SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 21, 2007 by and among Nitches, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively the “Purchasers”).
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers desire to purchase from the Company, securities of the Company as more fully described in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement: (a) capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Debenture (as defined herein), and (b) the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:
“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(j).
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144 under the Securities Act. With respect to a Purchaser, any investment fund or managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the same investment manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Purchaser.
"Birchten" means Birchten Investments, Ltd., an international business company incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, one of the Purchasers.
“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.
“Closing Date” means the Trading Day when all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) Birchten’s obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities issuable at the Closing have been satisfied or waived.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, no par value per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter have been reclassified or changed into.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Conversion Price” shall be the price determined in accordance with Section 4(d) of the Debenture.
“Debenture” means the 12% Subordinated Convertible Debenture due December 31, 2009, issued by the Company to each Purchaser hereunder, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
“Disclosure Schedules” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.
“Effective Date” means the date that the initial Registration Statement filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Matter” means any one or more of the following: (i) the effect of any change in the United States or foreign economies or securities or financial markets in general, except to the extent the Company is affected thereby to a disproportionately greater extent than other Persons in the Company’s industry; (ii) the effect of any change that generally affects any industry in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates, except to the extent the Company is affected thereby to a disproportionately greater extent than other Persons in such industry; (iii) the effect of any action taken by a Purchaser or its Affiliates (provided such action was without the participation or consent of the Company) with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iv) the effect of any changes in applicable laws or accounting rules to the extent such changes affect and are made applicable to and imposed upon substantially all Persons operating in the Company’s industry; (v) any effect resulting from the public announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, compliance with the terms of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (vi) the indirect or consequential effect of any generally applicable change arising in connection with earthquakes or other natural disasters, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions or any escalation or material worsening of any such earthquakes or other natural disasters, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions existing or underway as
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of the date hereof, except to the extent the Company is affected thereby to a disproportionately greater extent than other Persons in the Company’s industry.
“Exempt Issuance” means (i) the granting or exercise of options to employees, officers, consultants and directors of the Company pursuant to any stock option plan duly adopted by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose, (ii) the conversion of the Debenture or exercise of the Warrant or the conversion or exercise of any other security issued by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) the amendment, exercise, conversion or redemption of any Common Stock Equivalent issued and outstanding on the Closing Date, (iv) the payment of interest on any Senior Debt (as such term is defined in the Debenture) in shares of Common Stock, (v) the issuance of any shares or Common Stock Equivalent pursuant to the terms of any convertible securities issued and outstanding on the Closing Date, (vi) the issuance of securities in connection with acquisitions, leasing arrangements, collaborations, licensing arrangements or strategic investments, the primary purpose of which is not to raise capital, or (vii) securities issued in connection with any stock split or stock dividend or pursuant to the Company’s shareholder rights plan.
“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).
“GT” means Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP.
“Indemnified Party” and “Indemnifying Party” shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Section 4.8.
“Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(o).
“Liens” means a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a state of fact, occurrence, change or effect that has or is reasonably likely to have or result in a material adverse effect on (i) the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) the results of operations, assets, business, or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) the Company’s ability to perform its obligations under any Transaction Document; provided, however, that, in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect, any effect resulting from an Excluded Matter shall be disregarded.
“Material Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(m).
“Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.14.
