PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT
April
12,
2007
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx, LLC
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Gentlemen:
WaferGen,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (“WaferGen”),
hereby confirms its agreement (the “Agreement”)
with
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Xxxxxx
or the
“Placement
Agent”),
as
follows (unless the context otherwise requires, as used herein, “WaferGen”
refers to WaferGen, Inc. and each of its subsidiaries, if any):
1. Offering.
Subject
to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement:
(a) This
Placement Agency Agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the terms under which
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)
(collectively, together with its selected dealers, the “Placement Agent”) shall
be engaged by WaferGen during the Offering Period (as hereinafter defined)
in
connection with a private placement to offer (the “Offering”)
for
sale as the exclusive placement agent
for
WaferGen, of Units to be issued by WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (“Bio-systems”)
upon
the acquisition of WaferGen by Bio-systems, (the “Units”),
as
described in the Memorandum (as defined in Section 1(e) hereof under the heading
“Description of Capital Stock”) consisting of shares of common stock,
$0.001
par value per share (the “Common
Stock”),
and
warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”)
for
minimum gross proceeds of $9,000,000 (the “Minimum
Amount”)
and
maximum gross proceeds of $12,000,000 (subject to increase to $14,400,000 in
the
discretion of WaferGen and Bio-systems) (the “Maximum
Amount”).
The
minimum subscriptions amount for Units offered by the Placement Agent will
be
$30,000; provided,
however,
that
subscriptions in lesser amounts may be accepted by Bio-systems and WaferGen
in
their sole discretion.
Concurrently
with the closing of the Offering, Bio-systems, a public shell company
(“Pubco”)
will
acquire by merger
the business of WaferGen by merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco
and,
with the proceeds of the Offering, continue the existing operations of WaferGen
as a subsidiary of Pubco (the “Merger”).
Pubco
will assume the obligations of WaferGen pursuant to this Agreement upon
consummation of the Merger. Unless the context requires otherwise, “WaferGen”
refers to Pubco and WaferGen after giving effect to the Merger.
(b) The
Placement Agent hereby accepts appointment and agrees to use its reasonable
best
efforts to perform its services hereunder and to assist WaferGen in finding
subscribers for Units who qualify as “accredited investors”, as such term is
defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D (“Regulation
D”)
promulgated under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Act”),
or
are otherwise exempt offerees that will not cause WaferGen to have to register
the offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
or
other regulatory body or authority. The Units will be offered to potential
subscribers, which, subject to compliance with the requirements for other
investors, may include related parties of the Placement Agent or WaferGen,
commencing on the date of the Memorandum and terminating on May 31, 2007, unless
extended by WaferGen and the Placement Agent within their mutual discretion
or
terminated earlier as provided herein (the “Offering
Period”).
The
date on which the Offering shall terminate shall be referred to as the
“Termination
Date.”
The
Closing (as hereinafter defined) may be held up to ten days after the
Termination Date, or such other date as mutually agreed by WaferGen and the
Placement Agent.
The
Placement Agent may sell Units through other broker-dealers who are members
of
the NASD and are acceptable to WaferGen and may reallow all or a portion of
the
Placement Agent’s Fee (as defined below) and the Placement Agent Warrants (as
defined below) it receives to such other broker-dealers.
(c) Until
forty-five (45) days following the date of the Memorandum (the “No-Shop
Period”),
unless this Agreement is extended by mutual agreement of WaferGen and the
Placement Agent, WaferGen agrees that without the prior written approval of
the
Placement Agent, it will not, and will not permit any of its stockholders,
members, officers, employees, directors, agents or representatives (the
“Representatives”)
to,
directly or indirectly, solicit, encourage, initiate, enter into, continue
or
participate in any negotiations or discussions with, or provide any information
to, any third party concerning any public or private offering or other financing
or capital-raising transaction of any kind, including but not limited to a
“CAP”, a “SPAC”, a “PIPE”, a merger with a public company other than Pubco, or
an initial public offering of securities, other than issuances of securities
in
connection with or contemplated by this Agreement or the Memorandum
(collectively, the “Financing
Activities”).
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company may arrange for
advances from Representatives for its normal working capital needs during the
pendency of the Offering, including through short term loans, which may be
convertible into equity or repaid from the proceeds of the Offering at Closing,
at the discretion of the Company and the lender, and WaferGen may accept
subscribers in the Offering that have been identified by Representatives or
registered broker-dealers (as described in Section 3(a) below) provided (i)
such
subscribers comply with the subscription and other procedures for the Offering
established by Placement Agent for offerees generally, and (ii) the Placement
Agent receives all compensation due in accordance with Section 5 of this
Agreement in connection with the sale of the Units to such subscribers.
Following the termination of the No-Shop Period without there having occurred
a
closing under the Offering, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Wafergen shall not be restricted in any Financing Activities.
(d) WaferGen
shall not knowingly accept subscriptions from, or sell Units to, any persons
or
entities that do not qualify as (or are not reasonably believed to be)
“accredited investors,” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of
Regulation
D.
(e) The
offering of the Units will be made by the Placement Agent on behalf of WaferGen
solely pursuant to the Memorandum, which at all times will be in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the Placement Agent and its counsel and
contain such legends and other information as the Placement Agent and its
counsel may, from time to time, deem necessary and desirable to be set forth
therein. “Memorandum”
as
used
in this Agreement means solely WaferGen’s Confidential Private Placement
Memorandum, inclusive of all exhibits, and any and all amendments or supplements
thereto (in which case, the term Memorandum shall refer for periods after such
amendment or supplement has been provided to the Placement Agent, such
Memorandum as so amended or supplemented (but exluding any brochure or other
document distrubted with such Memorandum) up to and including the Closing Date
(as hereinafter defined) that the Placement Agent may use on WaferGen’s behalf
to sell the Units. Unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term used
in this Agreement will have the same meaning as shall be set forth in the
Memorandum or in Exhibit A hereto.
2
(f) The
Placement Agent shall comply with all applicable broker-dealer registration
requirements, applicable federal and state securities laws and all NASD
regulations with respect to the Offering and conduct the Offering in accordance
with Regulation D. In connection with the Offering, the Placement Agent will
offer the Units only in those jurisdictions (states of the United States and
foreign) in which the Units have been qualified or registered for sale under
the
securities laws of such jurisdiction, or an exemption from such qualification
or
registration is available, and will deliver to each potential investor contacted
by it, prior to accepting any subscription from such investor, the Memorandum.
A
copy of each subscription document shall be promptly transmitted to WaferGen
or
its counsel. All information and statements relating to the Placement Agent
provided in writing by the Placement Agent for inclusion in the Memorandum
will
be true and correct in all material respects as of the date provided and such
statements and information will not be misleading in any material respect.
2. Representations
and Warranties of WaferGen.
