EXHIBIT 10.4
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Securities Purchase Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is dated as of
November ___, 2003, among Alternate Energy Corporation, a Nevada corporation
(the "COMPANY"), and the purchasers identified on the signature pages hereto
(each a "PURCHASER" and collectively the "PURCHASERS"); and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act (as defined below),
and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to
the Purchasers, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, desires to
purchase from the Company in the aggregate, up to $1,500,000 of Common Stock and
Warrants on the Closing Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in
this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser agrees
as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
1.1 DEFINITIONS. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this
Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:
"ACTION" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(j).
"AFFILIATE" means any Person that, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is
under common control with a Person as such terms are used in and
construed under Rule 144. With respect to a Purchaser, any investment
fund or managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the
same investment manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an
Affiliate of such Purchaser.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a federal legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law
or other governmental action to close.
"CLOSING" means the closing of the purchase and sale of the
Common Stock and the Warrants pursuant to Section 2.1.
"CLOSING DATE" means the Trading Day when all of the
Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the
applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the
Purchasers' obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the
Company's obligations to deliver the Securities have been satisfied or
waived.
"CLOSING PRICE" means on any particular date (a) the last
reported closing bid price per share of Common Stock on such date on
the Trading Market (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. at 4:15 PM (New York
time), or (b) if there is no such price on such date, then the closing
bid price on the Trading Market on the date nearest preceding such date
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(as reported by Bloomberg L.P. at 4:15 PM (New York time) for the
closing bid price for regular session trading on such day), or (c) if
the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on the Trading Market and
if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the "pink sheets"
published by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated (or a similar
organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting
prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so
reported, or (d) if the shares of Common Stock are not then publicly
traded the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined
by an appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority
in interest of the Shares then outstanding.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON STOCK" means the common stock of the Company, $___ par
value per share, and any securities into which such common stock may
hereafter be reclassified.
"COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" means any securities of the Company
or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire
at any time Common Stock, including without limitation, any debt,
preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is
at any time convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles
the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
"COMPANY COUNSEL" means __________________________.
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES" means the Disclosure Schedules
delivered concurrently herewith.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date that the Registration
Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"FW" means Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx LLP with offices located at 000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000.
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS" shall have the meaning ascribed
to such term in Section 3.1(o).
"LIENS" means a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance,
right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall have the meaning ascribed to
such term in Section 3.1(b).
"MATERIAL PERMITS" shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 3.1(m).
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"PER SHARE PURCHASE PRICE" equals $______(1), subject to
adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock
combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that
occur after the date of this Agreement.
"PERSON" means an individual or corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture,
limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an
agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"PROCEEDING" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement
meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement
and covering the resale by the Purchasers of the Shares and the Warrant
Shares.
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement, among the Company
and each Purchaser, in the form of EXHIBIT A hereto.
"REQUIRED APPROVALS" shall have the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section 3.1(e).
"RULE 144" means Rule 144 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.
"SEC REPORTS" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 3.1(h).
"SECURITIES" means the Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant
Shares.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SHARES" means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
to each Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.
"SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT" means, as to each Purchaser, the amounts
set forth below such Purchaser's signature block on the signature page
hereto, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.
"SUBSIDIARY" shall mean the subsidiaries of the Company, if
any, set forth on Schedule 3.1(a).
"TRADING DAY" means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is
traded on a Trading Market, or (ii) if the Common Stock is not quoted
on a Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the
over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau
Incorporated (or any similar organization or agency succeeding its
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(1) 75% of the average of the 5 Closing Prices immediately prior to the
date hereof.
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functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the
Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i) and (ii)
hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.
"TRADING MARKET" means the following markets or exchanges on
which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in
question: the OTC Bulletin Board, the American Stock Exchange, the New
York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market.
"TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Warrants and
the Registration Rights Agreement and any other documents or agreements
executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
"WARRANTS" means the Common Stock Purchase Warrants, in the
form of EXHIBIT C, issuable to the Purchasers at the Closing, which
warrants shall be exercisable immediately upon issuance for a term of 5
years and have an exercise price equal to $____(2).
"WARRANT SHARES" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Warrants.
ARTICLE II.
