Exhibit 10.10
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of August 6,
2004, by and among Aquatic Cellulose International Corp., a Nevada corporation,
with headquarters located at 0000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx VIT 6L1 (the "COMPANY"), and each of the purchasers set forth
on the signature pages hereto (the "BUYERS").
WHEREAS:
A. The Company and the Buyers are executing and delivering this
Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded
by the rules and regulations as promulgated by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act");
B. Buyers desire to purchase and the Company desires to issue and
sell, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (i) 10%
convertible debentures of the Company, in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT
"A", in the aggregate principal amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($250,000) (together with any debenture(s) issued in replacement thereof or as a
dividend thereon or otherwise with respect thereto in accordance with the terms
thereof, the "DEBENTURES"), convertible into shares of common stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Company (the "COMMON STOCK"), upon the terms and subject
to the limitations and conditions set forth in such Debentures and (ii)
warrants, in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT "B", to purchase Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand (250,000) shares of Common Stock (the "WARRANTS").
C. Each Buyer wishes to purchase, upon the terms and conditions
stated in this Agreement, such principal amount of Debentures and number of
Warrants as is set forth immediately below its name on the signature pages
hereto; and
D. Contemporaneous with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights
Agreement, in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT "C" (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.
NOW THEREFORE, the Company and each of the Buyers severally (and not
jointly) hereby agree as follows:
1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF DEBENTURES AND WARRANTS.
a. PURCHASE OF DEBENTURES AND WARRANTS. On the
Closing Date (as defined below), the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer
and each Buyer severally agrees to purchase from the Company such principal
amount of Debentures and number of Warrants as is set forth immediately below
such Buyer's name on the signature pages hereto.
b. FORM OF PAYMENT. On the Closing Date (as defined
below), (1) each Buyer shall pay the purchase price for the debentures and the
Warrants to be issued and sold to each Buyer at the Closing (as defined below)
(the "PURCHASE PRICE") by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
Company, in accordance with the Company's written wiring instructions, against
delivery of the Debentures in the principal amount equal to the Purchase Price
and the number of Warrants as is set forth immediately below such Buyer's name
on the signature pages hereto, and (2) the Company shall deliver such Debentures
and Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company, to such Buyer, against
delivery of such Purchase Price.
c. CLOSING DATE. Subject to the satisfaction (or
written waiver) of the conditions thereto set forth in Section 6 and Section 7
below, the date and time of the issuance and sale of the Debentures and the
Warrants pursuant to this Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE") shall be 12:00 noon,
Eastern Standard Time on March 19, 2004, or such other mutually agreed upon
time. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
"CLOSING") shall occur on the Closing Date at such location as may be agreed to
by the parties.
2. BUYERS' REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each Buyer
severally (and not jointly) represents and warrants to the Company solely as to
such Buyer that:
a. INVESTMENT PURPOSE. As of the date hereof, the
Buyer is purchasing the Debentures and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures (including, without
limitation, such additional shares of Common Stock, if any, as are issuable (i)
on account of interest on the Debentures, (ii) as a result of the events
described in Sections 1.3 and 1.4(g) of the Debentures and Section 2(c) of the
Registration Rights Agreement or (iii) in payment of the Standard Liquidated
Damages Amount (as defined in Section 2(f) below) pursuant to this Agreement,
such shares of Common Stock being collectively referred to herein as the
"CONVERSION SHARES") and the Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise thereof (the "WARRANT SHARES" and, collectively with the
Debentures, Warrants and Conversion Shares, the "SECURITIES") for its own
account and not with a present view towards the public sale or distribution
thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted from registration under
the 1933 Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that by making the representations herein, the
Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other
specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in
accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under
the 1933 Act.
b. ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS. The Buyer is an
"accredited investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D (an
"ACCREDITED INVESTOR").
c. RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS. The Buyer understands
that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance upon specific
exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state
securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of,
and the Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements,
acknowledgments and understandings of the Buyer set forth herein in order to
determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Buyer
to acquire the Securities.
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d. INFORMATION. The Buyer and its advisors, if any,
have been, and for so long as the Debentures and Warrants remain outstanding
will continue to be, furnished with all materials relating to the business,
finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and
sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Buyer or its advisors.
The Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been, and for so long as the Debentures
and Warrants remain outstanding will continue to be, afforded the opportunity to
ask questions of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company has not
disclosed to the Buyer any material nonpublic information and will not disclose
such information unless such information is disclosed to the public prior to or
promptly following such disclosure to the Buyer. Neither such inquiries nor any
other due diligence investigation conducted by Buyer or any of its advisors or
representatives shall modify, amend or affect Buyer's right to rely on the
Company's representations and warranties contained in Section 3 below. The Buyer
understands that its investment in the Securities involves a significant degree
of risk.
e. GOVERNMENTAL REVIEW. The Buyer understands that
no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental
agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the
Securities.
