Contract
THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK
Corporation: | Synbiotics Corporation, a California corporation | |
Number of Shares: | 250,000 | |
Class of Stock: | Common | |
Initial Exercise Price: | $0.17 per share | |
Issue Date: | September 23, 2004 | |
Expiration Date: | September 23, 2010 (Subject to Article 4.1) |
THIS WARRANT CERTIFIES THAT, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged COMERICA BANK or its assignee (“Holder”) is entitled to purchase the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of the class of securities (the “Shares”) of the corporation (the “Company”) at the initial exercise price per Share (the “Warrant Price”) all as set forth above and as adjusted pursuant to Article 2 of this warrant, subject to the provisions and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this warrant.
ARTICLE 1. EXERCISE.
1.1 Method of Exercise. Holder may exercise this warrant by delivering this warrant and a duly executed Notice of Exercise in substantially the form attached as Appendix 1 to the principal office of the Company. Unless Holder is exercising the conversion right set forth in Section 1.2, Holder shall also deliver to the Company a check for the aggregate Warrant Price for the Shares being purchased.
1.2 Conversion Right. In lieu of exercising this warrant as specified in Section 1.1, Holder may from time to time convert this warrant, in whole or in part, into a number of Shares determined by dividing (a) the aggregate fair market value of the Shares or other securities otherwise issuable upon exercise of this warrant minus the aggregate Warrant Price of such Shares by (b) the fair market value of one Share. The fair market value of the Shares shall be determined pursuant to Section 1.4.
1.3 Fair Market Value. If the Shares are traded regularly in a public market, the fair market value of the Shares shall be the closing price of the Shares (or the closing price of the Company’s stock into which the Shares are convertible) reported for the business day immediately before Holder delivers its Notice of Exercise to the Company. If the Shares are not
regularly traded in a public market, the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine fair market value in its reasonable good faith judgment. The foregoing notwithstanding, if Holder advises the Board of Directors in writing that Holder disagrees with such determination, then the Company and Holder shall promptly agree upon a reputable investment banking firm to undertake such valuation. If the valuation of such investment banking firm is greater than that determined by the Board of Directors, then all fees and expenses of such investment banking firm shall be paid by the Company. In all other circumstances, such fees and expenses shall be paid by Holder.
1.4 Delivery of Certificate and New Warrant. Promptly after Holder exercises or converts this warrant, the Company shall deliver to Holder certificates for the Shares acquired and, if this warrant has not been fully exercised or converted and has not expired, a new warrant representing the Shares not so acquired.
1.5 Replacement of Warrants. On receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this warrant and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and amount to the Company or, in the case of mutilation, on surrender and cancellation of this warrant, the Company at its expense shall execute and deliver, in lieu of this warrant, a new warrant of like tenor.
1.6 Repurchase on Sale. Merger, or Consolidation of the Company.
1.6.1 “Acquisition.” For the purpose of this warrant, “Acquisition” means any sale, license, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets (including intellectual property) of the Company, or any reorganization, consolidation, or merger of the Company where the holders of the Company’s securities before the transaction beneficially own less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity after the transaction.
1.6.2 Assumption of Warrant. If upon the closing of any Acquisition the successor entity assumes the obligations of this warrant, then this warrant shall be exercisable for the same securities, cash, and property as would be payable for the Shares issuable upon exercise of the unexercised portion of this warrant as if such Shares were outstanding on the record date for the Acquisition and subsequent closing. The Warrant Price shall be adjusted accordingly. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause the surviving corporation to assume the obligations of this warrant.
1.6.3 Nonassumption. If upon the closing of any Acquisition the successor entity does not assume the obligations of this warrant (or if the form of the Acquisition is a reverse triangular merger) and Holder has not otherwise exercised this warrant in full, then this warrant shall be deemed to have been automatically converted pursuant to Section 1.2 and thereafter Holder shall participate in the Acquisition on the same terms as other holders of the same class of securities of the Company.
ARTICLE 2. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SHARES.