PURCHASE AND SALE
2.1 CLOSING. On the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall purchase from
the Company, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, and the
Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser, (a) a number of Shares equal to
such Purchaser's Subscription Amount divided by the Per Share Purchase Price and
(b) the Warrants as determined pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(iii). The aggregate
Subscription Amounts for Shares sold hereunder shall be up to $1,500,000. Upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.2, the Closing shall occur
at the offices of FW or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.
2.2 CLOSING CONDITIONS; DELIVERIES.
(a) On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to
be delivered to each Purchaser the following:
(i) this Agreement duly executed by the Company;
(ii) a certificate evidencing a number of Shares
equal to such Purchaser's Subscription Amount divided by the
Per Share Purchase Price, registered in the name of such
Purchaser;
(iii) a Warrant, registered in the name of such
Purchaser, pursuant to which such Purchaser shall have the
right to acquire up to the number of shares of Common Stock
equal to 50% of the Shares to be issued to such Purchaser at
the Closing;
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(2) 115% of the average of the 5 Closing Prices immediately prior to the
date hereof.
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(iv) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed
by the Company; and
(v) a legal opinion of Company Counsel, in the form
of EXHIBIT B attached hereto.
(b) On the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause
to be delivered to the Company the following:
(i) this Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser;
(ii) such Purchaser's Subscription Amount by wire
transfer to the account of the Company; and
(iii) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed
by such Purchaser.
(c) All representations and warranties of the other party
contained herein shall remain true and correct as of the Closing Date.
(d) All obligations, covenants and agreements of the parties
required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have
been performed.
(e) From the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in the
Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission, and, at
any time prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as
reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets shall not have been suspended
or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on
securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on any Trading
Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the
United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have
occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other
national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on,
or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each
case, in the reasonable judgment of each Purchaser, makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Shares at the such
Closing.
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. Except as set forth
under the corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedules delivered
concurrently herewith, the Company hereby makes the following representations
and warranties as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to each
Purchaser:
(a) SUBSIDIARIES. All of the subsidiaries of the Company are
set forth on SCHEDULE 3.1(a). The Company owns, directly or indirectly,
all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary
free and clear of any Liens, and all the issued and outstanding shares
of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully
paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities. If the Company has no
subsidiaries, then references in the Transaction Documents to the
Subsidiaries will be disregarded.
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(b) ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of the Company and
the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (as applicable), with
the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and
assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation or default of any of the
provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation,
bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and
is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property
owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be,
could not have or reasonably be expected to result in (i) a material
adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any
Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of
operations, assets, business, prospects or financial condition of the
Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material
adverse effect on the Company's ability to perform in any material
respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction
Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT") and
no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking,
limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such
power and authority or qualification.
(c) AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEMENT. The Company has the requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents and
otherwise to carry out its obligations thereunder. The execution and
delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and
no further action is required by the Company in connection therewith
other than in connection with the Required Approvals. Each Transaction
Document has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by
the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof,
will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i)
as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement
of creditors' rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to
the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other
equitable remedies.
(d) NO CONFLICTS. The execution, delivery and performance of
the Transaction Documents by the Company, the issuance and sale of the
Shares and the consummation by the Company of the other transactions
contemplated thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate
any provision of the Company's or any Subsidiary's certificate or
articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter
documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event
that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)
under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or
assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights
of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or
without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit
facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary
debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company
or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the
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Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other
restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company
or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws
and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a
Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iv) conflict with or violate the
terms of any agreement by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound
or to which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is
bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and
(iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(e) FILINGS, CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The Company is not
required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give
any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or
other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other
Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by
the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than (i) filings
required pursuant to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, (ii) the filing
with the Commission of the Registration Statement, (iii) application(s)
to each applicable Trading Market for the listing of the Shares and
Warrant Shares for trading thereon in the time and manner required
thereby, and (iv) the filing of Form D with the Commission and such
filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities
laws (collectively, the "REQUIRED APPROVALS").
(f) ISSUANCE OF THE SECURITIES. The Securities are duly
authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the
Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens. The issuance of the Shares
is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for or
purchase securities. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized
capital stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to this Agreement and the Warrants.