“Permitted Liens” means (i) statutory liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges which are not yet due and payable or are due but not delinquent or
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are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) statutory or common law liens to secure landlords, sublandlords, licensors or sublicensors under leases or rental agreements, (iii) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pension or other social security programs mandated under applicable laws, (iv) statutory or common law liens in favor of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, workmen, repairmen and materialmen to secure claims for labor, materials or supplies and other like liens, (v) restrictions on transfer of securities imposed by applicable state and federal securities laws, (vi) any other encumbrance affecting any asset which does not materially impede or otherwise affect the ownership or operation of such asset, (vii) liens resulting from a filing by a lessor as a precautionary filing for a true lease, (viii) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds an other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ix) vendor’s liens to secure payment, (x) rights or claims of customers or tenants under licenses or leases, or (xi) Liens securing Senior Debt, (xii) Liens described in the financing statements filed as of the date hereof, (xiii) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition and the proceeds of such property, (xiv) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of the indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens so long as the terms and conditions of such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase in the then extant principal amount of, or interest rate with respect to, the indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended, excluding any extension, renewal or refinancing of the Senior Debt (xvi) Liens to secure capitalized expenditures, (xvii) Liens on insurance policies and proceeds to secure the financing of the premiums thereunder, or (xviii) Liens or rights of setoff of a customary nature on bank, brokerage or similar accounts or on negotiable instruments incurred in the ordinary course of business.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated the date hereof, between the Company and the Purchasers, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Underlying Shares by the Purchasers as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).
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“Required Minimum” means, as of any date, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then issued or potentially issuable in the future pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including any Underlying Shares issuable upon exercise or conversion in full of the Warrant and Debenture.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).
“Securities” means the Debentures, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Short Sales” shall include all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act.
“Subscription Amount” means, $3,000,000 in United States Dollars and in immediately available funds.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.
“Trading Market” means, as applicable, the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market or the OTC Bulletin Board.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Debentures, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
“Underlying Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and upon exercise of the Warrants and issued and issuable in lieu of the cash payment of interest on the Debentures in accordance with the terms of the Debentures.
“Variable Rate Transaction” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.10.
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“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (i) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time); (ii) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market and if prices for the Common Stock are then quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board; (iii) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported; or (iv) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers and reasonably acceptable to the Company.
“Warrant” means the Common Stock purchase warrant in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto, which is to be delivered to each Purchaser at the Closing in accordance with Section 2.2(a)(iii) hereof.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE
2.1 Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto, the Company agrees to sell, and each Purchaser agrees to purchase such principal amount of the Debentures as is set forth on Schedule A attached hereto with respect to such Purchaser. On the Closing Date, Birchten shall deliver to the Company, via wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to the Subscription Amount and the Company shall deliver to the Purchasers the Debentures and Warrants as set forth in Section 2.2(a) and the other items set forth in Section 2.2 issuable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the Closing shall occur at the offices of GT, or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.
2.2 Deliveries.
(a) At or prior to the Closing Date, unless otherwise indicated below, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:
(i) this Agreement duly executed by the Company;
(ii) a Debenture in the principal amount as is set forth on Schedule A hereto with respect to such Purchaser, registered in the name of such Purchaser;
(iii) a Warrant registered in the name of each Purchaser to purchase up to the number of shares of Common Stock set forth on Schedule A attached hereto
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with respect to such Purchaser, with an exercise price equal to the Conversion Price, subject to adjustment as set forth therein;
(iv) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the Company; and
(v) payment of the reasonable and actual fees and expenses documented by legal counsel to Birchten, not to exceed $25,000, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by GT.
(b) On the Closing Date, each Purchaser, as applicable, shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:
(i) this Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser;
(ii) the Subscription Amount for the Closing by wire transfer to the account as specified in writing by the Company;
(iii) the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser.
2.3 Closing Conditions.
(a) The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i) the accuracy in all material respects when made and on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein;
(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Purchasers required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed; and
(iii) the delivery by the Purchasers of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b).
(b) The obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:
(i) the accuracy in all material respects on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein;
(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed;
(iii) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a);
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(iv) there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof; and
(v) from the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the Company’s principal Trading Market (except for any suspension of trading of limited duration agreed to by the Company, which suspension shall be terminated prior to the Closing), and, at any time prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on any Trading Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of Brichten, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Debentures at the Closing.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth under the corresponding section of the disclosure schedules delivered to the Purchasers concurrently herewith and as amended prior to the Closing Date (the “Disclosure Schedules”), which Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof, the Company hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth below to the Purchasers.