2.1 Stock Dividends, Splits. Etc. If the Company declares or pays a dividend on its common stock payable in common stock, or other securities, subdivides the outstanding
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common stock into a greater amount of common stock, then upon exercise of this warrant, for each Share acquired, Holder shall receive, without cost to Holder, the total number and kind of securities to which Holder would have been entitled had Holder owned the Shares of record as of the date the dividend or subdivision occurred.
2.2 Reclassification. Exchange or Substitution. Upon any reclassification, exchange, substitution, or other event that results in a change of the number and/or class of the securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of this warrant, Holder shall be entitled to receive, upon exercise or conversion of this warrant, the number and kind of securities and property that Holder would have received for the Shares if this warrant had been exercised immediately before such reclassification, exchange, substitution, or other event. Such an event shall include any automatic conversion of the outstanding or issuable securities of the Company of the same class or series as the Shares to common stock pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation upon the closing of a registered public offering of the Company’s common stock. The Company or its successor shall promptly issue to Holder a new warrant for such new securities or other property. The new warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article 2 including, without limitation, adjustments to the Warrant Price and to the number of securities or property issuable upon exercise of the new warrant. The provisions of this Section 2.2 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, exchanges, substitutions, or other events.
2.3 Adjustments for Combinations. Etc. If the outstanding Shares are combined or consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of shares, the Warrant Price shall be proportionately increased.
2.5 No Impairment. The Company shall not, by amendment of its Articles of Incorporation or through a reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue, or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed under this warrant by the Company, but shall at all times in good faith assist in carrying out all the provisions of this Article 2 and in taking all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to protect Holder’s rights under this Article against impairment. If the Company takes any action affecting the Shares or its common stock other than as described above that adversely affects Holder’s rights under this warrant, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted downward and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this warrant shall be adjusted upward in such a manner that the aggregate Warrant Price of this warrant is unchanged.
2.6 Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price, the Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment, and furnish Holder with a certificate of its Chief Financial Officer setting forth such adjustment and the facts upon which such adjustment is based. The Company shall, upon written request, furnish Holder a certificate setting forth the Warrant Price in effect upon the date thereof and the series of adjustments leading to such Warrant Price.
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ARTICLE 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
3.1 Representations and Warranties. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Holder as follows:
(a) All Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase right represented by this warrant, and all securities, if any, issuable upon conversion of the Shares, shall, upon issuance, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free of any liens and encumbrances except for restrictions on transfer provided for herein or under applicable federal and state securities laws.
3.2 Notice of Certain Events. If the Company proposes at any time (a) to declare any dividend or distribution upon its common stock, whether in cash, property, stock, or other securities and whether or not a regular cash dividend; (b) to offer for subscription pro rata to the holders of any class or series of its stock any additional shares of stock of any class or series or other rights; (c) to effect any reclassification or recapitalization of common stock; or (d) to merge or consolidate with or into any other corporation, or sell, lease, license, or convey all or substantially all of its assets, or to liquidate, dissolve or wind up, then, in connection with each such event, the Company shall give Holder (1) at least 20 days prior written notice of the date on which a record will be taken for such dividend, distribution, or subscription rights (and specifying the date on which the holders of common stock will be entitled thereto) or for determining rights to vote, if any, in respect of the matters referred to in (a) and (b) above; and (2) in the case of the matters referred to in (c) and (d) above at least 20 days prior written notice of the date when the same will take place (and specifying the date on which the holders of common stock will be entitled to exchange their common stock for securities or other property deliverable upon the occurrence of such event).
3.3 Information Rights. So long as the Holder holds this warrant and/or any of the Shares, the Company shall deliver to the Holder (a) promptly after mailing, copies of all communiqués to the shareholders of the Company, (b) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the annual audited financial statements of the Company certified by independent public accountants of recognized standing and (c) within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year, the Company’s quarterly, unaudited financial statements.
ARTICLE 4. MISCELLANEOUS.
4.1 Term: Notice of Expiration. This warrant is exercisable in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or before the Expiration Date set forth above. If this warrant has not been exercised prior to the Expiration Date, this warrant shall be deemed to have been automatically exercised on the Expiration Date by “cashless” conversion pursuant to Section 1.2.