(g) CAPITALIZATION. The capitalization of the Company is as
described in the Company's most recent periodic report filed with the
Commission. The Company has not issued any capital stock since such
filing other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options
under the Company's stock option plans, the issuance of shares of
Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company's employee stock
purchase plan and pursuant to the conversion or exercise of outstanding
Common Stock Equivalents outstanding. No Person has any right of first
refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right
to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the
Securities, there are no outstanding options, warrants, script rights
to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever
relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or
exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or
acquire, any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary
is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock, or
securities or rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common
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Stock. The issue and sale of the Securities will not obligate the
Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any
Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of
any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion,
exchange or reset price under such securities. All of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and
state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued
in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe
for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any
stockholder, the Board of Directors of the Company or others is
required for the issuance and sale of the Shares. Except as disclosed
in the SEC Reports, there are no stockholders agreements, voting
agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company's
capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of
the Company, between or among any of the Company's stockholders.
(h) SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has filed
all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for
the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the
Company was required by law to file such material) (the foregoing
materials, including the exhibits thereto, being collectively referred
to herein as the "SEC REPORTS") on a timely basis or has received a
valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC
Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their
respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and
none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports
comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements
and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as
in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
("GAAP"), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial
statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial
statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly
present in all material respects the financial position of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and
the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended,
subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial,
year-end audit adjustments.
(i) MATERIAL CHANGES. Since the date of the latest audited
financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as
disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i) there has been no event, occurrence
or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred
any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables
and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be
reflected in the Company's financial statements pursuant to GAAP or
required to be disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the
Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has
not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other
property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any
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agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and
(v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer,
director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option
plans. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any
request for confidential treatment of information.
(j) LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, there
is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their
respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental
or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state,
county, local or foreign) (collectively, an "Action") which (i)
adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or
enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or
(ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been
the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or
liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach
of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the
Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the
Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or
officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or
other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement
filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act.
(k) LABOR RELATIONS. No material labor dispute exists or, to
the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the
employees of the Company which could reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) COMPLIANCE. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports,
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in
violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the
Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary
received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in
violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of
its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has
been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of any court,
arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii) is or has been in violation
of any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority,
including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws
applicable to its business except in each case as could not have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(m) REGULATORY PERMITS. The Company and the Subsidiaries
possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the
appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities
necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the
SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not
have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
("MATERIAL PERMITS"), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of any Material Permit.
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(n) TITLE TO ASSETS. The Company and the Subsidiaries have
good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by
them that is material to the business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries and good and marketable title in all personal property
owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for
Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not
materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and Liens for the payment
of federal, state or other taxes, the payment of which is neither
delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities
held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them
under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases of which the Company and
the Subsidiaries are in compliance.
(o) PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS. To the knowledge of the Company
and each Subsidiary, the Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have
rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and
other similar rights that are necessary or material for use in
connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC
Reports and which the failure to so have could have or reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
has received a written notice that the Intellectual Property Rights
used by the Company or any Subsidiary violates or infringes upon the
rights of any Person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such
Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and do not violate or
infringe the Intellectual Property Rights of others.
(p) INSURANCE. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by
insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and
risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the
businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged.
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that
it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and
when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar
insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a
significant increase in cost.
(q) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND EMPLOYEES. Except as set
forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the
Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of
the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or
any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and
directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement
providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental
of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring
payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or
any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer,
director, trustee or partner, in each case in excess of $60,000 other
than (i) for payment of salary or consulting fees for services
rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the
Company and (iii) for other employee benefits, including stock option
agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.
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(r) INTERNAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLS. The Company and each of the
Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to
maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only
in accordance with management's general or specific authorization, and
(iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences. The Company has established disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and
15d-14) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and
procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company,
including the Subsidiaries, is made known to the certifying officers by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
the Company's most recently filed period report under the Exchange Act,
as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company's certifying
officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's controls and
procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of the
most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date,
the "EVALUATION DATE"). The Company presented in its most recently
filed period report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the
certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date.
Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in
the Company's internal controls (as such term is defined in Item 307(b)
of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) or, to the Company's
knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect the
Company's internal controls. The Company maintains and will continue to
maintain a standard system of accounting established and administered
in accordance with GAAP and the applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act.
(s) CERTAIN FEES. No brokerage or finder's fees or commissions
are or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor
or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or
other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Purchasers shall have no obligation with respect to any
fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other
Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(t) PRIVATE PLACEMENT. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers
representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, no
registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and
sale of the Securities by the Company to the Purchasers as contemplated
hereby. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not
contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market.
(u) INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Company is not, and is not an
Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Shares,
will not be or be an Affiliate of, an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company
shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become
subject to the Investment Company Act.