(a) Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company are set forth on Schedule 3.1(a). The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. If the Company has no subsidiaries, then references in the Transaction Documents to the Subsidiaries will be disregarded.
(b) Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (as applicable), with the requisite corporate power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation or default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in any
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Material Adverse Effect and to the Company’s knowledge no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.
(c) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company. Each Transaction Document has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(d), conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any material agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other written understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or is bound, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals and the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including United States securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(e), the Company is not required under applicable law to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than (i) filings required by applicable law, (ii) the filing
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with the Commission of the Registration Statement, (iii) the notice and/or application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the issuance and sale of the trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby and (iv) the filing of Form D with the Commission and such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).
(f) Issuance of the Securities. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Underlying Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock a number of shares of Common Stock for issuance of the Underlying Shares at least equal to the Required Minimum on the date hereof.
(g) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company and the shares thereof issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2007 is as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g). No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities or as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g), there are no outstanding options, warrants, script rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under such securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors of the Company or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.1(g), customary transfer restrictions contained in agreements entered into by the Company to sell restricted securities or as set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.
(h) SEC Reports; Financial Statements. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports or Schedule 3.1(h), (i) the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act, including
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pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the twelve months preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law to file such material) (the foregoing materials including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension; (ii) as of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.
(i) Material Changes. Since the date of the Company’s most recent financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans.
(j) Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there is no action, suit, inquiry, written notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a
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claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. To the Company’s knowledge, there has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
(k) Labor Relations. No material labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received written notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws applicable to its business except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.
(n) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect and free and clear of all Liens, except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(n) and except for Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and Permitted Liens. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid and subsisting leases and are in full force and effect in all material respects.
(o) Patents and Trademarks. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service
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marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and other similar rights necessary or material for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a written notice (i) that the Intellectual Property Rights used by the Company or any Subsidiary violates or infringes upon the rights of any Person, or (ii) of any infringement by another Person with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights used by the Company.
(p) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage at least equal to the Subscription Amount. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost, other than changes affecting other Persons engaged in the same or similar business as the Company.
(q) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no loans, leases, agreements, contracts, royalty agreements, management contracts, service arrangements or other continuing transactions exceeding $100,000 between (a) the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and (b) any person or entity who would be covered by Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, on the other hand. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from, or advances by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise a creditor of or debtor to, any beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or any director, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than (i) reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) as part of the normal and customary terms of such persons’ employment or service as a director with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(r) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx: Internal Accounting Controls. The Company is in material compliance with all provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 which are applicable to it and with which it is required to comply as of the Closing Date. The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date.
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Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(s) Certain Fees. On the Closing Date, the Company shall pay to Granite Financial Group, as placement agent, a fee equal to $150,000, which fee shall be satisfied through the delivery of a Debenture in the principal amount of $150,000, and a Warrant to purchase 27,500 shares of Common Stock. No other brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of the Purchasers shall have any obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(t) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.
(u) Registration Rights. Other than the Purchasers, no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company other than amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date hereof.
(v) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, the Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements.
(w) Application of Takeover Protections. To the Company’s knowledge there are no control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Purchasers as a result of the Purchasers and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights
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under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation as a result of the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Purchasers’ ownership of the Securities.
(x) Disclosure. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or might constitute material, nonpublic information. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representations and covenants in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the Purchasers regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of the Company with respect to the representations and warranties made herein are true and correct in all material respects with respect to such representations and warranties and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that none of the Purchasers makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 3.2.
(y) No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act or any applicable shareholder approval provisions, including without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any Trading Market on which any of the Securities of the Company are listed or designated.
(z) Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon, and the Company has no knowledge of a tax deficiency which has been asserted or threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary.
(aa) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company has offered the Securities for sale only to the Purchasers and certain other “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act.
(bb) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful
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payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(cc) Accountants. The Company’s accountants are set forth on Schedule 3.1(cc) of the Disclosure Schedule. To the Company’s knowledge, such accountants, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006, are a registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act.
