwriter, each Investor
agrees to enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of
the offering and take other actions as are reasonably required in order to
expedite or facilitate the dispositions of the Registrable Securities. The scope
of any indemnification in favor of an underwriter shall be limited to the same
extent as the indemnity provided in Section 6(b) hereof.
(d) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice
from the Company of the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(i), the
Investor shall immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities,
until the Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus filed with the SEC and until any related post-effective amendment is
declared effective and, if so directed by the Company, the Investor shall
deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver
to the Company a certificate of destruction) all copies in the Investor's
possession of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities current at the
time of receipt of that notice.
(e) No Investor may participate in any third party
underwritten registration hereunder unless it (i) agrees to sell the Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of the underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Investor shall be
required to make any representations to the underwriter, other than those with
respect to itself and the Registrable Securities owned by it, including its
right to sell the Registrable Securities, and any indemnification in favor of
the underwriter by the Investors shall be several and not joint. The scope of
any indemnification in favor of an underwriter shall be limited to the same
extent as the indemnity provided in Section 6(b) hereof.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will
indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, members,
employees and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who
controls that Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become
subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as those losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or final
6
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof; (ii) any
blue sky application or other document executed by the Company specifically for
that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in
any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the
Registrable Securities under the securities laws thereof (any such application,
document or information herein called a "Blue Sky Application"); (iii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(iv) any violation by the Company or its agents of any rule or regulation
promulgated under the 1933 Act applicable to the Company or its agents and
relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with the
registration and will reimburse the Investor, and each officer, director,
member, employee or agent and each controlling person for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that
the Company will not be liable in any case if and to the extent that the loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity
with information furnished by that Investor or the controlling person in writing
specifically for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
(b) Indemnification by the Investors. In connection with any
registration pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Investor will furnish
to the Company in writing the information as the Company reasonably requests
concerning the holders of Registrable Securities or the proposed manner of
distribution for use in connection with any Registration Statement or Prospectus
and agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees
and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act)
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including
reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any untrue statement of a material fact
or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or amendment or supplement
thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the
extent, but only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission is
contained in any information furnished by the Investor to the Company
specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
amendment or supplement thereto.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person
entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the
indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification
and (ii) permit the indemnifying party to assume the defense of the claim with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any
person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in the defense of the claim, but the fees
and expenses of that counsel shall be at the expense of that person unless (a)
the indemnifying party has agreed to pay those fees or expenses, or (b) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of the claim and
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to that person or (c) in the reasonable
judgment of that person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of
interest exists between that person and the indemnifying party with respect to
the claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in
writing that the person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the
indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume
the defense of the claim on behalf of that person); and provided, further, that
7
the failure of any indemnified party to give notice promptly as provided herein
shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to
the extent that the failure to give notice promptly shall materially adversely
affect the indemnifying party in the defense of the claim or litigation. It is
understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all the indemnified parties. No
indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, not
to be unreasonably withheld, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by
the claimant or plaintiff to the indemnified party of a release from all
liability in respect of the claim or litigation.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification
provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an
indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly
specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage
or liability in that proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be
entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of the fraudulent
misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of
Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net
proceeds (net of all expenses paid by that holder in connection with any claim
relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages the holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities giving rise to the contribution obligation (or that could
be received by the Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included
in the Registration Statement at fair market value on the date of determination
of liability to the extent any Registrable Securities remain unsold).
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended
only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors. The Company
may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein
required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the
written consent to the amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required
Investors.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, shall specifically refer to this
Agreement, and shall be delivered or transmitted by reliable overnight courier
or other reliable delivery service, and shall be addressed to the party at the
address set forth on the signature page hereof.
(c) Assignments and Transfers by Investors. The provisions of
this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors
and their respective successors and assigns. An Investor may transfer or assign,
in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights
hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by that
Investor to that person, provided that that Investor complies with all laws
applicable thereto, provides written notice of assignment to the Company
promptly after the assignment is effected and the assignee executes a
counterpart to this Agreement assuming all rights and obligations of an Investor
hereunder.
8
(d) Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement
may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the
Required Investors, provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights
and delegate its duties hereunder to any surviving or successor corporation in
connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company with another
corporation, or a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets to another corporation, without the prior written
consent of the Required Investors, after notice duly given by the Company to
each Investor; provided that such successor corporation assumes the Company's
obligations hereunder.
(e) Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective
permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement.
(f) Counterparts; Faxes. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may
also be executed via facsimile, which shall be deemed an original.
(g) Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in
this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.
(h) Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of that prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it
were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law, and the prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction
shall not invalidate or render unenforceable that provision in any other
jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby
waive any provision of law that renders any provisions hereof prohibited or
unenforceable in any respect.
(i) Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver
all further instruments and documents and take all other actions as may
reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to
evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete
and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
9
(k) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the internal laws of the State of Nevada without regard to the choice of law
principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Nevada
for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or
arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service
of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served
on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified
for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit,
action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto
irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action
or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any
such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS
THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
[Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature page follows]
10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Edward Dickinson
---------------------------------------------
Name: Edward Dickinson
---------------------------------------------
Title: Chief Financial Officer
---------------------------------------------
Address: Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.
204 Edison Way
Reno, Nevada 89502
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: (775) 856-1619
TOYOTA ON WESTERN, INC.
By: /s/ Louis Schnur
---------------------------------------------
Name: Louis Schnur
---------------------------------------------
Title: President
---------------------------------------------
Address: Toyota On Western
6941 South Western Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60636
Facsimile: (773) 776-4584
11
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 2 to
Registration Statement No. 333-117125 of Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. and
subsidiaries on Form S-3 of our report dated March 10, 2004, appearing in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. and subsidiaries for
the year ended December 31, 2003 and to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche
---------------------------
Salt Lake City, Utah
July 30, 2004