f. TRANSFER OR RE-SALE. The Buyer understands that
(i) except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the sale or re-sale
of the Securities has not been and is not being registered under the 1933 Act or
any applicable state securities laws, and the Securities may not be transferred
unless (a) the Securities are sold pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the 1933 Act, (b) the Buyer shall have delivered to the Company
an opinion of counsel that shall be in form, substance and scope customary for
opinions of counsel in comparable transactions to the effect that the Securities
to be sold or transferred may be sold or transferred pursuant to an exemption
from such registration, which opinion shall be accepted by the Company, (c) the
Securities are sold or transferred to an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 144
promulgated under the 1933 Act (or a successor rule) ("RULE 144")) of the Buyer
who agrees to sell or otherwise transfer the Securities only in accordance with
this Section 2(f) and who is an Accredited Investor, (d) the Securities are sold
pursuant to Rule 144, or (e) the Securities are sold pursuant to Regulation S
under the 1933 Act (or a successor rule) ("REGULATION S"), and the Buyer shall
have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel that shall be in form,
substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in corporate transactions,
which opinion shall be accepted by the Company; (ii) any sale of such Securities
made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of
said Rule and further, if said Rule is not applicable, any re-sale of such
Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the person through whom
the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in
the 0000 Xxx) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933
Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the
Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register such Securities
under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and
conditions of any exemption thereunder (in each case, other than pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else
contained herein to the contrary, the Securities may be pledged as collateral in
connection with a BONA FIDE margin account or other lending arrangement. In the
event that the Company does not accept the opinion of counsel provided by the
Buyer with respect to the transfer of Securities pursuant to an exemption from
registration, such as Rule 144 or Regulation S, within three (3) business days
of delivery of the opinion to the Company, the Company shall pay to the Buyer
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liquidated damages of three percent (3%) of the outstanding amount of the
Debentures per month plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures,
prorated for partial months, in cash or shares at the option of the Company
("STANDARD LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AMOUNT"). If the Company elects to be pay the
Standard Liquidated Damages Amount in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall
be issued at the Conversion Price at the time of payment.
g. LEGENDS. The Buyer understands that the
Debentures and the Warrants and, until such time as the Conversion Shares and
Warrant Shares have been registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated by the
Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or
Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a
particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Conversion Shares and
Warrant Shares may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form
(and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates
for such Securities):
"The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The securities may not be sold,
transferred or assigned in the absence of an effective registration statement
for the securities under said Act, or an opinion of counsel, in form, substance
and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions, that
registration is not required under said Act or unless sold pursuant to Rule 144
or Regulation S under said Act."
The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue
a certificate without such legend to the holder of any Security upon which it is
stamped, if, unless otherwise required by applicable state securities laws, (a)
such Security is registered for sale under an effective registration statement
filed under the 1933 Act or otherwise may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or
Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a
particular date that can then be immediately sold, or (b) such holder provides
the Company with an opinion of counsel, in form, substance and scope customary
for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions, to the effect that a public
sale or transfer of such Security may be made without registration under the
1933 Act, which opinion shall be accepted by the Company so that the sale or
transfer is effected or (c) such holder provides the Company with reasonable
assurances that such Security can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or Regulation S.
The Buyer agrees to sell all Securities, including those represented by a
certificate(s) from which the legend has been removed, in compliance with
applicable prospectus delivery requirements, if any.
h. AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEMENT. This Agreement and
the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly and validly authorized. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Buyer, and this
Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery by the Buyer of the
Registration Rights Agreement, such agreement will constitute, valid and binding
agreements of the Buyer enforceable in accordance with their terms.
i. RESIDENCY. The Buyer is a resident of the
jurisdiction set forth immediately below such Buyer's name on the signature
pages hereto.
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3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The
Company represents and warrants to each Buyer that:
a. ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Company and
each of its Subsidiaries (as defined below), if any, is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, with full power and authority
(corporate and other) to own, lease, use and operate its properties and to carry
on its business as and where now owned, leased, used, operated and conducted.
SCHEDULE 3(A) sets forth a list of all of the Subsidiaries of the Company and
the jurisdiction in which each is incorporated. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in
good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership or use of property or
the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary
except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any material adverse
effect on the business, operations, assets, financial condition or prospects of
the Company or its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, or on the
transactions contemplated hereby or by the agreements or instruments to be
entered into in connection herewith. "SUBSIDIARIES" means any corporation or
other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, in which the Company
owns, directly or indirectly, any equity or other ownership interest.
b. AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEMENT. (i) The Company has
all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Debentures and the Warrants
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to issue
the Securities, in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Debentures and the Warrants by the Company and the consummation by it of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including without limitation, the
issuance of the Debentures and the Warrants and the issuance and reservation for
issuance of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares issuable upon conversion or
exercise thereof) have been duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors
and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its Board of Directors,
or its shareholders is required, (iii) this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company by its authorized representative, and such authorized
representative is the true and official representative with authority to sign
this Agreement and the other documents executed in connection herewith and bind
the Company accordingly, and (iv) this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution
and delivery by the Company of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Debentures
and the Warrants, each of such instruments will constitute, a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms.
c. CAPITALIZATION. As of the date hereof, the
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) ___________ shares of
Common Stock, of which __________ shares are issued and outstanding, __________
shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company's stock option plans,
__________ shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to securities (other than
the Debentures and the Warrants) exercisable for, or convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Common Stock and 298,119,048 shares are reserved for
issuance upon conversion of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants (subject
to adjustment pursuant to the Company's covenant set forth in Section 4(h)
below); and (ii) ______ shares of preferred
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stock, of which _______ shares are issued and outstanding. All of such
outstanding shares of capital stock are, or upon issuance will be, duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of capital
stock of the Company are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar
rights of the shareholders of the Company or any liens or encumbrances imposed
through the actions or failure to act of the Company. Except as disclosed in
SCHEDULE 3(C), as of the effective date of this Agreement, (i) there are no
outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe for, puts, calls,
rights of first refusal, agreements, understandings, claims or other commitments
or rights of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights
convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, or arrangements by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) there are no agreements or
arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to
register the sale of any of its or their securities under the 1933 Act (except
the Registration Rights Agreement) and (iii) there are no anti-dilution or price
adjustment provisions contained in any security issued by the Company (or in any
agreement providing rights to security holders) that will be triggered by the
issuance of the Debentures, the Warrants, the Conversion Shares or Warrant
Shares. The Company has furnished to the Buyer true and correct copies of the
Company's Articles of Incorporation as in effect on the date hereof ("ARTICLES
OF INCORPORATION"), the Company's By-laws, as in effect on the date hereof (the
"BY-LAWS"), and the terms of all securities convertible into or exercisable for
Common Stock of the Company and the material rights of the holders thereof in
respect thereto. The Company shall provide the Buyer with a written update of
this representation signed by the Company's Chief Executive or Chief Financial
Officer on behalf of the Company as of the Closing Date.