(v) REGISTRATION RIGHTS. No Person has any right to cause the
Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any
securities of the Company.
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(w) LISTING AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. The Company's Common
Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and
the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge
is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the
Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any
notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such
registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date
hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common
Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is
not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such
Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it
will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with
all such listing and maintenance requirements.
(x) APPLICATION OF TAKEOVER PROTECTIONS. The Company and its
Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to
render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business
combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights
agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws
of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the
Purchasers as a result of the Purchasers and the Company fulfilling
their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction
Documents, including without limitation the Company's issuance of the
Securities and the Purchasers' ownership of the Securities.
(y) DISCLOSURE. Other than the terms of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, the Company confirms that, neither the
Company nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of
the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that
constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information. The
Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the
foregoing representations and covenants in effecting transactions in
securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the Purchasers
regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, furnished
by or on behalf of the Company are true and correct and do not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(z) NO INTEGRATED OFFERING. Assuming the accuracy of the
Purchasers' representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2,
neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any Person acting
on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or
sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security,
under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to
be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the
Securities Act or any applicable shareholder approval provisions,
including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any
exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities
of the Company are listed or designated.
(aa) SOLVENCY. Based on the financial condition of the Company
as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the receipt by the
Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder, (i)
the Company's fair saleable value of its assets exceeds the amount that
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will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company's existing
debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as
they mature; (ii) the Company's assets do not constitute unreasonably
small capital to carry on its business for the current fiscal year as
now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital
needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the
business conducted by the Company, and projected capital requirements
and capital availability thereof; and (iii) the current cash flow of
the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were
it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all
anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on
or in respect of its debt when such amounts are required to be paid.
The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay
such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts
of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt).
(bb) FORM S-3 ELIGIBILITY. The Company is eligible to register
the resale of its Common Stock by the Purchasers under Form S-3
promulgated under the Securities Act and the Company hereby covenants
and agrees to use its best efforts to maintain its eligibility to use
Form S-3 until the Registration Statement covering the resale of the
Shares shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the
Commission.
(cc) TAXES. Except for matters that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all
necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns
and has paid or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon, and the Company
has no knowledge of a tax deficiency which has been asserted or
threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary.
(dd) GENERAL SOLICITATION. Neither the Company nor any person
acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Shares
by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company
has offered the Shares for sale only to the Purchasers and certain
other "accredited investors" within the meaning of Rule 501 under the
Securities Act.
(ee) FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES. Neither the Company, nor to
the knowledge of the Company, any agent or other person acting on
behalf of the Company, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any corrupt
funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity,
(ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government
officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties
or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any
contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its
behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or
(iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(ff) ACCOUNTANTS. To the Company's knowledge, ___________, the
Company's accountants, who the Company expects will express their
opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004,
are independent accountants as required by the Securities Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(gg) ACKNOWLEDGMENT REGARDING PURCHASERS' PURCHASE OF SHARES.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Purchasers is
acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length purchaser with respect
to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby.
The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a
financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar
capacity) with respect to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of
their respective representatives or agents in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby is merely incidental
to the Purchasers' purchase of the Shares. The Company further
represents to each Purchaser that the Company's decision to enter into
this Agreement has been based solely on the independent evaluation of
the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company and its
representatives.
3.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS. Each Purchaser
hereby, for itself and for no other Purchaser, represents and warrants as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:
(a) ORGANIZATION; AUTHORITY. Such Purchaser is an entity duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization with full right, corporate or
partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to
carry out its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and
performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or
similar action on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document
to which it is party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when
delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will
constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except (i) as
limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally, (ii)
as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific
performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii)
insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited
by applicable law.
(b) INVESTMENT INTENT. Such Purchaser understands that the
Securities are "restricted securities" and have not been registered
under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is
acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account for
investment purposes only and not with a view to or for distributing or
reselling such Securities or any part thereof, has no present intention
of distributing any of such Securities and has no arrangement or
understanding with any other persons regarding the distribution of such
Securities (this representation and warranty not limiting such
Purchaser's right to sell the Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state
securities laws). Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder
in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser does not have
any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person
to distribute any of the Securities (this representation and warranty
not limiting such Purchaser's right to sell the Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable
federal and state securities laws).