WaferGen
hereby represents and warrants to the Placement Agent that except as otherwise
set forth in the Memorandum, each of the following is true in all respects
as of
the date hereof and will be true in all respects as of the Closing Date:
(a) The
information contained in the Memorandum complies in all material respects with
Section 502(b)(1) for an offering to be sold exclusively to accredited investors
(as such term is defined in Section 501(a) of Regulation D. The Units will
be
offered and sold pursuant to the registration exemption provided by Regulation
D
and Section 4(2) and/or Section 4(6) of the Act as a transaction not involving
a
public offering in those jurisdictions in which the Placement Agent notifies
WaferGen that the Units are being offered for sale. WaferGen has not taken
nor
will it take any action that conflicts with the conditions and requirements
of,
or that would make unavailable with respect to the Offering or the exemption(s)
from registration available pursuant to Regulation D or Section 4(2) and/or
Section 4(6) of the Act, and knows of no reason why any such exemption would
be
otherwise unavailable to it. Neither WaferGen nor its affiliates has been
subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority
of competent jurisdiction temporarily, preliminarily or permanently enjoining
such person for failing to comply with Rule 503 of Regulation D.
(b) The
Memorandum, except for information relating to the Placement Agent furnished
to
WaferGen in writing by the Placement Agent expressly for use in the Memorandum,
does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. None of the statements, documents, certificates or other items
prepared or supplied by WaferGen with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material
fact
necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading. There is
no
fact that WaferGen has not disclosed in the Memorandum and of which WaferGen
is
aware that materially and adversely affects or could reasonably be expected
to
materially and adversely affect the business prospects, financial condition,
operations, or assets of WaferGen.
3
(c) WaferGen
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the State of Delaware.
WaferGen has no subsidiaries and does not have an equity interest in any other
firm, partnership, association or other entity. WaferGen is duly qualified
to
transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the
laws of each jurisdiction where the location of its properties or the conduct
of
its business makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to
be
so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the business, condition
(financial or otherwise), operations, or property of WaferGen (a “Material
Adverse Effect”).
(d) WaferGen
has all requisite power and authority (corporate and other) to conduct its
business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted (as described
in
the Memorandum), to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement
and, immediately prior to the Closing, to perform its obligations under the
agreement of merger that will effect the Reverse Merger (the “Merger
Agreement”)
and,
to perform its obligations under the subscription agreement annexed to the
Memorandum (the “Subscription
Agreement”),
to
perform its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement annexed to
the
Memorandum (“Registration
Rights Agreement”)
and to
perform its obligations under the Warrants, (collectively with this Agreement,
the Merger Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement and the Warrants, the “Transaction
Documents”)
and
under such agreements with Bio-systems as will be entered in order to cause
Bio-systems to issue, sell and deliver the Units and become bound to the
Transaction Documents to which Bio-systems will become a party. The execution
and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by WaferGen has been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered and constitutes, and each of the other Transaction
Documents, upon due execution and delivery, will constitute, valid and binding
obligations of WaferGen, enforceable against WaferGen in accordance with their
respective terms (i) except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now
or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally,
including the effect of statutory and other laws regarding fraudulent
conveyances and preferential transfers, and except that no representation is
made herein regarding the enforceability of WaferGen’s obligations to provide
indemnification and contribution remedies under the securities laws and (ii)
subject to the limitations imposed by general equitable principles (regardless
of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity).
(e) None
of
the execution and delivery of, or performance by WaferGen of the Transaction
Documents or the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated
conflicts with or violates, or will result in the creation or imposition of
any
lien, charge or other encumbrance upon any of the assets of WaferGen under
any
agreement or other instrument to which WaferGen is a party or by which WaferGen
or its assets may be bound, any term of the certificate of incorporation or
by-laws of WaferGen, or any license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute,
rule or regulation applicable to WaferGen or any of its assets, other than
those
that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
4
(f) Immediately
prior to the Closing, WaferGen shall have authorized and outstanding capital
stock as set forth under the heading “Description of Capital Stock” in the
Memorandum. Except as set forth in the Memorandum or contemplated by the
Transaction Documents, all outstanding shares of capital stock of WaferGen
are
duly authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.
Except as set forth in the Memorandum, as of the date of the Closing: (i) there
will be no outstanding options, stock subscription agreements, warrants or
other
rights permitting or requiring WaferGen or others to purchase or acquire any
shares of capital stock, or other equity securities of WaferGen, or to pay
any
dividend or make any other distribution in respect thereof; (ii) there will
be
no securities issued or outstanding that are convertible into or exchangeable
for any of the foregoing and there are no contracts, commitments or
understandings, whether or not in writing, to issue or grant any such option,
warrant, right or convertible or exchangeable security, provided however, that
this shall in no way limit the ability of WaferGen to grant stock options or
warrants to its employees, directors and consultants (including, but not limited
to, members of the WaferGen’s scientific advisory board) following the Closing,
so
long
as any such grants made prior to the 90th
day
following the effectiveness of a registration statement filed pursuant to the
terms of the Registration Rights Agreement reflect an exercise price not lower
than the price per share of Common Stock paid by investors in the
Offering;
(iii)
no shares of stock or other securities of WaferGen will be reserved for issuance
for any purpose; (iv) there will be no voting trusts or other contracts,
commitments, understandings, arrangements or restrictions of any kind with
respect to the ownership, voting or transfer of shares of stock or other
securities of WaferGen, including without limitation, any preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal, proxies or similar rights; and (v) no person will
hold
a right to require WaferGen to register any securities of WaferGen under the
Act
or to participate in any such registration. As of the date of the Closing,
the
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of WaferGen will conform to
all
statements in relation thereto contained in the Memorandum and the Memorandum
describes all material terms and conditions thereof. To the knowledge of
WaferGen, all issuances by WaferGen of its securities were at the time of their
issuance exempt from registration under the Act and any applicable state
securities laws.
(g) No
consent, authorization or filing of or with any court or governmental authority
is required in connection with the issuance of the Units or the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Transaction Documents,
except for required filings with the SEC and applicable “Blue Sky” or state
securities commissions relating specifically to the Offering (all of which
will
be duly made on a timely basis).
(h) The
financial statements, together with the related notes thereto, of WaferGen
included in the Memorandum are true and complete and present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of WaferGen as of the date specified
and the results of its operations and changes in financial position for the
period covered thereby. Such financial statements and related notes were
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”)
throughout the period indicated except as may be disclosed in the notes thereto,
and except that the unaudited financial statements omit full notes and normal
year-end adjustments. Except as set forth in such financial statements or in
the
Memorandum, WaferGen has no material liabilities of any kind (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise or entered into any material transactions
or
commitments) that are required to be reflected as liabilities in the most recent
balance sheet set forth in the financial statements included in the Memorandum,
other than liabilities incurred after the date of such balance sheet in the
ordinary course of business. The other financial information with respect to
WaferGen included in the Memorandum is true, correct and accurate in all
material respects and presents fairly the information shown therein. To
WaferGen’s knowledge, the statistical information included in the Memorandum is
true, correct and accurate in all material respects and presents fairly the
information shown therein.
5
(i) The
conduct of business by WaferGen as presently and proposed to be conducted is
not
subject to continuing oversight, supervision, regulation or examination by
any
governmental official or body of the United States or any other jurisdiction
wherein WaferGen conducts or proposes to conduct such business, except as
described in the Memorandum and except such regulation as is applicable to
commercial enterprises generally. WaferGen has obtained all requisite licenses,
permits and other governmental authorization necessary to conduct its business
as presently, and as proposed to be, conducted, except where a failure to obtain
such license, permit or authorization would not have a Material Adverse Effect
or such license, permit or other governmental authorization is pending and
has
been described in the Memorandum.