d. ISSUANCE OF SHARES. The Conversion Shares and
Warrant Shares are duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon
conversion of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants in accordance with
their respective terms, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
and free from all taxes, liens, claims and encumbrances with respect to the
issue thereof and shall not be subject to preemptive rights or other similar
rights of shareholders of the Company and will not impose personal liability
upon the holder thereof.
e. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DILUTION. The Company
understands and acknowledges the potentially dilutive effect to the Common Stock
upon the issuance of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares upon conversion of
the Debenture or exercise of the Warrants. The Company further acknowledges that
its obligation to issue Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares upon conversion of
the Debentures or exercise of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement,
the Debentures and the Warrants is absolute and unconditional regardless of the
dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other
shareholders of the Company.
f. NO CONFLICTS. Subject to the Stockholder
Approval (as defined in Section 4(1)), the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Debentures and the
Warrants by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and
reservation for issuance of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares) will not
(i) conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws or (ii) violate or conflict with, or result in a breach
of any provision of, or constitute a
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default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a
default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture, patent, patent
license or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order,
judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations
and regulations of any self-regulatory organizations to which the Company or its
securities are subject) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound or affected (except for such conflicts, defaults, terminations,
amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect). Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of
Incorporation, By-laws or other organizational documents and neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default (and no event has occurred which with
notice or lapse of time or both could put the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
in default) under, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken
any action or failed to take any action that would give to others any rights of
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement,
indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any property or assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except for possible defaults as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The businesses
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, are not being conducted, and shall
not be conducted so long as a Buyer owns any of the Securities, in violation of
any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity. Except as
specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the 1933 Act
and any applicable state securities laws, the Company is not required to obtain
any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with,
any court, governmental agency, regulatory agency, self regulatory organization
or stock market or any third party in order for it to execute, deliver or
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Debentures or the Warrants in accordance with the terms hereof or
thereof or to issue and sell the Debentures and Warrants in accordance with the
terms hereof and to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the
Debentures and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants. Except as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 3(F), all consents, authorizations, orders, filings and
registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding
sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the date hereof. The
Company is not in violation of the listing requirements of the Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board (the "OTCBB") and does not reasonably anticipate that the Common
Stock will be delisted by the OTCBB in the foreseeable future. The Company and
its Subsidiaries are unaware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise
to any of the foregoing.
g. SEC DOCUMENTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Except as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 3(G), the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules,
forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC
pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "1934 ACT") (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof
and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto
and documents (other than exhibits to such documents) incorporated by reference
therein, being hereinafter referred to herein as the "SEC DOCUMENTS"). The
Company has delivered to each Buyer true and complete copies of the SEC
Documents, except for such exhibits and incorporated documents. As of their
respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC
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promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC
Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, 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. None of the
statements made in any such SEC Documents is, or has been, required to be
amended or updated under applicable law (except for such statements as have been
amended or updated in subsequent filings prior the date hereof). As of their
respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC
Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied,
during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such
financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited
interim statements, to the extent they may not include footnotes or may be
condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries
as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and
cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). Except as set forth in the
financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents, the Company
has no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other than (i) liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business subsequent to May 31, 2003 and (ii)
obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of
business and not required under generally accepted accounting principles to be
reflected in such financial statements, which, individually or in the aggregate,
are not material to the financial condition or operating results of the Company.
h. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Since May 31, 2003,
there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in
the assets, liabilities, business, properties, operations, financial condition,
results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
i. ABSENCE OF LITIGATION. There is no action, suit,
claim, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public
board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or their officers or directors
in their capacity as such, that could have a Material Adverse Effect. SCHEDULE
3(I) contains a complete list and summary description of any pending or
threatened proceeding against or affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, without regard to whether it would have a Material Adverse Effect.
The Company and its Subsidiaries are unaware of any facts or circumstances which
might give rise to any of the foregoing.
j. PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, ETC.
(i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
owns or possesses the requisite licenses or rights to use all patents, patent
applications, patent rights, inventions, know-how, trade secrets, trademarks,
trademark applications, service marks, service names, trade names and copyrights
("INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY") necessary to enable it to conduct its business as now
operated (and, except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3(J) hereof, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, as presently contemplated to be operated in the future);
there is no claim
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or action by any person pertaining to, or proceeding pending, or to the
Company's knowledge threatened, which challenges the right of the Company or of
a Subsidiary with respect to any Intellectual Property necessary to enable it to
conduct its business as now operated (and, except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3(J)
hereof, to the best of the Company's knowledge, as presently contemplated to be
operated in the future); to the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company's
or its Subsidiaries' current and intended products, services and processes do
not infringe on any Intellectual Property or other rights held by any person;
and the Company is unaware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise
to any of the foregoing. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken
reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value
of their Intellectual Property.