(dd) Seniority. As of the Closing Date, no indebtedness or other equity of the Company is senior to the Debenture except for Permitted Indebtedness.
(ee) Acknowledgment Regarding Purchasers' Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company further acknowledges that none of the Purchasers is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and any advice given by a Purchaser or any of its representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby is merely incidental to such Purchaser’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to the Purchasers that the Company’s decision to enter into this Agreement has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company and its representatives.
(ff) Manipulation of Price. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities (other than for the placement agent placement of the Securities), or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.
3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser hereby represents and warrants, for itself and for no other Purchaser, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:
(a) Organization; Authority. Such Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with full right, corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have
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been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
(b) Own Account. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, has no present intention of distributing any of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and has no arrangement or understanding with any other Persons regarding the distribution of such Securities (this representation and warranty not limiting such Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws) in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser does not have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities.
(c) Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and at the date hereof it is, and on each date on which it exercises the Warrant or converts the Debenture it will be either: (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act or (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act. Such Purchaser is not required to be registered as a broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(d) Experience of the Purchaser. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment. Such Purchaser understands that nothing in the SEC Reports, this Agreement or any other materials presented to it in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. Such Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of Securities.
(e) General Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the
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Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement.
(f) Non-U.S. Jurisdictions. Such Purchaser acknowledges, represents and agrees that no action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States by the Company that would permit an offering of the Securities in any jurisdiction outside the United States where legal action by the Company for that purpose is required. Such Purchaser will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction, if any, in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers Securities or has in its possession or distributes any offering material, in all cases at its own expense.
(g) Beneficial Ownership. Such Purchaser (together with its investment managers as described in the Shareholder Questionnaire attached to the Registration Rights Agreement) will have sole beneficial ownership (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of any securities issued to it under this Agreement. Such Purchaser is exercising its own independent judgment with respect to the purchase of the securities. Such Purchaser is not acting as part of a group, or in concert with any other Person, in connection with the purchase of the securities being issued under this Agreement except as described in the Questionnaire to the Registration Rights Agreement.
(h) Manipulation of Price. Such Purchaser has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that such Purchaser does not make or has not made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Section 3.2.
ARTICLE IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
4.1 Transfer Restrictions.
(a) The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an affiliate of such Purchaser or in connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights of the Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
(b) Each Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 4.1(b), of a legend on any of the Securities in the following form:
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NEITHER THESE SECURITIES NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE OR CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THESE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THESE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
Each Purchaser further agrees to the imprinting of a legend on the Debenture in the following form:
THIS DEBENTURE/NOTE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE PAYEE IN FAVOR OF THE CIT GROUP/COMMERCIAL SERVICES, INC.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Purchaser may from time to time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a registered broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities to a financial institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and who agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and, if required under the terms of such arrangement, such Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities to the pledgees or secured parties, subject to applicable law. Such a pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel of the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection therewith. Further, no notice shall be required of such pledge. At the Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Securities, including, if the Securities are subject to registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of Selling Stockholders thereunder.
(c) Certificates evidencing the Underlying Shares shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) hereof): (i) following any sale of such Underlying Shares pursuant to an effective Registration Statement covering the resale of such security under the Securities Act, or (ii) following any sale of such Underlying
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Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) if such Underlying Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144(k), or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission). The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the Company’s transfer agent promptly upon any of the foregoing events if required by the Company's transfer agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder. If all or any portion of the Debenture or Warrant is converted or exercised (as applicable) at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover the resale of the Underlying Shares, or if such Underlying Shares may be sold under Rule 144(k) or if such legend is not otherwise required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) then such Underlying Shares shall be issued free of all legends. The Company agrees that at such time as such legend is no longer required under this Section 4.1(c), it will, no later than three Trading Days following the delivery by the Purchaser to the Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a certificate representing Underlying Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend, deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such shares that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Company’s transfer agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section. Certificates for Underlying Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of such Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company System.