(j) No
default by WaferGen or, to the knowledge of WaferGen, any other party exists
in
the due performance under any material agreement to which WaferGen is a party
or
to which any of its assets is subject (collectively, the “Company
Agreements”)
other
than such defaults which, individually or in the aggregate would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. The Company Agreements disclosed in the Memorandum
are
the only material agreements to which WaferGen is bound or by which its assets
are subject, are accurately and fairly described in the Memorandum and are
in
full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.
(k) There
are
no actions, proceedings, claims or investigations, before or by any court or
governmental authority pending or, to the knowledge of WaferGen, threatened,
against WaferGen, or involving its assets or, to the knowledge of WaferGen,
involving any of its officers or directors which, if determined adversely to
WaferGen or such officer or director, would reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or the
enforceability thereof.
(l) WaferGen
is not in violation of: (i) its certificate of incorporation or by-laws; (ii)
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note or other agreement or instrument
to
which WaferGen is a party or by which it is or may be bound or to which any
of
its assets may be subject; (iii) any statute, rule or regulation currently
applicable to WaferGen; or (iv) any judgment, decree or order applicable to
WaferGen; which any such violation or violations individually, or in the
aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) WaferGen
does not own any real property in fee simple, and WaferGen has good and
marketable title to all property (personal, tangible and intangible) owned
by
it, free and clear of all security interests, liens and
encumbrances.
6
(n) WaferGen
owns all right, title and interest in, or possesses adequate and enforceable
rights to use, all trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, rights,
licenses, franchises, trade secrets, confidential information, processes,
formulations, software, source and object codes and, to the knowledge of
WaferGen, all patents necessary for the conduct of WaferGen’s business
(collectively, the “Intangibles”)
other
than any Intangibles, individually or in the aggregate, where the absence of
such would not have a Material Adverse Effect and certain patent licenses for
products that are believed by WaferGen to be readily available for license
and
for which alternatives exist if not available on terms that WaferGen finds
acceptable. To the knowledge of WaferGen, except as described in the immediately
preceding sentence, WaferGen has not infringed upon the rights of others with
respect to the Intangibles and WaferGen has not received notice that it has
or
may have infringed or is infringing upon the rights of others with respect
to
the Intangibles, or any notice of conflict with the asserted rights of others
with respect to the Intangibles.
(o) WaferGen
has operated its business diligently and only in the ordinary course as
theretofore conducted and since the date of the most recent balance sheet
included in the Memorandum and other than as described therein, there has been
no: (i) material adverse change in the business condition (financial or
otherwise) of WaferGen; (ii) transaction by WaferGen otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business; (iii) issuance of any securities (debt or equity)
or any rights to acquire any such securities; (iv) damage, loss or destruction,
whether or not covered by insurance, with respect to any asset or property
of
WaferGen; or (v) agreement to permit any of the foregoing; other than those
that
are described in the Memorandum or which, individually or in the aggregate,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) WaferGen
has filed, on a timely basis, each Federal, state, local and foreign tax return
which is required to be filed by it, or has requested an extension therefor
and
has paid all taxes and all related assessments, penalties and interest to the
extent that the same have become due, other than any taxes that WaferGen is
in
good faith contesting.
(q) WaferGen
is not obligated to pay, and has not obligated the Placement Agent to pay,
a
finder’s or origination fee in connection with the Offering and agrees to
indemnify the Placement Agent from any such claim made by any other person.
Except as set forth in the Memorandum, no other person has any right to
participate in any offer, sale or distribution of WaferGen’s securities to which
the Placement Agent’s rights, described herein, shall apply.
3. Placement
Agent Appointment and Compensation.
(a) WaferGen
hereby appoints the Placement Agent as its exclusive agent in connection with
the Offering during the No-Shop Period. WaferGen acknowledges that the Placement
Agent may use selected dealers and sub-agents to fulfill their agency hereunder
provided that such dealers and sub-agents are compensated solely by the
Placement Agent and are acceptable to Wafergen in its sole reasonable
discretion. During the Offering Period and prior to the termination of the
No-Shop Period, WaferGen will not make, or permit to be made, any offers or
sales of the Units other than through the Placement Agent without the Placement
Agent’s prior written consent, with the exception of Units offered through
WaferGen and its officer, directors and employees, advances for working capital,
and conversion or repayment of such advances, and Units sold to existing
stockholders of WaferGen. The Placement Agent has no obligation to purchase
any
of the Units. The agency of the Placement Agent hereunder shall continue until
the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing Date. Placement Agent
consents to engagement by Wafergen of one or more consultants in connection
with
rendering advice to WaferGen concerning the transactions contemplated, provided
(i) that such arrangement is disclosed in the Memorandum and (ii) such
consultants will not be compensated by WaferGen with cash success fees related
to the Offering unless such consultant is a registered
broker-dealer.
7
(b) WaferGen
will cause to be delivered to the Placement Agent copies of the Memorandum
and
has consented, and hereby consents, to the use of such copies for the purposes
permitted by the Act and applicable securities laws, and hereby authorizes
the
Placement Agent and its agents, employees and selected dealers to use the
Memorandum in connection with the sale of the Units until the earlier of the
Termination Date or the Closing Date (unless advised in writing that the
Memorandum may no longer be used, or has been updated or supplemented), and
no
other person or entity is or will be authorized to give any information or
make
any representations other than those contained in the Memorandum or to use
any
offering materials other than those contained in the Memorandum in connection
with the sale of the Units. WaferGen will provide at its own expense such
quantities of the Memorandum and other documents and instruments relating to
the
Offering as the Placement Agent may reasonably request.
(c) WaferGen
will cooperate with the Placement Agent by making available to its
representatives such information as may be reasonably requested in making a
reasonable investigation of WaferGen and its affairs and shall provide access
during regular business hours to such employees as shall be reasonably
requested, provided that the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer,
or their designee, must be present at any such meeting if they so desire. Prior
to the Closing, if requested by the Placement Agent, WaferGen shall provide,
at
its own expense, credit or similar reports on such key management persons as
the
Placement Agent shall reasonably request and as WaferGen has in its possession
or can obtain with the consent of such individuals.
(d) Out
of
the proceeds received at Closing, WaferGen shall pay to the Placement Agent
a
cash placement fee equal to seven percent (7%) of the aggregate purchase price
paid by each investor for Units that are issued at Closing other than as a
result of: (i) purchases of of up to $1 million of Units by investors who are
stockholders of the Company as of the date of this Agreement; or (ii) upon
conversion, or in lieu of repayment, of any debt outstanding as of the date
of
this Agreement or hereafter incurred (the “Placement
Agent’s Fee”).
The
Placement Agent’s Fee will be deducted from the gross proceeds of the Units sold
at the Closing.
(e) As
additional compensation,
at the
Closing, WaferGen shall sell to the Placement Agent or its designees who are
accredited investors, for nominal consideration, warrants to purchase the number
of shares of Common Stock equal to seven percent (7%) of the aggregate number
of
Shares underlying the Units issued at Closing to investors on which the
Placement Agent’s Fees shall be determined as provided in Paragraph 3 (d) hereof
(the “Agent’s
Warrants”).