(ii) All of the Company's computer software
and computer hardware, and other similar or related items of automated,
computerized or software systems that are used or relied on by the Company in
the conduct of its business or that were, or currently are being, sold or
licensed by the Company to customers (collectively, "INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY"),
are Year 2000 Compliant. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "YEAR 2000
Compliant" means, with respect to the Company's Information Technology, that the
Information Technology is designed to be used prior to, during and after the
calendar Year 2000, and the Information Technology used during each such time
period will accurately receive, provide and process date and time data
(including, but not limited to, calculating, comparing and sequencing) from,
into and between the 20th and 21st centuries, including the years 1999 and 2000,
and leap-year calculations, and will not malfunction, cease to function, or
provide invalid or incorrect results as a result of the date or time data, to
the extent that other information technology, used in combination with the
Information Technology, properly exchanges date and time data with it. The
Company has delivered to the Buyers true and correct copies of all analyses,
reports, studies and similar written information, whether prepared by the
Company or another party, relating to whether the Information Technology is Year
2000 Compliant, if any.
k. NO MATERIALLY ADVERSE CONTRACTS, ETC. Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any charter, corporate or
other legal restriction, or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation
which in the judgment of the Company's officers has or is expected in the future
to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or agreement which in the judgment of
the Company's officers has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
l. TAX STATUS. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE
3(L), the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has made or filed all federal,
state and foreign income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations
required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject (unless and only to the
extent that the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has set aside on its books
provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and unreported
taxes) and has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges
that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns,
reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and has set
aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes
for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or
declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to
be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the
Company know of no basis for any such claim. The Company has not executed a
waiver with respect to the statute of limitations relating to the
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assessment or collection of any foreign, federal, state or local tax. Except as
set forth on SCHEDULE 3(L), none of the Company's tax returns is presently being
audited by any taxing authority.
m. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth on
SCHEDULE 3(M) and except for arm's length transactions pursuant to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries makes payments in the ordinary course of
business upon terms no less favorable than the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries could obtain from third parties and other than the grant of stock
options disclosed on SCHEDULE 3(C), none of the officers, directors, or
employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (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
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any officer, director,
or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director,
trustee or partner.
n. DISCLOSURE. All information relating to or
concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries set forth in this Agreement
and provided to the Buyers pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof and otherwise in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is true and correct in all
material respects and the Company has not omitted to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made herein or therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No event or
circumstance has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, prospects, operations or
financial conditions, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires
public disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so
publicly announced or disclosed (assuming for this purpose that the Company's
reports filed under the 1934 Act are being incorporated into an effective
registration statement filed by the Company under the 1933 Act).
o. ACKNOWLEDGMENT REGARDING BUYERS' PURCHASE OF
SECURITIES. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Buyers are acting
solely in the capacity of arm's length purchasers with respect to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company further acknowledges that
no Buyer 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 statement made by any Buyer or any of their
respective representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby is not advice or a recommendation and is merely
incidental to the Buyers' purchase of the Securities. The Company further
represents to each Buyer that the Company's decision to enter into this
Agreement has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the Company and
its representatives.
p. NO INTEGRATED OFFERING. 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 in any security or solicited any
offers to buy any security under circumstances that would require registration
under the 1933 Act of the issuance of the Securities to the Buyers. The issuance
of the Securities to the Buyers will not be integrated with any other issuance
of the
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Company's securities (past, current or future) for purposes of any shareholder
approval provisions applicable to the Company or its securities.
q. NO BROKERS. The Company has taken no action
which would give rise to any claim by any person for brokerage commissions,
transaction fees or similar payments relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
r. PERMITS; COMPLIANCE. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations,
licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates,
approvals and orders necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the "COMPANY
PERMITS"), and there is no action pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened regarding suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in conflict with, or in
default or violation of, any of the Company Permits, except for any such
conflicts, defaults or violations which, individually or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Since May 31,
2003, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
notification with respect to possible conflicts, defaults or violations of
applicable laws, except for notices relating to possible conflicts, defaults or
violations, which conflicts, defaults or violations would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
s. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(i) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3(S),
there are, to the Company's knowledge, with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any predecessor of the Company, no past or present violations of
Environmental Laws (as defined below), releases of any material into the
environment, actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events, incidents,
or contractual obligations which may give rise to any common law environmental
liability or any liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 or similar federal, state, local or
foreign laws and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received
any notice with respect to any of the foregoing, nor is any action pending or,
to the Company's knowledge, threatened in connection with any of the foregoing.
The term "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means all federal, state, local or foreign laws
relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment
(including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land
surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants
contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively,
"HAZARDOUS MATERIALS") into the environment, or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations,
codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses,
notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued,
entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.
(ii) Other than those that are or were
stored, used or disposed of in compliance with applicable law, no Hazardous
Materials are contained on or about any real property currently owned, leased or
11
used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no Hazardous Materials were
released on or about any real property previously owned, leased or used by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the period the property was owned,
leased or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except in the normal
course of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' business.
(iii) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3(S),
there are no underground storage tanks on or under any real property owned,
leased or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are not in
compliance with applicable law.
t. TITLE TO PROPERTY. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property
and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is
material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in
SCHEDULE 3(T) or such as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Any real
property and facilities held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries are
held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions
as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
u. INSURANCE. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility
against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company
believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and
its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such 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 at a cost that
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has provided to Buyer true
and correct copies of all policies relating to directors' and officers'
liability coverage, errors and omissions coverage, and commercial general
liability coverage.
v. INTERNAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLS. The Company and
each of its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient, in the judgment of the Company's board of directors, 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
generally accepted accounting principles 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.
w. FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES. Neither the Company,
nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other
person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary has, in the course of
his actions for, or on behalf of, the Company, used any corporate funds for any
unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating
to political activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any
foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds;
violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence
payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
government official or employee.