4.2 Furnishing of Information. Beginning on June 22, 2007 and for a period of two years thereafter, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. Beginning on June 22, 2007 and for a period of two years thereafter, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to each Purchaser and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for each Purchaser to sell the Securities under Rule 144. Beginning on June 22, 2007 and for a period of two years thereafter, the Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144.
4.3 Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers or that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market.
4.4 Conversion and Exercise Procedures. The form of Notice of Exercise included in the Warrant and the form of Notice of Conversion included in the Debenture set forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchasers in order to exercise the Warrant or convert the Debenture. No additional legal opinion or other information or instructions shall be required of a
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Purchaser to exercise the Warrant or convert the Debenture. The Company shall honor exercises of the Warrant and conversions of the Debenture and shall deliver Underlying Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Transaction Documents.
4.5 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity.
(a) The Company and the Purchasers shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor the Purchasers shall issue any such press release or otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of any of the Purchasers, or without the prior consent of the Purchasers, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the names of the Purchasers, or include the names of the Purchasers in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior consent of such Purchaser, except (i) as required by federal securities law in connection with the registration statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide such Purchaser with prior notice of such disclosure permitted under subclause (i) or (ii).
(b) Not later than 5:30 p.m. (New York time) on the fourth business day immediately following the Closing Date, the Company shall file with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K relating to the transactions contemplated by, and describing the material terms and conditions of, this Agreement. The Company shall give the Purchasers reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the form and substance of such current report.
4.6 Shareholder Rights Plan. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other Person that any Purchaser is an “Acquiring Person” under any shareholder rights plan or similar plan or arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Purchaser could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities under the Transaction Documents or under any other agreement between the Company and the Purchasers. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.
4.7 Non-Public Information. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers shall be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
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4.8 Indemnification. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.8, each party (the “Indemnifying Party”) will indemnify and hold the other party and its directors, officers, shareholders, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls such other party (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling person (each, an “Indemnified Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation that any such Indemnified Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by Indemnifying Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents. If any action shall be brought against any Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing. Any Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party except to the extent that (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Indemnifying Party in writing, (ii) the Indemnifying Party has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and to employ counsel or (iii) in such action there is, in the reasonable opinion of such separate counsel, a material conflict on any material issue between the position of the Indemnifying Party and the position of such Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party will not be liable to any Indemnified Party under this Agreement (i) for any settlement by an Indemnified Party effected without the Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Indemnified Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Indemnified Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents.
4.9 Reservation and Listing of Securities.
(a) The Company shall maintain a reserve from its duly authorized shares of Common Stock for issuance pursuant to the Transaction Documents in such amount as may be required to fulfill its obligations in full under the Transaction Documents.
(b) If, on any date, the number of authorized but unissued (and otherwise unreserved) shares of Common Stock is less than the Required Minimum on such date, then the Board of Directors of the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to amend the Company’s certificate or articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to at least the Required Minimum at such time, as soon as possible and in any event not later than the 75th day after such date.
(c) The Company shall, if applicable: (i) in the time and manner required by the Trading Market, prepare and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to the
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Required Minimum on the date of such application, (ii) take all steps necessary to cause such shares of Common Stock to be approved for listing on the Trading Market as soon as possible thereafter, (iii) provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing, and (iv) maintain the listing of such Common Stock on any date at least equal to the Required Minimum on such date on such Trading Market or another Trading Market.
4.10 Variable Rate Transactions. From the date hereof until such time as the Debentures are no longer outstanding, the Company shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any financing of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents involving a “Variable Rate Transaction”. The term “Variable Rate Transaction” shall mean a transaction in which the Company issues or sells (i) any debt or equity securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive additional shares of Common Stock either (A) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity securities, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock, other than customary anti-dilution adjustments or (ii) enters into any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit, whereby the Company may sell securities at a future determined price.