The
Agent’s Warrants shall have the same terms as, including exercise price and
registration rights, the Warrants issued to investors in the Offering. If no
Warrants are issued to investors in the Offering, the Agent’s Warrants shall
have an exercise price equal to 120% of the price at which Shares are issued
to
investors in the Offering. Prior to the Closing, WaferGen and the Placement
Agent shall enter into a Warrant Agreement, in the form issued to investors, and
if no warrants are issued to investors, in form and substance reasonably agreed
upon by WaferGen and the Placement Agent.
8
4. Subscription
and Closing Procedures.
(a) Each
prospective purchaser will be required to complete and execute two (2) original
omnibus signature pages to the Subscription Agreement in the form attached
to
the Memorandum as Exhibit
A
and
other documents to be delivered therewith as instructed in the Memorandum
(collectively, the “Subscription
Documents”),
which
will be forwarded or delivered to the Placement Agent at the
offices
of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLC
at the
address
set
forth in Section 13
hereof,
together with the subscriber’s check or good funds in the full amount of the
Offering Price for the number of Units desired to be purchased.
(b) All
funds
for subscriptions received from the Offering will be promptly forwarded by
the
Placement Agent or WaferGen, if received by it, to and deposited into a
non-interest bearing escrow account (the “Escrow
Account”)
established for such purpose with Signature Bank,
or
another agent mutually acceptable to the parties
(the
“Escrow
Agent”).
All
such funds for subscriptions will be held in the Escrow Account pursuant to
the
terms of an escrow agreement among WaferGen, the Placement Agent and the Escrow
Agent, such agreement to be in form and substance satisfactory to WaferGen
and
the Placement Agent. WaferGen will pay all fees related to the establishment
and
maintenance of the Escrow Account, regardless of whether a closing occurs
hereunder. Subject to the receipt of such subscriptions for the Minimum Amount
and WaferGen’s right to accept or reject subscriptions, in whole or in part, in
its sole discretion, WaferGen, or the Placement Agent on WaferGen’s behalf (any
such acceptance by the Placement Agent on WaferGen’s behalf to be subject to
such guidelines as shall be agreed upon by the Placement Agent and WaferGen)
will either accept or reject the Subscription Documents and at the Closing
will
countersign the accepted Subscription Documents and provide duplicate copies
of
such agreements to each purchaser and to the Placement Agent. WaferGen will
give
written notice to the Placement Agent of its acceptance or rejection of each
subscription. WaferGen, or the Placement Agent on WaferGen’s behalf, will
promptly return to subscribers incomplete, improperly completed, improperly
executed or rejected subscriptions and give written notice thereof to the
Placement Agent upon such return and directions to the Escrow Agent to return
any subscription funds received.
(c) If
subscriptions for at least the Minimum Amount have been accepted prior to the
Termination Date, the funds therefor have been collected by the Escrow Agent
and
all of the conditions set forth elsewhere in this Agreement have been fulfilled
(other than such conditions as are required to be fulfilled at Closing), a
closing (the “Closing”)
shall
occur on such date mutually agreed by WaferGen and the Placement Agent, which
date may be up to ten days after the Termination Date (such date, the
“Closing
Date”).
Delivery of payment for the accepted subscriptions from the funds held in the
Escrow Account will be made by wire transfer from the Escrow Agent to WaferGen
at Closing against delivery by WaferGen of the Units, which wire transfer shall
be net of amounts due to the Placement Agent hereunder. The Units will be in
such authorized denominations and issued in such names as the Placement Agent
may request on or before the second full business day prior to the Closing
Date,
and will be made available to the Placement Agent for review and packaging
in
New York City at least one full business day prior thereto. Subsequent Closings
on funds in excess of the Minimum Amount may be held on such date or dates
as
determined by WaferGen and the Placement Agent.
(d) If
Subscription Documents for the Minimum Amount have not been received and
accepted by WaferGen on or before the Termination Date for any reason, the
Offering will be terminated (the date of such termination being referred to
herein as the “Expiration
Date”)
(unless the Offering is extended as provided in the Memorandum), no Units will
be sold, and the Escrow Agent will, at the request of the Placement Agent,
cause
all monies received from subscribers for the Units to be promptly returned
to
such subscribers without interest, deduction or offset.
9
5. Further
Covenants.
WaferGen hereby covenants and agrees that:
(a) If,
at
any time prior to the Closing, any event shall occur as a result of which,
in
the reasonable judgment of counsel to WaferGen or counsel to the Placement
Agent, (i) the Memorandum would, include any untrue statement of material fact
or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, or (ii) it would be necessary to amend or supplement the Memorandum
so that the representations and warranties herein remain true in all material
respects or to comply with Regulation D or any other applicable securities
laws
or regulations, WaferGen will promptly notify the Placement Agent and shall,
at
its sole cost, prepare and furnish to the Placement Agent copies of appropriate
amendments and/or supplements in such quantities as the Placement Agent may
reasonably request. WaferGen will not at any time, whether before or after
the
Closing, prepare or use any amendment or supplement to the Memorandum of which
the Placement Agent will not previously have been advised and furnished with
a
copy, or to which the Placement Agent or its counsel will have reasonably
objected in writing or orally (confirmed in writing within 24 hours), or which
is not in compliance in all material respects with the Act, the regulations
promulgated thereunder and all other applicable securities laws. As soon as
WaferGen is advised thereof, WaferGen will advise the Placement Agent and its
counsel, and confirm the advice in writing, of any order preventing or
suspending the use of the Memorandum, or the suspension of the qualification
or
registration of the Units or shares of Common Stock underlying the Units for
offering or the suspension of any exemption for such qualification or
registration of the Units or shares of Common Stock underlying the Units for
offering in any jurisdiction, or of the institution or threatened institution
of
any proceedings for any of such purposes, and WaferGen will use its commercially
reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order, judgment or
decree, and, if issued, to endeavor to obtain as soon as reasonably possible
the
lifting thereof.
(b) WaferGen
shall comply with the Act and the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and all applicable state securities laws and the rules and
regulations thereunder in the states in which the Units are to be offered and
in
which WaferGen’s counsel has advised the Placement Agent that the Units are
qualified or registered for sale or exempt from such qualification or
registration, so as to permit the continuance of the sales of the Units, and
will file with the SEC, and shall promptly thereafter forward to the Placement
Agent, any and all reports on Form D as are required.
(c) WaferGen
shall use its reasonable best efforts to qualify the Units for sale (or seek
exemption therefrom) under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions in the United States as may be mutually agreed to by WaferGen
and
the Placement Agent, and WaferGen will (through its counsel) make such
applications and furnish information as may be required for such purposes,
provided that in no event shall WaferGen be obligated to qualify to do business
in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action
which
would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it
is
not now subject, and provided further that WaferGen shall not be required to
produce any new disclosure document other than the Memorandum. WaferGen will,
from time to time, prepare and file such statements and reports as are or may
be
required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as
the
Placement Agent may reasonably request.
10
(d) WaferGen
shall place a legend on the certificates representing the Units issued to
subscribers stating that the securities evidenced thereby have not been
registered under the Act or applicable state securities laws and setting forth
or referring to the applicable restrictions on transferability and sale of
such
securities under the Act and applicable state laws.