12
x. SOLVENCY. The Company (after giving effect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) is solvent (I.E., its assets
have a fair market value in excess of the amount required to pay its probable
liabilities on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured) and
currently the Company has no information that would lead it to reasonably
conclude that the Company would not, after giving effect to the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, have the ability to, nor does it intend to take
any action that would impair its ability to, pay its debts from time to time
incurred in connection therewith as such debts mature. The Company did not
receive a qualified opinion from its auditors with respect to its most recent
fiscal year end and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, does not anticipate or know of any basis upon which its auditors
might issue a qualified opinion in respect of its current fiscal year.
y. NO INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Company is not, and
upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement
will not be an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (an "INVESTMENT COMPANY"). The Company is not
controlled by an Investment Company.
z. BREACH OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE
COMPANY. If the Company breaches any of the representations or warranties set
forth in this Section 3, and in addition to any other remedies available to the
Buyers pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Buyer the
Standard Liquidated Damages Amount in cash or in shares of Common Stock at the
option of the Company, until such breach is cured. If the Company elects to pay
the Standard Liquidated Damages Amounts in shares of Common Stock, such shares
shall be issued at the Conversion Price at the time of payment.
4. COVENANTS.
a. BEST EFFORTS. The parties shall use their best
efforts to satisfy timely each of the conditions described in Section 6 and 7 of
this Agreement.
b. FORM D; BLUE SKY LAWS. The Company agrees to
file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and
to provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company
shall, on or before the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall
reasonably determine is necessary to qualify the Securities for sale to the
Buyers at the applicable closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable
securities or "blue sky" laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain
an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such
action so taken to each Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date.
c. REPORTING STATUS; ELIGIBILITY TO USE FORM S-3,
SB-2 OR FORM S-1. The Company's Common Stock is registered under Section 12(g)
of the 1934 Act. The Company represents and warrants that it meets the
requirements for the use of Form S-3 (or if the Company is not eligible for the
use of Form S-3 as of the Filing Date (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement), the Company may use the form of registration for which it is
eligible at that time) for registration of the sale by the Buyer of the
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). So
long as the Buyer beneficially owns any of the Securities, the Company shall
timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to
13
the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer
required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules
and regulations thereunder would permit such termination. The Company further
agrees to file all reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a
timely manner so as to become eligible, and thereafter to maintain its
eligibility, for the use of Form S-3. The Company shall issue a press release
describing the materials terms of the transaction contemplated hereby as soon as
practicable following the Closing Date but in no event more than two (2)
business days of the Closing Date, which press release shall be subject to prior
review by the Buyers. The Company agrees that such press release shall not
disclose the name of the Buyers unless expressly consented to in writing by the
Buyers or unless required by applicable law or regulation, and then only to the
extent of such requirement.
d. USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company shall use the
proceeds from the sale of the Debentures and the Warrants in the manner set
forth in SCHEDULE 4(D) attached hereto and made a part hereof and shall not,
directly or indirectly, use such proceeds for any loan to or investment in any
other corporation, partnership, enterprise or other person (except in connection
with its currently existing direct or indirect Subsidiaries)
e. FUTURE OFFERINGS. Subject to the exceptions
described below, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of a
majority-in-interest of the Buyers, not to be unreasonably withheld, negotiate
or contract with any party to obtain additional equity financing (including debt
financing with an equity component) that involves (A) the issuance of Common
Stock at a discount to the market price of the Common Stock on the date of
issuance (taking into account the value of any warrants or options to acquire
Common Stock issued in connection therewith) or (B) the issuance of convertible
securities that are convertible into an indeterminate number of shares of Common
Stock or (C) the issuance of warrants during the period (the "LOCK-UP PERIOD")
beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the later of (i) two hundred seventy
(270) days from the Closing Date and (ii) one hundred eighty (180) days from the
date the Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) is declared effective (plus any days in which sales cannot be made
thereunder). In addition, subject to the exceptions described below, the Company
will not conduct any equity financing (including debt with an equity component)
("FUTURE OFFERINGS") during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending
two (2) years after the end of the Lock-up Period unless it shall have first
delivered to each Buyer, at least twenty (20) business days prior to the closing
of such Future Offering, written notice describing the proposed Future Offering,
including the terms and conditions thereof and proposed definitive documentation
to be entered into in connection therewith, and providing each Buyer an option
during the fifteen (15) day period following delivery of such notice to purchase
its pro rata share (based on the ratio that the aggregate principal amount of
Debentures purchased by it hereunder bears to the aggregate principal amount of
Debentures purchased hereunder) of the securities being offered in the Future
Offering on the same terms as contemplated by such Future Offering (the
limitations referred to in this sentence and the preceding sentence are
collectively referred to as the "CAPITAL RAISING LIMITATIONS"). In the event the
terms and conditions of a proposed Future Offering are amended in any respect
after delivery of the notice to the Buyers concerning the proposed Future
Offering, the Company shall deliver a new notice to each Buyer describing the
amended terms and conditions of the proposed Future Offering and each Buyer
thereafter shall have an option during the fifteen (15) day period following
delivery of such new notice to purchase its pro rata share of
14
the securities being offered on the same terms as contemplated by such proposed
Future Offering, as amended. The foregoing sentence shall apply to successive
amendments to the terms and conditions of any proposed Future Offering. The
Capital Raising Limitations shall not apply to any transaction involving (i)
issuances of securities in a firm commitment underwritten public offering
(excluding a continuous offering pursuant to Rule 415 under the 0000 Xxx) or
(ii) issuances of securities as consideration for a merger, consolidation or
purchase of assets, or in connection with any strategic partnership or joint
venture (the primary purpose of which is not to raise equity capital), or in
connection with the disposition or acquisition of a business, product or license
by the Company. The Capital Raising Limitations also shall not apply to the
issuance of securities upon exercise or conversion of the Company's options,
warrants or other convertible securities outstanding as of the date hereof or to
the grant of additional options or warrants, or the issuance of additional
securities, under any Company stock option or restricted stock plan approved by
the shareholders of the Company.