14
(c) PURCHASER STATUS. At the time such Purchaser was offered
the Securities, it was, and at the date hereof it is an "accredited
investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act. Such
Purchaser is not required to be registered as a broker-dealer under
Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(d) EXPERIENCE OF SUCH PURCHASER. Such Purchaser, either alone
or together with its representatives, has such knowledge,
sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as
to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective
investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks
of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of
an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to
afford a complete loss of such investment.
(e) GENERAL SOLICITATION. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the
Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other
communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper,
magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or
presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general
advertisement.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Purchaser does not make
or has not made any representations or warranties with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this
Section 3.2.
ARTICLE IV.
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
4.1 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.
(a) The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with
state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of
Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement
or Rule 144, to the Company, to an Affiliate of a Purchaser or in
connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company
may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion
of counsel selected by the transferor, the form and substance of which
opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect
that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred
Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any
such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement
and the Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) The Purchasers agree to the imprinting, so long as is
required by this Section 4.1(b), of a legend on any of the Securities
in the following form:
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY
STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"),
AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT
TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A
TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF
15
THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO
THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE
REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THESE SECURITIES MAY BE
PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A
REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION THAT IS AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN
RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that a Purchaser may from
time to time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a
registered broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of
the Securities to a financial institution that is an "accredited
investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and who
agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the
Registration rights Agreement and, if required under the terms of such
arrangement, such Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities
to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer would not
be subject to approval of the Company and no legal opinion of legal
counsel of the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in
connection therewith. Further, no notice shall be required of such
pledge. At the appropriate Purchaser's expense, the Company will
execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or
secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a
pledge or transfer of the Securities, including, if the Securities are
subject to registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,
the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under
Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of Selling
Stockholders thereunder.
(c) Certificates evidencing the Shares and Warrant Shares
shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in Section
4.1(b)), (i) while a registration statement (including the Registration
Statement) covering the resale of such security is effective under the
Securities Act, or (ii) following any sale of such Shares or Warrant
Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) if such Shares or Warrant Shares
are eligible for sale under Rule 144(k), or (iv) if such legend is not
required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including
judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the Staff of the
Commission). The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal
opinion to the Company's transfer agent promptly after the Effective
Date if required by the Company's transfer agent to effect the removal
of the legend hereunder. If all or any portion of a Warrant is
exercised at a time when there is an effective registration statement
to cover the resale of the Warrant Shares, such Warrant Shares shall be
issued free of all legends. The Company agrees that following the
Effective Date or at such time as such legend is no longer required
under this Section 4.1(c), it will, no later than three Trading Days
following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Company's
transfer agent of a certificate representing Shares or Warrant Shares,
as the case may be, issued with a restrictive legend (such date, the
"LEGEND REMOVAL DATE"), deliver or cause to be delivered to such
16
Purchaser a certificate representing such Securities that is free from
all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any
notation on its records or give instructions to any transfer agent of
the Company that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this
Section.
(d) In addition to such Purchaser's other available remedies,
the Company shall pay to a Purchaser, in cash, as liquidated damages
and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Shares or Warrant Shares
(based on the Closing Price of the Common Stock on the date such
Securities are submitted to the Company's transfer agent) subject to
Section 4.1(c), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day
five (5) Trading Days after such damages have begun to accrue) for each
Trading Day after such third Trading Day after the Legend Removal Date
until such certificate is delivered. Nothing herein shall limit such
Purchaser's right to pursue actual damages for the Company's failure to
deliver certificates representing any Securities as required by the
Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser shall have the right to
pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including,
without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive
relief.
(e) Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other
Purchasers, agrees that the removal of the restrictive legend from
certificates representing Securities as set forth in this Section 4.1
is predicated upon the Company's reliance that the Purchaser will sell
any Securities pursuant to either the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery
requirements, or an exemption therefrom.
(f) Until the date that each Purchaser holds less than 20% of
the Shares initially purchased hereunder by such Purchaser, the Company
shall not undertake a reverse or forward stock split or
reclassification of the Common Stock without the prior written consent
of the Purchasers holding a majority in interest of the Shares.
4.2 FURNISHING OF INFORMATION. As long as any Purchaser owns
Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in
respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the
Exchange Act. As long as any Purchaser owns Securities, if the Company is not
required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and
furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available in accordance with Rule
144(c) such information as is required for the Purchasers to sell the Securities
under Rule 144. The Company further covenants that it will take such further
action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Securities without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rule 144.