(e) WaferGen
shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units to fund its working
capital requirements and/or for such other purposes as shall be described
under
“Use of
Proceeds” in
the
Memorandum. The net proceeds of the Offering shall not be used to repay more
than $650,000 principal amount of of indebtedness, or such greater amount if
such amount has been advanced following the date hereof for working
capital.
(f) During
the Offering Period, WaferGen shall make available for review by prospective
purchasers of the Units during normal business hours at WaferGen’s offices, upon
their request and their execution of WaferGen’s standard form of confidentiality
agreement applicable to such inquiries, copies of WaferGen’s
agreements
to the
extent that such disclosure shall not violate any obligation on the part of
WaferGen to maintain the confidentiality thereof and shall afford each
prospective purchaser of Units the opportunity to ask questions of and receive
answers from an executive officer of WaferGen concerning the terms and
conditions of the Offering and the opportunity to obtain such other additional
information necessary to verify the accuracy of the Memorandum to the extent
it
possesses such information or can acquire it without unreasonable
expense.
(g) Whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, or this Agreement
is terminated, WaferGen hereby agrees to pay all fees, costs and expenses
incident hereto and to the Offering, including, without limitation, those in
connection with (i)
preparing, printing, duplicating, filing, distributing and binding the
Memorandum and any and all amendments and/or supplements thereto and any and
all
agreements, contracts and other documents related hereto and thereto;
(ii)
the
creation, authorization, issuance, transfer and delivery of the Units,
including, without limitation, fees and expenses of any transfer agent or
registrar; (iii)
the
fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent; (iv)
all
fees and expenses of legal, accounting and other advisers to WaferGen; (v)
the
registration or qualification of the Units for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions pursuant to Section 5(c);
and
(vi)
at
Closing, or, if there is no Closing, within ten (10) days after written request
therefore following the Termination Date, all reasonable, documented travel
and
other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Placement Agent in connection
with
this engagement, including the reasonable, documented fees and expenses of
the
Placement Agent’s counsel, which expenses shall not exceed $50,000 in the
aggregate without the prior written approval of WaferGen (the “Placement
Agent’s Expense Allowance”)
and
provided that such limitation shall in no way affect the obligations of WaferGen
with respect to indemnification and contribution as set forth in Sections 7
and
8 herein.
(h) Until
the
earlier of the termination of the No-Shop Period, the Closing Date or the
Termination Date, neither WaferGen nor any person or entity acting on its behalf
will negotiate or enter into any agreement with any other Placement Agent or
underwriter with respect to a private or public offering of WaferGen’s or any of
its subsidiary’s debt or equity securities. Except as otherwise provided for in
this Agreement, neither WaferGen nor anyone acting on its behalf will, until
the
earlier of the Closing Date or the Termination Date, without the prior written
consent of the Placement Agent, offer for sale to, or solicit offers to
subscribe for Units or other securities of WaferGen from, or otherwise approach
or negotiate in respect thereof with, any other person.
11
(i) The
Placement Agent shall be entitled to a cash placement fee equal to seven (7%)
percent of the aggregate purchase price of any equity securities of WaferGen
or
Pubco, as the case may be (a “Recipient
Co”)
purchased in any subsequent offering (“Subsequent
Offering”)
by
investors (the “Referred
Investors”)
whom the
Placement Agent had “introduced” (as defined below) to WaferGen during the
period commencing on the date of the Placement Agent’s engagement by WaferGen
and ending on the earlier of the Closing Date or 15 days after receipt by the
Placement Agent of written notice of termination from WaferGen (the
“Term”)
if such
Subsequent Offering is consummated at any time within the 12 month period
following the Term (the “Tail
Period”).
A
party “introduced” by the Placement Agent shall mean an investor whose
investment did, or would have, resulted in the Placement Agent earning a fee
in
the Offering and who either (i) met with WaferGen and/or had a conversation
with
WaferGen either in person or via telephone regarding the Offering prior to
the
Termination Date, (ii) was provided with a copy of the Memorandum by the
Placement Agent prior to the Termination Date based upon expressing an interest
in the Offering, or (iii) purchased Units in the Offering. A Subsequent Offering
shall not include
(i)
securities issued pursuant to stock option plans, deferred compensation plans,
restricted stock plans and employee stock purchase plans or upon the conversion
or exchange of debt or convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as
of
the Closing Date; (ii) the issuance by Recipient Co of any shares of its capital
stock (either equity or debt) as consideration for mergers, acquisitions, other
business combinations, or strategic alliances; or (iii) the offer, issuance
or
sale of any securities of WaferGen in exchange for any “underwater” options of
WaferGen.
As
additional compensation WaferGen shall issue to the Placement Agent, or cause
to
be issued to the Placement Agent, warrants to purchase a number of equity
securities of Recipient Co equal to seven percent (7%) of the equity securities
of Recipient Co purchased in such Subsequent Offering by Referred Investors
“introduced” by the Placement Agent. In the event that convertible equity
securities of Recipient Co are purchased in the Subsequent Offering, the
foregoing percentage shall apply on an as-converted to common stock basis
(exclusive of any conversion of warrants issued in the Subsequent Offering).
Such warrants shall (a) be exercisable until the date five (5) years after
the
date of the closing of such Subsequent Offering, (b) have an exercise price
equal to the warrant price of any warrants included in any unit offering, or
120% of the common stock offer price, (or in the case of convertible securities,
the exercise price) in such Subsequent Offering, (c) have “piggy-back”
registration rights no less favorable than those of other convertible securities
sold in the Subsequent Offering, and (d) provide for cashless exercise in the
event not registered during the time required for the Subsequent Offering shares
to be registered. Any placement fee or warrants payable to the Placement Agent
pursuant to this Section 5(i) shall be reduced by the amount of any placement
fee or warrants to which the Placement Agent becomes entitled pursuant to
Section 5(j). The obligations of WaferGen set forth in this Section 5(i) shall
survive termination of this Agreement.
12
(j) If
at any
time during the Term, or within the 18-month period following consummation
of
any Offering, WaferGen, or any of its subsidiaries (i) decides to finance or
refinance any indebtedness using a manager or agent; (ii) determines to raise
funds by means of a public offering or a private placement of equity or debt
securities using an underwriter; (iii) determines to raise funds by means of
a
public offering or a private placement of equity or debt securities using a
placement agent; or (iv) decides to dispose of or acquire business units or
acquire any of its outstanding securities or make any exchange or tender offer
or enter into a merger, consolidation or other business combination or any
recapitalization, reorganization, restructuring or other similar transaction,
including, without limitation, an extraordinary dividend or distribution or
a
spin-off or split-off, and WaferGen decides to retain a financial advisor for
such transaction; then, in each such instance, WaferGen shall provide the
Placement Agent with a right of first negotiation, as described below, to either
(y) act as lead manager, placement agent or lead agent with respect to any
financing or refinancing; or (z) act as WaferGen’s exclusive financial advisor
for any transaction. In furtherance of the foregoing, upon WaferGen’s
determination to pursue a transaction delineated in (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv)
above, it shall provide the Placement Agent with written notice thereof, and
shall immediately enter into good faith negotiations with the Placement Agent
on
an exclusive basis for five (5) business days to determine the terms and
conditions of the Placement Agent’s retention. If following such notice, and
such good faith negotiations, WaferGen and the Placement Agent are not able
to
reach agreement on the terms and conditions of the Placement Agent’s retention,
WaferGen shall be free to pursue third parties to act as its advisor, placement
agent or underwriter with respect to the proposed transaction described in
the
notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Placement Agent shall have no right of first
negotiation under this Agreement unless it shall have directly introduced
Investors who purchase Units in the Offering having an aggregate purchase price
of at least $3,000,000. The aggregate purchase price of Units purchased in
the
Offering by Investors directly introduced by the Placement Agent shall be
determined by subtracting from the gross proceeds of the Offering the sum of
(i)
the aggregate purchase price of Units purchased by investors who were not
introduced to the Offering by registered broker-dealers plus (ii) the aggregate
purchase price of Units purchased by Investors introduced by the Placement
Agent’s selected dealers and sub-agents.