f. EXPENSES. At the Closing, the Company shall
reimburse Buyers for expenses incurred by them in connection with the
negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the other agreements to be executed in connection herewith ("Documents"),
including, without limitation, attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses,
transfer agent fees, fees for stock quotation services, fees relating to any
amendments or modifications of the Documents or any consents or waivers of
provisions in the Documents, fees for the preparation of opinions of counsel,
escrow fees, and costs of restructuring the transactions contemplated by the
Documents. When possible, the Company must pay these fees directly, otherwise
the Company must make immediate payment for reimbursement to the Buyers for all
fees and expenses immediately upon written notice by the Buyer or the submission
of an invoice by the Buyer If the Company fails to reimburse the Buyer in full
within three (3) business days of the written notice or submission of invoice by
the Buyer, the Company shall pay interest on the total amount of fees to be
reimbursed at a rate of 15% per annum.
g. FINANCIAL INFORMATION. The Company agrees to
send the following reports to each Buyer until such Buyer transfers, assigns, or
sells all of the Securities: (i) within ten (10) days after the filing with the
SEC, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-KSB its Quarterly Reports on Form
10-QSB and any Current Reports on Form 8-K; (ii) within one (1) day after
release, copies of all press releases issued by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; and (iii) contemporaneously with the making available or giving to
the shareholders of the Company, copies of any notices or other information the
Company makes available or gives to such shareholders.
h. AUTHORIZATION AND RESERVATION OF SHARES. Subject
to the Stockholder Approval (as defined in Section 4(1)), the Company shall at
all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, a
sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to provide for the full conversion
or exercise of the outstanding Debentures and Warrants and issuance of the
Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares in connection therewith (based on the
Conversion Price of the Debentures or Exercise Price of the Warrants in effect
from time to time) and as otherwise required by the Debentures. The Company
shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
conversion of Debentures and exercise of the Warrants without the consent of
each Buyer. Subject to the Stockholder Approval, the
15
Company shall at all times maintain the number of shares of Common Stock so
reserved for issuance at an amount ("RESERVED AMOUNT") equal to no less than two
(2) times the number that is then actually issuable upon full conversion of the
Debentures and Additional Debentures and upon exercise of the Warrants and the
Additional Warrants (based on the Conversion Price of the Debentures or the
Exercise Price of the Warrants in effect from time to time). If at any time the
number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance
("AUTHORIZED AND RESERVED SHARES") is below the Reserved Amount, the Company
will promptly take all corporate action necessary to authorize and reserve a
sufficient number of shares, including, without limitation, calling a special
meeting of shareholders to authorize additional shares to meet the Company's
obligations under this Section 4(h), in the case of an insufficient number of
authorized shares, obtain shareholder approval of an increase in such authorized
number of shares, and voting the management shares of the Company in favor of an
increase in the authorized shares of the Company to ensure that the number of
authorized shares is sufficient to meet the Reserved Amount. If the Company
fails to obtain such shareholder approval within thirty (30) days following the
date on which the number of Reserved Amount exceeds the Authorized and Reserved
Shares, the Company shall pay to the Borrower the Standard Liquidated Damages
Amount, in cash or in shares of Common Stock at the option of the Buyer. If the
Buyer elects to be paid the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount in shares of
Common Stock, such shares shall be issued at the Conversion Price at the time of
payment. In order to ensure that the Company has authorized a sufficient amount
of shares to meet the Reserved Amount at all times, the Company must deliver to
the Buyer at the end of every month a list detailing (1) the current amount of
shares authorized by the Company and reserved for the Buyer; and (2) amount of
shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and upon exercise of the
Warrants and as payment of interest accrued on the Debentures for one year. If
the Company fails to provide such list within five (5) business days of the end
of each month, the Company shall pay the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount, in
cash or in shares of Common Stock at the option of the Buyer, until the list is
delivered. If the Buyer elects to be paid the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount
in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be issued at the Conversion Price
at the time of payment.
i. LISTING. The Company shall promptly secure the
listing of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares upon each national
securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, upon which shares of
Common Stock are then listed (subject to official notice of issuance) and, so
long as any Buyer owns any of the Securities, shall maintain, so long as any
other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing of all Conversion
Shares and Warrant Shares from time to time issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures or exercise of the Warrants. The Company will obtain and, so long as
any Buyer owns any of the Securities, maintain the listing and trading of its
Common Stock on the OTCBB or any equivalent replacement exchange, the Nasdaq
National Market ("NASDAQ"), the Nasdaq SmallCap Market ("NASDAQ SMALLCAP"), the
New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), or the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX") and
will comply in all respects with the Company's reporting, filing and other
obligations under the bylaws or rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers ("NASD") and such exchanges, as applicable. The Company shall promptly
provide to each Buyer copies of any notices it receives from the OTCBB and any
other exchanges or quotation systems on which the Common Stock is then listed
regarding the continued eligibility of the Common Stock for listing on such
exchanges and quotation systems.