4.3 INTEGRATION. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit
offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in
Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale
of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the
Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers or that would be
integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules
and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder
approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder
approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.
17
4.4 SECURITIES LAWS DISCLOSURE; PUBLICITY. The Company shall, by 8:30
a.m. Eastern time on the Trading Day following the Closing Date, issue a press
release or file a Current Report on Form 8-K, in each case reasonably acceptable
to each Purchaser disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated
hereby. The Company and each Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing
any press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and
neither the Company nor any Purchaser shall issue any such press release or
otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the
Company, with respect to any press release of any Purchaser, or without the
prior consent of each Purchaser, with respect to any press release of the
Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, except if such
disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly
provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or
communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly
disclose the name of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser in any
filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without
the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (i) as required by federal
securities law in connection with the registration statement contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required
by law or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide
the Purchasers with prior notice of such disclosure permitted under subclause
(i) or (ii).
4.5 SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS PLAN. No claim will be made or enforced by the
Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other Person that any Purchaser
is an "Acquiring Person" under any shareholders rights plan or similar plan or
arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Purchaser
could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by
virtue of receiving Securities under the Transaction Documents or under any
other agreement between the Company and the Purchasers. The Company shall
conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the
Investment Company Act.
4.6 NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION. The Company covenants and agrees that
neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide any Purchaser
or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes
constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto such Purchaser
shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of
such information. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall
be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in
securities of the Company.
4.7 USE OF PROCEEDS. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.7 attached
hereto, the Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities
hereunder for working capital purposes and not for the satisfaction of any
portion of the Company's debt (other than payment of trade payables in the
ordinary course of the Company's business and prior practices), to redeem any
Company equity or equity-equivalent securities or to settle any outstanding
litigation.
4.8 REIMBURSEMENT. If any Purchaser becomes involved in any capacity in
any Proceeding by or against any Person who is a stockholder of the Company
(except as a result of sales, pledges, margin sales and similar transactions by
such Purchaser to or with any current stockholder), solely as a result of such
Purchaser's acquisition of the Securities under this Agreement, the Company will
reimburse such Purchaser for its reasonable legal and other expenses (including
the cost of any investigation preparation and travel in connection therewith)
incurred in connection therewith, as such expenses are incurred. The
18
reimbursement obligations of the Company under this paragraph shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, shall extend
upon the same terms and conditions to any Affiliates of the Purchasers who are
actually named in such action, proceeding or investigation, and partners,
directors, agents, employees and controlling persons (if any), as the case may
be, of the Purchasers and any such Affiliate, and shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives of the Company, the Purchasers and any such Affiliate and any
such Person. The Company also agrees that neither the Purchasers nor any such
Affiliates, partners, directors, agents, employees or controlling persons shall
have any liability to the Company or any Person asserting claims on behalf of or
in right of the Company solely as a result of acquiring the Securities under
this Agreement.
4.9 INDEMNIFICATION OF PURCHASERS. The Company will indemnify and hold
the Purchasers and their directors, officers, shareholders, partners, employees
and agents (each, a "PURCHASER PARTY") harmless from any and all losses,
liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses,
including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs of investigation that any such Purchaser Party may
suffer or incur as a result of or relating to: (a) any misrepresentation, breach
or inaccuracy, or any allegation by a third party that, if true, would
constitute a breach or inaccuracy, of any of the representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other
Transaction Documents; or (b) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made
against such Purchaser Party and arising solely out of or solely resulting from
the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement or any of
the other Transaction Documents, other than directly resulting from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Purchasers. The Company will reimburse
such Purchaser for its reasonable legal and other expenses (including the cost
of any investigation, preparation and travel in connection therewith) incurred
in connection therewith, as such expenses are incurred.
4.10 RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK. As of the date hereof, the Company
has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all
times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock
for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue Shares pursuant to this
Agreement and Warrant Shares pursuant to any exercise of the Warrants.
4.11 LISTING OF COMMON STOCK. The Company hereby agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Common Stock on a
Trading Market, and as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing (but
not later than the earlier of the Effective Date and the first anniversary of
the Closing Date) to list all of the Shares and Warrant Shares on such Trading
Market. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common
Stock traded on any other Trading Market, it will include in such application
all of the Shares and Warrant Shares, and will take such other action as is
necessary to cause all of the Shares and Warrant Shares to be listed on such
other Trading Market as promptly as possible. The Company will take all action
reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on
a Trading Market and will comply in all respects with the Company's reporting,
filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Trading Market.