(k) Except
with the prior written consent of the Placement Agent (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld) or as set forth herein or in the Memorandum, WaferGen
shall not, at any time prior to the earlier of the Closing Date or the
Termination Date, engage in or commit to engage in any transaction outside
the
ordinary course of business, including without limitation the incurrence of
material indebtedness, materially change its business or operations as described
in the Memorandum, or issue, agree to issue or set aside for issuance any
securities (debt or equity) or any rights to acquire any such
securities.
6. Conditions
of the Placement Agent’s Obligations.
The
obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder are subject to the fulfillment,
at
or before the Closing, of the following additional conditions, each of which
may
be waived in writing by the Placement Agent:
(a) Each
of
the representations and warranties of WaferGen shall be true and correct in
all
material respects when made on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing
Date
as though made on and as of the Closing Date.
13
(b) WaferGen
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements,
covenants and conditions required to be performed and complied with by it under
the Transaction Documents at or before the Closing.
(c) No
order
suspending the use of the Memorandum or enjoining the offering or sale of the
Units shall have been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose or a similar
purpose shall have been initiated and pending, or, to WaferGen’s knowledge, are
contemplated or threatened.
(d) At
the
Closing WaferGen shall have an outstanding capitalization as described in the
Memorandum. All shares of capital stock currently outstanding are, and all
Shares which may be issued at the Closing will be upon issuance, validly issued,
fully paid, and non-assessable. At the Closing, no securities will be issuable
upon the exercise of warrants or options, without the written authorization
of
the Placement Agent, except (i) those warrants and options as set forth in
the
Memorandum and (ii) stock options for shares of WaferGen’s Common Stock granted
to new employees in a manner consistent with prior practices and approved by
WaferGen’s Board of Directors.
(e) The
Placement Agent shall have received certificates of the President of WaferGen,
dated as of the Closing Date, certifying on behalf of WaferGen, in such detail
as the Placement Agent may reasonably request, as to the fulfillment of the
conditions set forth in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) above.
(f) WaferGen
shall have delivered to the Placement Agent (i)
a
currently dated good standing certificate for WaferGen from the Secretary of
State of Delaware and each jurisdiction in which WaferGen is qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation, (i)
a
currently dated good standing certificate for Bio-systems from the Secretary
of
State of Nevada and each jurisdiction in which Bio-systems is qualified to
do
business as a foreign corporation and (ii)
certified resolutions of WaferGen’s Board of Directors approving this Agreement
and the other Transaction Documents, and the transactions and agreements
contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
(g) On
or
prior to the date hereof and at the Closing, the Chief Executive Offcier of
WaferGen shall have provided a certificate to the Placement Agent confirming
on
behalf of WaferGen that there have been no undisclosed material and adverse
changes in the business condition (financial or otherwise) of WaferGen from
the
date of the latest financial statements included in the Memorandum, the absence
of undisclosed liabilities (other than liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business subsequent to the date of the most recent balance sheet
included in the Memorandum) and such other matters relating to the financial
condition of WaferGen that the Placement Agent may reasonably
request.
(h) At
the
Closing, WaferGen shall have paid all fees, costs and expenses as set forth
in
Section 5(i) hereof.
(i) There
shall have been delivered to the Placement Agent a signed opinion of counsel
(including a “10b-5
letter”
in customary form) to WaferGen (“Company
Counsel”),
dated
as of the Closing Date, in the form reasonably satisfactory to counsel for
the
Placement Agent.
14
(j) Prior
to
the Closing, WaferGen shall have engaged a transfer agent reasonably
satisfactory to the Placement Agent for purposes of handling the transfers
of
its capital stock and other securities.
(k) All
proceedings taken at or prior to the Closing in connection with the
authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares will be reasonably satisfactory
in form and substance to the Placement Agent and its counsel, and such counsel
shall have been furnished with all such documents, certificates and opinions
as
they may reasonably request upon reasonable prior notice in connection with
the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6A. Mutual
Condition.
The
obligations of the Placement Agent and WaferGen hereunder are subject to the
execution by the investors of subscription agreements in form and substance
acceptable to the Placement Agent and WaferGen.
7. Indemnification.
(a) WaferGen
will (i)
indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agent, its selected dealers and its
officers, directors, employees and each person, if any, who controls the
Placement Agent within the meaning of the Act and such selected dealers (each
an
“Indemnitee”)
against, and pay or reimburse each Indemnitee for, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses whatsoever (or actions or proceedings or
investigations in respect thereof), joint or several (which will, for all
purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable
costs
of defense and investigation and all reasonable attorneys’ fees, including
appeals), to which any Indemnitee may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, in connection with the offer and sale of the Units, whether such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses shall result from any claim
of
any Indemnitee or any third party; and (ii)
reimburse each Indemnitee for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in
connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, action,
proceeding or investigation; provided,
however,
that
WaferGen will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim,
damage or liability results from (A) an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact made in the Memorandum, or an omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in reliance upon and
in
conformity with written information furnished to WaferGen by any Indemnitee
or
any such controlling persons specifically for use in the preparation thereof,
(B) any violations by the Indemnitee of applicable law, including but not
limited to the Act or state securities laws which does not result from a
violation thereof or a breach hereof by WaferGen or any of its affiliates,
or
(C) fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Indemnitee. In addition
to the foregoing agreement to indemnify and reimburse, WaferGen will indemnify
and hold harmless each Indemnitee against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses whatsoever (or actions or proceedings or investigations
in respect thereof), joint or several (which shall for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys’ fees, including appeals) to which
any Indemnitee may become subject insofar as such costs, expenses, losses,
claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon the claim of
any
person or entity that he or it is entitled to broker’s or finder’s fees from any
Indemnitee in connection with the Offering.