16
j. CORPORATE EXISTENCE. So long as a Buyer
beneficially owns any Debentures or Warrants, the Company shall maintain its
corporate existence and shall not sell all or substantially all of the Company's
assets, except in the event of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, where the surviving or successor
entity in such transaction (i) assumes the Company's obligations hereunder and
under the agreements and instruments entered into in connection herewith and
(ii) is a publicly traded corporation whose Common Stock is listed for trading
on the OTCBB, Nasdaq, Nasdaq SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX.
k. NO INTEGRATION. The Company shall not make any
offers or sales of any security (other than the Securities) under circumstances
that would require registration of the Securities being offered or sold
hereunder under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of the Securities to be
integrated with any other offering of securities by the Company for the purpose
of any stockholder approval provision applicable to the Company or its
securities.
l. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Company shall use its
best efforts to obtain, on or before August 31, 2004, such approvals of the
Company's stockholders as may be required to issue all of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of, or otherwise with respect to, the
Debentures and the Warrants in accordance with Nevada law and any applicable
rules or regulations of the OTCBB and Nasdaq, either through a reverse stock
split of the Common Stock or an increase in authorized capital (the "STOCKHOLDER
APPROVAL"). The Company shall furnish to each Buyer and its legal counsel
promptly (but in no event less than two (2) business days) before the same is
filed with the SEC, one copy of the proxy statement or information statement and
any amendment thereto, and shall deliver to each Buyer promptly each letter
written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and
each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case
relating to such proxy statement or information statement (other than any
portion thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought
confidential treatment). The Company will promptly (but in no event more than
three (3) business days) respond to any and all comments received from the SEC
(which comments shall promptly be made available to each Buyer). The Company
shall comply with the filing and disclosure requirements of Section 14 under the
1934 Act in connection with the Stockholder Approval. The Company represents and
warrants that its Board of Directors has approved the proposal contemplated by
this Section 4(l) and shall indicate such approval in the proxy statement or
information statement used in connection with the Stockholder Approval.
m. BREACH OF COVENANTS. If the Company breaches any
of the covenants set forth in this Section 4, and in addition to any other
remedies available to the Buyers pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall
pay to the Buyers the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount, in cash or in shares
of Common Stock at the option of the Company, until such breach is cured. If the
Company elects to pay the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount in shares, such
shares shall be issued at the Conversion Price at the time of payment.
5. TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS. The Company shall issue
irrevocable instructions to its transfer agent to issue certificates, registered
in the name of each Buyer or its nominee, for the Conversion Shares and Warrant
Shares in such amounts as
17
specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon conversion of the
Debentures or exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof (the
"IRREVOCABLE TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS"). Prior to registration of the
Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares under the 1933 Act or the date on which the
Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without
any restriction as to the number of Securities as of a particular date that can
then be immediately sold, all such certificates shall bear the restrictive
legend specified in Section 2(g) of this Agreement. The Company warrants that no
instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to
in this Section 5, and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(f)
hereof (in the case of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares, prior to
registration of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares under the 1933 Act or
the date on which the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares may be sold pursuant
to Rule 144 without any restriction as to the number of Securities as of a
particular date that can then be immediately sold), will be given by the Company
to its transfer agent and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely
transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent
provided in this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. Nothing in
this Section shall affect in any way the Buyer's obligations and agreement set
forth in Section 2(g) hereof to comply with all applicable prospectus delivery
requirements, if any, upon re-sale of the Securities. If a Buyer provides the
Company with (i) an opinion of counsel in form, substance and scope customary
for opinions in comparable transactions, to the effect that a public sale or
transfer of such Securities may be made without registration under the 1933 Act
and such sale or transfer is effected or (ii) the Buyer provides reasonable
assurances that the Securities can be sold pursuant to Rule 144, the Company
shall permit the transfer, and, in the case of the Conversion Shares and Warrant
Shares, promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates,
free from restrictive legend, in such name and in such denominations as
specified by such Buyer. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its
obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Buyers, by vitiating
the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the
Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations
under this Section 5 may be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section, that the
Buyers shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an
injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate transfer, without the
necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being
required.
6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL. The
obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Debentures and
Warrants to a Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before
the Closing Date of each of the following conditions thereto, provided that
these conditions are for the Company's sole benefit and may be waived by the
Company at any time in its sole discretion:
a. The applicable Buyer shall have executed this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, and delivered the same to the
Company.
b. The applicable Buyer shall have delivered the
Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1(b) above.
c. The representations and warranties of the
applicable Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the
date when made and as of the Closing Date as
18
though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak
as of a specific date), and the applicable Buyer shall have performed, satisfied
and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and
conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied
with by the applicable Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.
d. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of
competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby which prohibits the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7. CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE. The
obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Debentures and Warrants at
the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date of
each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for such
Buyer's sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole
discretion:
a. The Company shall have executed this Agreement
and the Registration Rights Agreement, and delivered the same to the Buyer.
b. The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer
duly executed Debentures (in such denominations as the Buyer shall request) and
Warrants in accordance with Section 1(b) above.
c. The Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in
form and substance satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the Buyers, shall
have been delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Company's Transfer
Agent.
d. The representations and warranties of the
Company shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when
made and as of the Closing Date as though made at such time (except for
representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date) and the Company
shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the
covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed,
satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date. The
Buyer shall have received a certificate or certificates, executed by the chief
executive officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing
effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer
including, but not limited to certificates with respect to the Company's
Articles of Incorporation, By-laws and Board of Directors' resolutions relating
to the transactions contemplated hereby.
e. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of
competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby which prohibits the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
f. No event shall have occurred which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
19
g. The Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares shall
have been authorized for quotation on the OTCBB and trading in the Common Stock
on the OTCBB shall not have been suspended by the SEC or the OTCBB.
h. The Buyer shall have received an opinion of the
Company's counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, in form, scope and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer and in substantially the same form as
EXHIBIT "D" attached hereto.
i. The Buyer shall have received an officer's
certificate described in Section 3(c) above, dated as of the Closing Date.