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4.2 Legends. This warrant and the Shares (and the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
4.3 Compliance with Securities Laws on Transfer. This warrant and the Shares issuable upon exercise of this warrant (and the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) may not be transferred or assigned in whole or in part without compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws by the transferor and the transferee (including, without limitation, the delivery of investment representation letters and legal opinions reasonably satisfactory to the Company). The Company shall not require Holder to provide an opinion of counsel if the transfer is to an affiliate of Holder or if there is no material question as to the availability of current information as referenced in Rule 144(c), Holder represents that it has complied with Rule 144(d) and (e) in reasonable detail, the selling broker represents that it has complied with Rule 144(f), and the Company is provided with a copy of Holder’s notice of proposed sale.
4.4 Transfer Procedure. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.3, Holder may transfer all or part of this warrant or the Shares issuable upon exercise of this warrant (or the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) by giving the Company notice of the portion of the warrant being transferred setting forth the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the transferee and surrendering this warrant to the Company for reissuance to the transferee(s) (and Holder, if applicable); provided, however, that Holder may transfer all or part of this warrant to its affiliates, including, without limitation, Comerica Incorporated, at any time without notice to the Company, and such affiliate shall then be entitled to all the rights of Holder under this warrant and any related agreements, and the Company shall cooperate fully in ensuring that any stock issued upon exercise of this warrant is issued in the name of the affiliate that exercises the warrant. The terms and conditions of this warrant shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and the holders hereof and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Unless the Company is filing financial information with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company shall have the right to refuse to transfer any portion of this warrant to any person who directly competes with the Company.
4.5 Notices. All notices and other communications from the Company to the Holder, or vice versa, shall be deemed delivered and effective when given personally or mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, at such address as may have been furnished to the Company or the Holder, as the case may be, in writing by the Company or such Holder from time to time. All notices to the Holder shall be addressed as follows:
Until changed in accordance with the foregoing, notices shall be sent to the following addresses:
If to the Company:
Synbiotics Corporation
00000 Xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer
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with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX
00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
If to the Holder:
Comerica Bank
Attn: Warrant Administrator
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, XX 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
4.6 Waiver. This warrant and any term hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
4.7 Attorneys’ Fees. In the event of any dispute between the parties concerning the terms and provisions of this warrant, the party prevailing in such dispute shall be entitled to collect from the other party all costs incurred in such dispute, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.
4.8 Governing Law. This warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its principles regarding conflicts of law.
4.9 Jury Waiver. COMPANY AND HOLDER EACH HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY RECOGNIZES AND AGREES THAT THE FOREGOING WAIVER CONSTITUTES A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR IT TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
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4.10 Judicial Reference.
(a) If and only if the jury trial waiver set forth in Section 4.09 of this Warrant is invalidated for any reason by a court of law, statute or otherwise, the reference provisions set forth below shall be substituted in place of the jury trial waiver. So long as the jury trial waiver remains valid, the reference provisions set forth in this Section shall be inapplicable.