(b) The
Placement Agent will indemnify and hold harmless WaferGen, its officers,
directors, employees and each person, if any, who controls WaferGen and such
persons within the meaning of the Act against, and pay or reimburse any such
person for, any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities or expenses
whatsoever (or actions, proceedings or investigations in respect thereof),
joint
or several, to which WaferGen or any such person may become subject under the
Act or otherwise, in connection with the offer and sale of the Units, whether
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions, proceedings
or investigations in respect thereof) shall result from any claim of WaferGen,
any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, any person who controls
WaferGen and such persons within the meaning of the Act or any third party,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Memorandum, but only with reference to information contained in the Memorandum
relating to the Placement Agent, or an omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the
statements therein not misleading, if made or omitted in reliance upon and
in
conformity with information furnished to WaferGen by the Placement Agent or
any
such controlling persons, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
The
Placement Agent will reimburse WaferGen or any such person for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, proceeding or
investigation to which such indemnity obligation applies, including appeals.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no case shall the Placement Agent have
any
liability to any person under this Section 7(b) for the gross negligence, fraud
or willful misconduct of WaferGen or any person entitled to indemnification
hereunder and (ii) in no event shall the Placement Agent’s indemnification
obligation hereunder exceed the fees payable to it hereunder.
15
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, claim, proceeding or investigation (“Action”),
such
indemnified party, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 7, will notify the indemnifying party
of
the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party
will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified
party under this Section 7 unless the indemnifying party has been substantially
prejudiced by such omission. The indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof subject to the provisions
herein stated, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party.
The indemnified party will have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such
Action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
of
such counsel will not be at the expense of the indemnifying party if the
indemnifying party has assumed the defense of the Action with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however,
that if
the indemnified party shall be requested by the indemnifying party to
participate in the defense thereof or shall have concluded in good faith and
specifically notified the indemnifying party either that there may be specific
defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party or that such Action involves or could have
a
material adverse effect upon it with respect to matters beyond the scope of
the
indemnity agreements contained in this Agreement, then the counsel representing
it, to the extent made necessary by such defenses, shall have the right to
direct such defenses of such Action on its behalf and in such case the
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel in connection with any such
participation or defenses shall be paid by the indemnifying party. No settlement
of any Action against an indemnified party will be made without the consent
of
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed in light of all factors of importance to such
party and no indemnifying party shall be liable to indemnify any person for
any
settlement of any such claim effected without such indemnifying party’s
consent.
16
8. Contribution.
To
provide for just and equitable contribution, if (i)
an
indemnified party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 7 hereof
and it is finally determined, by a judgment, order or decree not subject to
further appeal that such claims for indemnification may not be enforced, even
though this Agreement expressly provides for indemnification in such case;
or
(ii)
any
indemnified or indemnifying party seeks contribution under the Act, the 1934
Act, or otherwise, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of
WaferGen on the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other in connection
with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by WaferGen
on
the one hand and the Placement Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in
the
same proportion as the total net proceeds from the Offering (before deducting
expenses) received by WaferGen bear to the total commissions and fees received
by the Placement Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the
Placement Agent’s aggregate indemnification and contribution obligation
hereunder exceed the
fees
payable to it hereunder.
The
relative fault, in the case of an untrue statement, alleged untrue statement,
omission or alleged omission will be determined by, among other things, whether
such statement, alleged statement, omission or alleged omission relates to
information supplied by WaferGen or by the Placement Agent, and the parties’
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct
or
prevent such statement, alleged statement, omission or alleged omission.
WaferGen and the Placement Agent agree that it would be unjust and inequitable
if the respective obligations of WaferGen and the Placement Agent for
contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation of the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
or
by any other method or allocation that does not reflect the equitable
considerations referred to in this Section 8. No person guilty of a fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) will be
entitled to contribution from any person who is not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who
controls the Placement Agent within the meaning of the Act will have the same
rights to contribution as the Placement Agent, and each person, if any, who
controls WaferGen within the meaning of the Act will have the same rights to
contribution as WaferGen, subject in each case to the provisions of this Section
8. Anything in this Section 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, no party will
be
liable for contribution with respect to the settlement of any claim or action
effected without its written consent. This Section 8 is intended to supersede,
to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the
1934 Act or otherwise available.
9. Term
and Termination.
(a) The
Offering may be terminated fifteen (15) days after receipt by either party
hereto of written notice of termination; provided that no such notice may be
given by WaferGen during the No-Shop Period.
(b) Upon
any
termination pursuant to subsection (a) above, this Agreement shall terminate.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Sections 5(g), 5(i),
5(j) and 7 through 17 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
17
(c) Upon
any
termination pursuant to subsection (a) hereof, the Escrow Agent shall, at the
request of the Placement Agent or WaferGen, cause all money received in respect
of subscriptions for Units not accepted by WaferGen to be promptly returned
to
such subscribers without interest, penalty, expense or deduction. Any interest
earned thereon may be applied to the payment of the Escrow Agent’s fees and
expenses or credited to WaferGen.
10.
Limitation
of Engagement to WaferGen.
WaferGen
acknowledges that the Placement Agent has been retained only by WaferGen, that
the Placement Agent is providing services hereunder as an independent contractor
(and not in any fiduciary or agency capacity) and that WaferGen’s engagement of
the Placement Agent is not deemed to be on behalf of, and is not intended to
confer rights upon, any shareholder, owner or partner of WaferGen or any other
person not a party hereto as against the Placement Agent or any of its
affiliates, or any of its or their officers, directors, controlling persons
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934
Act),
employees or agents, other than the indemnification and contribution provisions
set forth in Sections 7 and 8 hereof. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in
writing by the Placement Agent or as provided in Sections 7 or 8 hereof, no
one
other than WaferGen is authorized to rely upon this Agreement or any other
statements or conduct of the Placement Agent, and no one other than WaferGen
is
intended to be a beneficiary of this Agreement. WaferGen acknowledges that
any
recommendation or advice, written or oral, given by the Placement Agent to
WaferGen in connection with this engagement is intended solely for the benefit
and use of WaferGen’s management and directors in considering a possible
Offering, and any such recommendation or advice is not on behalf of, and shall
not confer any rights or remedies upon, any other person or be used or relied
upon for any other purpose. WaferGen, in its sole discretion, shall have the
right to reject any investor introduced to it by the Placement Agent.
11.
Limitation
of Liability to WaferGen.
Except
as provided in Section 7 (Indemnification) and Section 8 (Contribution), neither
the Placement Agent nor any of its affiliates or any of its or their officers,
directors, controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or
Section 20 of the 1934
Act),
employees or agents shall have any liability to WaferGen, its security holders
or creditors, or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in the right of
WaferGen (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort, for an act of
negligence or otherwise) for any losses, fees, damages, liabilities, costs,
expenses or equitable relief arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the
services
rendered
hereunder, except for losses, fees, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses
that
arise out of or are based on any action of or failure to act by the Placement
Agent and that are finally determined (by a court of competent jurisdiction
and
after exhausting all appeals) to have resulted from the illegal conduct, fraud,
gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Placement Agent. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in no event shall the Placement Agent’s obligation hereunder
exceed the fees payable to it hereunder. With respect to alleged breaches of
the
Confidentiality provisions herein by the Placement Agent, WaferGen shall have
the right to pursue equitable relief in addition to any other remedy in equity
or law.
12. Survival.
The
obligations of the parties to pay any costs, fees and expenses hereunder and
to
provide indemnification and contribution as provided herein shall survive any
termination hereunder. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of WaferGen set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or
on
behalf of, and regardless of any access to information by, WaferGen or the
Placement Agent, or any of their officers or directors or any controlling person
thereof, and will survive the sale of the Xxxxx.