4.12 EQUAL TREATMENT OF PURCHASERS. No consideration shall be offered
or paid to any person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any
provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is
also offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents. For
19
clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to
each Purchaser by the Company and negotiated separately by each Purchaser, and
is intended to treat for the Company the Purchasers as a class and shall not in
any way be construed as the Purchasers acting in concert or as a group with
respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Securities or otherwise.
4.13 PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE FINANCING. From the date hereof until 12
months after the Effective Date, the Company shall not effect a financing of its
Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (a "SUBSEQUENT FINANCING") unless (i)
the Company delivers to each of such Purchasers a written notice at least 5
Trading Days prior to the closing of such Subsequent Financing (the "SUBSEQUENT
FINANCING NOTICE") of its intention to effect such Subsequent Financing, which
Subsequent Financing Notice shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed
terms of such Subsequent Financing, the amount of proceeds intended to be raised
thereunder, the Person with whom such Subsequent Financing is proposed to be
effected, and attached to which shall be a term sheet or similar document
relating thereto and (ii) such Purchaser shall not have notified the Company by
6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Trading Day after its receipt
of the Subsequent Financing Notice of its willingness to provide (or to cause
its designee to provide), subject to completion of mutually acceptable
documentation, all or part of such financing to the Company on the same terms
set forth in the Subsequent Financing Notice. If one or more Purchasers shall
fail to so notify the Company of their willingness to participate in the
Subsequent Financing, the Company may effect the remaining portion of such
Subsequent Financing on the terms and to the Persons set forth in the Subsequent
Financing Notice; provided that the Company must provide the Purchasers with a
second Subsequent Financing Notice, and the Purchasers will again have the right
of first refusal set forth above in this Section 4.13, if the Subsequent
Financing subject to the initial Subsequent Financing Notice is not consummated
for any reason on the terms set forth in such Subsequent Financing Notice within
60 Trading Days after the date of the initial Subsequent Financing Notice with
the Person identified in the Subsequent Financing Notice. In the event the
Company receives responses to Subsequent Financing Notices from Purchasers
seeking to purchase more than the financing sought by the Company in the
Subsequent Financing such Purchasers shall have the right to purchase their Pro
Rata Portion (as defined below) of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents
to be issued in such Subsequent Financing. "PRO RATA PORTION" is the ratio of
(x) such Purchaser's Subscription Amount and (y) the aggregate sum of all of the
Subscription Amounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.13 shall not
apply in respect of the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to
employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option
plan duly adopted by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of
Directors of the Company or a majority of the members of a committee of
non-employee directors established for such purpose, (b) securities upon the
exercise of or conversion of any convertible securities, options or warrants
issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement, provided that such
securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement, or (c)
securities in connection with acquisitions or strategic investments (including,
without limitation, any licensing or distribution arrangements), the primary
purpose of which is not to raise capital.
4.14 SUBSEQUENT EQUITY SALES. From the date hereof until 90 days after
the Effective Date, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue shares of
Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the 90 day period
set forth in this Section 4.14 shall be extended for the number of Trading Days
during such period in which (y) trading in the Common Stock is suspended by any
Trading Market, or (z) following the Effective Date, the Registration Statement
is not effective or the prospectus included in the Registration Statement may
20
not be used by the Purchasers for the resale of the Shares and Warrant Shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.14 shall not apply in respect of
the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to employees, officers or
directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted by a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company or
a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established
for such purpose, (b) securities upon the exercise of or conversion of any
convertible securities, options or warrants issued and outstanding on the date
of this Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the
date of this Agreement, or (c) securities in connection with acquisitions or
strategic investments (including, without limitation, any licensing or
distribution arrangements), the primary purpose of which is not to raise
capital.