(b) Each controversy, dispute or claim (each, a “Claim”) between the parties arising out of or relating to this Warrant or any other document, instrument or agreement executed by Company in favor of Holder (collectively in this Section, the “Documents”), other than (i) all matters in connection with nonjudicial foreclosure of security interests in real or personal property; or (ii) the appointment of a receiver or the exercise of other provisional remedies (any of which may be initiated pursuant to applicable law) that are not settled in writing within fifteen (15) days after the date on which a party subject to the Documents gives written notice to all other parties that a Claim exists (the “Claim Date”) shall be resolved by a reference proceeding in California in accordance with the provisions of Section 638 et seq. of the California Code of Civil Procedure, or their successor sections (“CCP”), which shall constitute the exclusive remedy for the resolution of any Claim concerning the Documents, including whether such Claim is subject to the reference proceeding. Except as set forth in this section, the parties waive the right to initiate legal proceedings against each other concerning each such Claim. Venue for these proceedings shall be in the Superior Court in the County where the real property, if any, is located or in a County where venue is otherwise appropriate under state law (the “Court”). By mutual agreement, the parties shall select a retired Judge of the Court to serve as referee, and if they cannot so agree within fifteen (15) days after the Claim Date, the Presiding Judge of the Court (or his or her representative) shall promptly select the referee. A request for appointment of a referee may be heard on an ex parte or expedited basis. The referee shall be appointed to sit as a temporary judge, with all the powers for a temporary judge, as authorized by law, and upon selection should take and subscribe to the oath of office as provided for in Rule 244 of the California Rules of Court (or any subsequently enacted Rule). Each party shall have one peremptory challenge pursuant to CCP §170.6. Upon being selected, the referee shall a) be requested to set the matter for a status and trial-setting conference within fifteen (15) days after the date of selection and b) if practicable, try any and all issues of law or fact and report a statement of decision upon them within ninety (90) days of the date of selection. The referee will have power to expand or limit the amount of discovery a party may employ. Any decision rendered by the referee will be final, binding and conclusive, and judgment shall be entered pursuant to CCP §644 in any court in the State of California having jurisdiction. The parties shall complete all discovery no later than fifteen (15) days before the first trial date established by the referee. The referee may extend such period in the event of a party’s refusal to provide requested discovery for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, legal objections raised to such discovery or unavailability of a witness due to absence or illness. No party shall be entitled to “priority” in conducting discovery. Either party may take depositions upon seven (7) days written notice, and shall respond to requests for production or inspection of documents within ten (10) days after service. All disputes relating to discovery which cannot be resolved by the parties shall be submitted to the referee whose decision shall be final and binding upon the parties. Pending appointment of the referee as provided herein, the Superior Court is empowered to issue temporary and/or provisional remedies, as appropriate.
(c) Except as expressly set forth herein, the referee shall determine the manner in which the reference proceeding is conducted including the time and place of all
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hearings, the order of presentation of evidence, and all other questions that arise with respect to the course of the reference proceeding. Except for trial, all proceedings and hearings conducted before the referee shall be conducted without a court reporter unless a party requests a court reporter. The party making such a request shall have the obligation to arrange for and pay for the court reporter. Subject to the referee’s power to award costs to the prevailing party, the parties shall equally bear the costs of the court reporter at the trial and the referee’s expenses.
(d) The referee shall determine all issues in accordance with existing California case and statutory law. California rules of evidence applicable to proceedings at law will apply to the reference proceeding. The referee shall be empowered to enter equitable as well as legal relief, to provide all temporary and/or provisional remedies and to enter equitable orders that shall be binding upon the parties. At the close of the reference proceeding, the referee shall issue a single judgment at disposing of all the claims of the parties that are the subject of the reference. The parties reserve the right (i) to contest or appeal from the final judgment or any appealable order or appealable judgment entered by the referee and (ii) to obtain findings of fact, conclusions of laws, a written statement of decision, and (iii) to move for a new trial or a different judgment, which new trial, if granted, shall be a reference proceeding under this provision.
(e) If the enabling legislation which provides for appointment of a referee is repealed (and no successor statute is enacted), any dispute between the parties that would otherwise be determined by the reference procedure herein described will be resolved and determined by arbitration conducted by a retired judge of the Court, in accordance with the California Arbitration Act §1280 through §1294.2 of the CCP as amended from time to time. The limitations with respect to discovery as set forth in this Section shall apply to any such arbitration proceeding.
SYNBIOTICS CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx | |
Name: |
Xxxx X. Xxxx | |
Title: |
President & COO |
Authorized signatories under Corporate Resolutions to Borrow or an authorized signer(s) under a resolution covering warrants must sign the warrant.
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APPENDIX 1
1. The undersigned hereby elects to purchase shares of the common stock of Synbiotics Corporation pursuant to the terms of the attached warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares in full.
1. The undersigned hereby elects to convert the attached warrant into shares in the manner specified in the warrant. This conversion is exercised with respect to of the shares covered by the warrant.
[Strike paragraph that does not apply.]
2. Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
Comerica Bank
Attn: Warrant Administrator
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, XX 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
3. The undersigned represents it is acquiring the shares solely for its own account and not as a nominee for any other party and not with a view toward the resale or distribution thereof except in compliance with applicable securities laws.
COMERICA BANK or Registered Assignee |
|
(Signature) |
|
(Date) |