00
00. Notices.
All
notices hereunder will be in writing and sent by certified mail, hand delivery,
overnight delivery or telefax, if sent to the Placement Agent, to Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxxx, LLC, 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000,
Telefax number (000) 000-0000, Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx with a copy (which shall
not, of itself, constitute sufficient notice) to: Morse, Zelnick, Rose &
Lander, LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx,
Esq., Telefax number (000) 000-0000, and if sent to WaferGen, to WaferGen,
Inc.,
Bayside Technology Center, 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, Telefax
number (000) 000-0000, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx with a copy (which shall not,
of
itself, constitute sufficient notice) to: Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, LLP, 000
Xxxx
00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., Telefax number
000-000-0000.
Notices
sent by certified mail shall be deemed received five days thereafter, notices
sent by hand delivery or overnight delivery shall be deemed received on the
date
of the relevant written record of receipt, and notices delivered by telefax
shall be deemed received as of the date and time printed thereon by the telefax
machine.
14. ARBITRATION,
CHOICE OF LAW; COSTS.
THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO SUBMIT ALL CONTROVERSIES (OTHER THAN REQUESTS FOR
EQUITABLE RELIEF AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 15 HEREOF) TO ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH BELOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT (A) ARBITRATION IS
FINAL
AND BINDING ON THE PARTIES, (B) THE PARTIES ARE WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO SEEK
REMEDIES IN COURT, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, (C) PRE-ARBITRATION
DISCOVERY IS GENERALLY MORE LIMITED AND DIFFERENT FROM COURT PROCEEDINGS, (D)
THE ARBITRATOR’S AWARD IS NOT REQUIRED TO INCLUDE FACTUAL FINDINGS OR LEGAL
REASONING AND ANY PARTY’S RIGHT TO APPEAL OR TO SEEK MODIFICATION OF RULES BY
ARBITRATORS IS STRICTLY LIMITED, (E) THE PANEL OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. (THE “NASD”)
ARBITRATORS WILL TYPICALLY INCLUDE A MINORITY OF ARBITRATORS WHO WERE OR ARE
AFFILIATED WITH THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY, AND (F) ALL CONTROVERSIES WHICH MAY
ARISE BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY
ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THE RULES THEN PERTAINING TO THE NASD. JUDGMENT ON
ANY
AWARD OF ANY SUCH ARBITRATION MAY BE ENTERED IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK OR IN ANY OTHER COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OR PERSONS
AGAINST WHOM SUCH AWARD IS RENDERED. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE DETERMINATION
OF
THE ARBITRATORS SHALL BE BINDING AND CONCLUSIVE UPON THEM. EACH PARTY SHALL
BEAR
ITS OWN COSTS, DISBURSEMENTS AND ATTORNEY’S FEES IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH
PROCEEDINGS.
15. Confidentiality.
(a) WaferGen
hereby agrees to hold confidential the identities of the purchasers in the
Offering and shall not disclose their names and addresses without the prior
written consent of the Placement Agent, except as required by law, pursuant
to
an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or the request of a regulatory
authority having jurisdiction over the Placement Agent (a “Regulatory
Request”),
or as
contemplated by the terms of this Agreement, provided that WaferGen shall,
if
permitted by law, give notice to the Placement Agent of the request or order
(other than a Regulatory Request) to furnish the nonpublic information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, WaferGen shall not be deemed to be in violation
of this Section 15 by virtue of revealing the identities of such purchasers
to
WaferGen’s transfer agent and professional advisors or in connection with any
registration statement.
19
(b) In
the
event of the consummation or public announcement of any Offering, the Placement
Agent shall have the right to disclose its participation in such Offering,
including, without limitation, the placement at its cost of “tombstone”
advertisements in financial and other newspapers and journals.
(c) The
Placement Agent acknowledges that the securities laws prohibit WaferGen and
the
Placement Agent from disclosing material, non-public information to selected
persons unless WaferGen discloses such information publicly or discloses such
information on a confidential basis. The Placement Agent hereby agrees with
WaferGen (i) to maintain in confidence any material, non-public information
disclosed to the Placement Agent with respect to WaferGen, (ii) to use such
information only in connection with the provisions of services to WaferGen
hereunder, and (iii) to comply with applicable securities laws with respect
to
such information. The Placement Agent agrees to keep confidential during the
Term, and for five (5) years after the expiration or any termination, of this
Agreement, all material nonpublic information provided to it by WaferGen or
its
advisors, except as required by law, pursuant to a Regulatory Request, or as
contemplated by the terms of this Agreement, provided the Placement Agent shall,
if permitted by law, give notice to WaferGen of the request or order (other
than
a Regulatory Request) to furnish the nonpublic information. Notwithstanding
any
provision herein to the contrary, the Placement Agent may disclose nonpublic
information to its affiliates, agents and advisors whenever it determines that
such disclosure is necessary to provide the services contemplated hereunder,
provided that it advises such persons of the obligation to maintain the
confidentiality of such information and remains liable under this Agreement
for
any breach of confidentiality by such affiliates, agents and advisors.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Section 15 shall
not
bar disclosure of, and the Placement Agent and WaferGen and their respective
representatives or agents may disclose, without limitation of any kind, any
information with respect to the “tax treatment” and “tax structure” (in each
case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the
Offering and related transactions and all materials of any kind (including
opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Placement Agent or
WaferGen or such representatives or agents relating to such tax treatment and
tax structure, provided
that
with respect to any document or similar item, this sentence shall only apply
to
such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment
or tax structure of the transactions.
(d) Each
party hereby consents to the granting of an injunction against it by any court
of competent jurisdiction to enjoin it from violating the foregoing
confidentiality provisions. Each party hereby agrees that the other party will
not have an adequate remedy at law in the event that the breaching party
breaches these confidentiality provisions contained herein, and that the
non-breaching party will suffer irreparable damage and injury as a result of
any
such breach. Resort to such equitable relief shall not, however, be construed
to
be a waiver of any other rights or remedies which the non-breaching party may
have.
20
16. Miscellaneous.
No
provision of this Agreement may be changed or terminated except by a writing
signed by the party or parties to be charged therewith. Unless expressly so
provided, no party to this Agreement will be liable for the performance of
any
other party’s obligations hereunder. Any party hereto may waive compliance by
the other with any of the terms, provisions and conditions set forth herein;
provided,
however,
that
any such waiver shall be in writing specifically setting forth those provisions
waived thereby. No such waiver shall be deemed to constitute or imply waiver
of
any other term, provision or condition of this Agreement. If any provision
of
this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect,
such
determination will not affect such provision in any other respect, and the
remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including facsimile counterparts),
each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute
a
single agreement.
17. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement together with any other agreement referred to herein is intended
to
supersede all prior agreements between the parties with respect to the Units
purchased hereunder and the subject matter hereof, including, without
limitation, the engagement letter between WaferGen and the Placement Agent
dated
February 7, 2007.
[Balance
of page intentionally blank, signature page follows]
21
If
the
foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly
sign
and return this Agreement, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between
WaferGen and the Placement Agent in accordance with its terms.
Very
truly yours,
WAFERGEN,
INC.
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
||
Title: President and CEO |
Accepted
and agreed:
XXXXXX
& XXXXXXX, LLC
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx |
||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
22