4.15 ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. From the date hereof until 12 months after
the Closing Date, each Purchaser may, in its sole determination and severally
and not jointly with the other Purchasers, elect to purchase, in the ratio of
such Purchaser's Subscription Amount on the Closing Date to the aggregate
Subscription Amounts of all Purchasers on the Closing Date, additional shares of
Common Stock and Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of up to $750,000. Any
additional investment will be on terms and prices identical those set forth in
the Transaction Documents, MUTATIS MUTANDIS. In order to effectuate a purchase
and sale of the additional shares of Common Stock and Warrants, the Company and
the Purchasers shall enter into the following agreements: (x) a securities
purchase agreement identical to this Agreement, MUTATIS MUTANDIS and shall
include updated disclosure schedules and (y) a registration rights agreement
identical to the Registration Rights Agreement, MUTATIS MUTANDIS and shall
include updated disclosure schedules. Any such additional Investment shall close
within 10 Trading Days of notice to the Company by a Purchaser that such
Purchaser elects to exercise its rights hereunder. The parties hereby agree and
acknowledge that the rights granted hereunder to a Purchaser are independent and
separate of the rights granted to any other Purchaser and a Purchasers election
to exercise its right to an additional investment hereunder does not obligate
any other Purchaser to also elect at such time nor does it waive any Purchaser's
right to elect to exercise at a later date.
ARTICLE V.
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 FEES AND EXPENSES. Other than the legal fees and expenses of
_________, which shall be paid by the Company, each party shall pay the fees and
expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and
all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation,
preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company
shall pay all stamp and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the
sale of the Securities.
5.2 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Transaction Documents, together with the
exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties
acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
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5.3 NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if
such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number
set forth on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York
City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile number set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that
is not a Trading Day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading
Day, (c) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S.
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached
hereto.
5.3 AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS. No provision of this Agreement may be waived
or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment,
by the Company and each Purchaser or, in the case of a waiver, by the party
against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default
with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall
be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent
default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor
shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in
any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
5.4 CONSTRUCTION. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof. 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.
5.5 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns.
The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder
without the prior written consent of each Purchaser. Any Purchaser may assign
any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such
Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities, provided such transferee agrees
in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the
provisions hereof that apply to the "Purchasers".
5.6 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is intended for the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced
by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.8.
5.7 GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations,
enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its
respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents)
shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the
City of New York. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
22
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York,
New York for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith
or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with
respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), 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 improper. Each party hereto
hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process
being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by delivering a copy thereof
via overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address
in effect for 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. Each party hereto (including its
affiliates, agents, officers, directors and employees) hereby irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to
trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall
commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of a Transaction
Document, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be
reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys' fees and other costs and
expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such
action or proceeding.
5.8 SURVIVAL. The representations and warranties herein shall survive
the Closing and delivery of the Shares and Warrant Shares.
5.9 EXECUTION. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and
binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page
were an original thereof.
5.10 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the
remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid
and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so
agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.
5.11 REPLACEMENT OF SECURITIES. If any certificate or instrument
evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company
shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon
cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate
or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Company of such loss, theft or destruction and customary and reasonable
indemnity, if requested. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument
under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs
associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities.
5.12 REMEDIES. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights
provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the
Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the
Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be
23
adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of
obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agrees to waive in
any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a
remedy at law would be adequate.
5.13 PAYMENT SET ASIDE. To the extent that the Company makes a payment
or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser
enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the
proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered
from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored
to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other person under any law
(including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common
law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration
the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be
revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been
made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
5.14 INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS. The
obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not
joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any
Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto,
shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a
joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the
Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such
obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Document. Each
Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights,
including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of
the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other
Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose. Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel
in their review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents. For reasons of
administrative convenience only, Purchasers and their respective counsel have
chosen to communicate with the Company through FW. FW does not represent all of
the Purchasers but only the ____________. The Company has elected to provide all
Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of
the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by the
Purchasers.
(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)
24
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
ALTERNATE ENERGY CORPORATION ADDRESS FOR NOTICE:
------------------
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title: Attn:
Tel:
Fax:
With copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
[COMPANY COUNSEL]
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES FOR PURCHASERS FOLLOW]
25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities
Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
signatories as of the date first indicated above.
PURCHASER NAME: ADDRESS FOR NOTICE:
------------------
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title: Attn:
Subscription Amount: $
Shares:
Warrant Shares:
WITH A COPY TO:
--------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
[ARGY SPA SIGNATURE PAGE CONTINUED]
26
PURCHASER'S ARGY SPA SIGNATURE PAGE (CONT. . . )
PURCHASER NAME: ADDRESS FOR NOTICE:
------------------
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title: Attn:
Subscription Amount: $
Shares:
Warrant Shares:
27