8. GOVERNING LAW; MISCELLANEOUS.
a. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ENFORCED,
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE,
WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED
IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT,
THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. BOTH PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE DEFENSE OF AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. BOTH PARTIES
FURTHER AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON A PARTY MAILED BY FIRST CLASS MAIL
SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE PARTY IN
ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT EITHER PARTY'S RIGHT TO
SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. BOTH PARTIES AGREE THAT A
FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE
AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY
OTHER LAWFUL MANNER. THE PARTY WHICH DOES NOT PREVAIL IN ANY DISPUTE ARISING
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING
ATTORNEYS' FEES, INCURRED BY THE PREVAILING PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH
DISPUTE.
b. COUNTERPARTS; SIGNATURES BY FACSIMILE. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and
delivered to the other party. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this
Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
c. HEADINGS. The headings of this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not form part of, or affect the
interpretation of, this Agreement.
20
d. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of
this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule
of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it
may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute
or rule of law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable
under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision hereof.
e. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS. This Agreement and
the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the
parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as
specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Buyer
makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such
matters. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended other than by
an instrument in writing signed by the party to be charged with enforcement.
f. NOTICES. Any notices required or permitted to be
given under the terms of this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered
mail (return receipt requested) or delivered personally or by courier (including
a recognized overnight delivery service) or by facsimile and shall be effective
five days after being placed in the mail, if mailed by regular United States
mail, or upon receipt, if delivered personally or by courier (including a
recognized overnight delivery service) or by facsimile, in each case addressed
to a party. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Aquatic Cellulose International Corp.
0000 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx VIT 6L1
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx & Associates
0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
If to a Buyer: To the address set forth immediately below such Buyer's
name on the signature pages hereto.
With copy to:
21
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, LLP
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Each party shall provide notice to the other party of any change in
address.
g. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and
assigns. Neither the Company nor any Buyer shall assign this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 2(f), any Buyer may assign its
rights hereunder to any person that purchases Securities in a private
transaction from a Buyer or to any of its "affiliates," as that term is defined
under the 1934 Act, without the consent of the Company.
h. THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is
intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted
successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision
hereof be enforced by, any other person.
i. SURVIVAL. The representations and warranties of
the Company and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 8
shall survive the closing hereunder notwithstanding any due diligence
investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Buyers. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each of the Buyers and all their officers,
directors, employees and agents for loss or damage arising as a result of or
related to any breach or alleged breach by the Company of any of its
representations, warranties and covenants set forth in Sections 3 and 4 hereof
or any of its covenants and obligations under this Agreement or the Registration
Rights Agreement, including advancement of expenses as they are incurred.
j. PUBLICITY. The Company and each of the Buyers
shall have the right to review a reasonable period of time before issuance of
any press releases, SEC, OTCBB or NASD filings, or any other public statements
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of each of the Buyers,
to make any press release or SEC, OTCBB (or other applicable trading market) or
NASD filings with respect to such transactions as is required by applicable law
and regulations (although each of the Buyers shall be consulted by the Company
in connection with any such press release prior to its release and shall be
provided with a copy thereof and be given an opportunity to comment thereon).
k. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party shall do and
perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things,
and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates,
instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably
22
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
l. NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION. 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.
m. REMEDIES. The Company acknowledges that a breach
by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Buyers by
vitiating the intent and purpose of the transaction contemplated hereby.
Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its
obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of
a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this
Agreement, that the Buyers shall be entitled, in addition to all other available
remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable
herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any
breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or
other security being required.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Buyers and the Company have caused
this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
AQUATIC CELLULOSE INTERNATIONAL CORP.
/s/ Sheridan Westgarde
--------------------------------------
Sheridan B. Westgarde
President and Chief Executive Officer
AJW PARTNERS, LLC
By: SMS Group, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: Delaware
ADDRESS: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
AGGREGATE SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT:
Aggregate Principal Amount of Debentures: $40,000
Number of Warrants: 40,000
Aggregate Purchase Price: $40,000
24
AJW OFFSHORE, LTD.
By: First Street Manager II, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: Cayman Islands
ADDRESS: AJW Offshore, Ltd.
X.X. Xxx 00000 XXX
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, B.W.I.
AGGREGATE SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT:
Aggregate Principal Amount of Debentures: $92,500
Number of Warrants: 92,500
Aggregate Purchase Price: $92,500
25
AJW QUALIFIED PARTNERS, LLC
By: AJW Manager, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: New York
ADDRESS: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
AGGREGATE SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT:
Aggregate Principal Amount of Debentures: $110,000
Number of Warrants: 110,000
Aggregate Purchase Price: $110,000
26
NEW MILLENNIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS II, LLC
By: First Street Manager II, LLP
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: New York
ADDRESS: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
AGGREGATE SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT:
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes: $7,500
Number of Warrants: 7,500
Aggregate Purchase Price: $7,500
27