4.11 Short Sales and Confidentiality.
(a) Each Purchaser covenants that neither it nor any Person acting under its direction or pursuant to any understanding with it has executed or will execute any Short Sales during the period commencing from the time that such Purchaser first received a term sheet from the Company or any other Person setting forth the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending at the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced as described in Section 4.5. Each Purchaser covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company as described in Section 4.5, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction).
(b) Each Purchaser agrees that while the Debentures are outstanding, neither it nor its affiliates will have a net short position in the Common Stock.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by any party, by written notice to the other parties, if the Closing has not been consummated on or before June 30, 2007; provided, however, that no such termination will affect the right of any party to xxx for any breach by the other party (or parties).
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5.2 Fees and Expenses. At the Closing, the Company has agreed to reimburse Birchten up to $25,000 for its legal fees and expenses by payment of such amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by GT. The Company shall deliver, prior to the Closing, a completed and executed copy of the Closing Statement, attached hereto as Annex A. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all transfer agent fees, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities.
5.3 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
5.4 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on any Trading Day, (c) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.
5.5 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Purchasers or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
5.6 Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
5.7 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchasers. A Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to
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whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities, provided such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the provisions hereof and the other Transaction Documents that apply to such Purchaser.
5.8 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.7 (Indemnification).
5.9 Governing Law and Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
5.10 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery, exercise and/or conversion of the Securities, as applicable, for the applicable statue of limitations or until the Securities are no longer held by a Purchaser, whichever is earlier.
5.11 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page were an original thereof.
5.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties
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will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.
5.13 Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to a Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
5.14 Usury. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Company hereby agrees not to insist upon or plead or in any manner whatsoever claim, and will resist any and all efforts to be compelled to take the benefit or advantage of, usury laws wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, in connection with any claim, action or proceeding that may be brought by a Purchaser in order to enforce any right or remedy under any Transaction Document. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, it is expressly agreed and provided that the total liability of the Company under the Transaction Documents for payments in the nature of interest shall not exceed the maximum lawful rate authorized under applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”), and, without limiting the foregoing, in no event shall any rate of interest or default interest, or both of them, when aggregated with any other sums in the nature of interest that the Company may be obligated to pay under the Transaction Documents exceed such Maximum Rate. It is agreed that if the maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law and applicable to the Transaction Documents is increased or decreased by statute or any official governmental action subsequent to the date hereof, the new maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law will be the Maximum Rate applicable to the Transaction Documents from the effective date forward, unless such application is precluded by applicable law. If under any circumstances whatsoever, interest in excess of the Maximum Rate is paid by the Company to a Purchaser with respect to indebtedness evidenced by the Transaction Documents, such excess shall be applied by such Purchaser to the unpaid principal balance of any such indebtedness or be refunded to the Company, the manner of handling such excess to be at such Purchaser’s election.
5.15 Liquidated Damages. The Company’s obligations to pay any partial liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.
5.16 Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel has reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the
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drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments hereto.
(Signature Pages Follow)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
COMPANY: |
NITCHES, INC. | Address for Notice: | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | Nitches, Inc. | |||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xx | |||
Xxx Xxxxx, XX, 00000 | ||||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 |
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx III
Facsimile (000) 000-0000
PURCHASERS: |
BIRCHTEN INVESTMENTS, LTD. | Address for Notice: | |||||||
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||||||
X.X. Xxx X-0000 | ||||||||
Nassau, Bahamas | ||||||||
Facsimile: (242) 323 – 7918 | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. XxXxx | Address for Delivery of Securities | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. XxXxx | ||||||||
Title: Director |
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP
The Met Life Building
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX, 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
GRANITE FINANCIAL GROUP | Address for Notice: | |||||||
Granite Financial Group | ||||||||
00000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 | ||||||||
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||||
Facsimile (858) 509 – 8808 | ||||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | Address for Delivery of Securities | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||||||||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Schedule A
Principal Amount | Number of Shares of | |
Purchaser | of Debenture | Common Stock Subject to Warrants |
Birchten Investments, Ltd. | $3,000,000 | 550,000 |
Granite Financial Group | $150,000 | 27,500 |