SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC. 3,737,500 shares of Common Stock Placement Agent Agreement
Exhibit 1.1
SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
3,737,500 shares of Common Stock
October [ ], 2007
SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
October [ ], 2007
CRT CAPITAL GROUP LLC
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Synthesis Energy System, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to
issue and sell to the purchasers, pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreements in the form
of Exhibit A attached hereto (the “Subscription Agreements”) entered into with the
purchasers identified therein (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the
“Purchasers”), up to an aggregate of 3,250,000 shares (the “Placed Shares”) and, at
the election of the Placement Agent (as defined below), up to 487,500 additional shares (the
“Option Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) of
the Company. The Placed Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the
“Shares”. The Company hereby confirms its agreement with CRT Capital Group LLC (the
“Placement Agent”) to act as placement agent in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Placement Agent Agreement (this “Agreement”).
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) a registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-143817), which contains a
form of prospectus to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Shares. Such
registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules
thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
“Securities Act”), including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is called the “Registration
Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the
date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement”
shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first used by
the Placement Agent to confirm sales of the Shares or in the form first made available to the
Placement Agent by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the
Securities Act is called the “Prospectus.” As used herein, “Time of Sale
Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately at or
prior to the time when sales of the Shares were first made (the “Time of Sale”), together
with each “free-writing
1
prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A
hereto; and as used herein, “Time of Sale Information” means the Time of Sale Prospectus
together with the pricing information set forth on Annex A hereto. As used herein, the terms
“Registration Statement,” “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”, “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of
Sale Prospectus,” “Time of Sale Information” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents
incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement
to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Exchange Act”) which is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus,
the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the 462(b) Registration Statement,
a preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the
foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“XXXXX”).
The Company has entered into a Letter Agreement dated as of the date hereof with Xxxxxxx
Energy International, a Cayman Islands corporation (“AEI”), pursuant to which AEI has
agreed to purchase 1,750,000 shares of the Common Stock (the “AEI Shares”) directly from
the Company at a purchase price per share of $[ ]. The AEI Shares have been registered for sale
to AEI on the Registration Statement. No fees will be payable to the Placement Agent in respect of
the AEI Shares.
The Company hereby agrees with the Placement Agent as follows:
1. Placement of the Shares.
(a) The Company has authorized and hereby acknowledges that the Placement Agent has
acted as its sole agent to solicit offers for the purchase of all or part of the
Shares from the Company in connection with the proposed offering of the Shares (the
“Offering”). Until the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2
hereof), the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Placement
Agent, solicit or accept offers to purchase its Common Stock (other than the AEI
Shares) other than through the Placement Agent.
(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that the Placement Agent, as agent of the
Company, used its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase the
Shares from the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Prospectus. The Placement Agent shall use reasonable efforts to assist the Company
in obtaining performance by each Purchaser whose offer to purchase the Shares was
solicited by the Placement Agent and accepted by the Company, but the Placement
Agent shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, be obligated to
disclose to the Company the identity of any potential purchaser or have any
liability to the Company in the event any such purchase is
2
not consummated for any reason. Under no circumstances will the Placement Agent be
obligated to underwrite or purchase any Shares for its own account and, in
soliciting purchases of Shares, the Placement Agent shall act solely as the
Company’s agent to solicit offers and not as principal.
(c) Subject to the provisions of this Section 1, offers for the purchase of
Shares were solicited by the Placement Agent as agent for the Company at such times
and in such amounts as the Placement Agent deemed advisable. The Placement Agent
shall communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to
purchase Shares received by it as agent of the Company. The Company shall have the
sole right to accept offers to purchase the Shares and may reject any such offer, in
whole or in part. The Placement Agent shall have the right, in its discretion,
without notice to the Company, to reject any offer to purchase Shares received by
it, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of this
Agreement. The Placement Agent has no authority, and shall not purport, to bind the
Company in respect of any sale of the Shares.
(d) The Shares are being sold to the Purchasers at a price of $9.00 per Share. The
purchases of the Shares by the Purchasers shall be evidenced by the execution of
Subscription Agreements by each of the Purchasers and the Company.
(e) As compensation for placement services rendered, on the Closing Date (as defined
in Section 2 hereof), the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the
Placement Agent by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account or
accounts designated by the Placement Agent an aggregate amount equal to (a) four and
a half percent (4.5%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of
any Placed Shares to Union Charter Financial, Ltd. on such Closing Date, (b)
seven percent (7%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of
Shares to any other Purchaser on such Closing Date, and (c) seven
percent (7%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of
the Option Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date,
as the case may be. In no event will the total
amount of compensation paid to the Placement Agent by the Company upon completion of
the Offering exceed eight percent (8%) of the gross proceeds of the offering of the
Shares.
(f) No Shares which the Company has agreed to sell pursuant to this Agreement and
the Subscription Agreements shall be deemed to have been purchased and paid for, or
sold by the Company, until such Shares shall have been delivered to the Purchaser
thereof against payment in full by such Purchaser. If the Company shall default in
its obligations to deliver Shares to a Purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the
Company shall indemnify and hold the Placement Agent harmless against any loss,
claim, damage or expense arising from or as a result of such default by the Company
in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 6 herein.
3
(g) The
Placement Agent may exercise the option to place the Option Shares,
which will be sold to certain of the Purchasers at a
price of $9.00 per share, at any time on or before the thirtieth day following the
date of this Agreement, by written notice to the Company from the Placement Agent;
provided, that the Placement Agent may not exercise the option to place the
Option Shares more than once. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of
Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when
the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for. Any such notice shall be given
at least two Business Days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.
2. The Closing. The time and date of the closing and delivery of the documents
required to be delivered to the Placement Agent pursuant to Section 4 and
Section 5 hereof shall be at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on October [ ], 2007 (the
“Closing Date”) at the office of CRT Capital Group LLC, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000. The time and date of the closing and delivery of the documents requierd
to be delivered in connection with the placement of any Option Shares shall be set forth in
the notice delivered pursuant to Section 1(g) hereof (any such date being referred
to as the “Additional Closing Date”.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and
warrants to the Placement Agent that as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Date and as of
the Additional Closing Date, if any:
(a) The Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been
declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and the Company has
complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for
additional or supplemental information; no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect
and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, after reasonable investigation, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission or any state regulatory authority.
(b) Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all
material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission
pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities
Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Placement Agent for use in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares; each of the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and
will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; as of the Time of Sale, the Time of Sale Information did not, and at the
time of each sale of the Shares and at the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Time of Sale Information, as then amended or supplemented by
the Company, if applicable,
4
will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the Prospectus, as amended
or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, did not and will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any
post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information,
or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information relating to the Placement Agent furnished to the Company in writing
by the Placement Agent expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information is that described as such in the second paragraph of
Section 6 hereof.
(c) The Company has delivered to the Placement Agent one complete copy of the
Registration Statement, each amendment thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof,
and conformed copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment thereto and any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses,
the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such
quantities and at such places as the Placement Agent has reasonably requested.
(d) The financial statements, and the related notes thereto, included in the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (i) present fairly
the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and changes in their
consolidated cash flows at the dates and for the periods specified and (ii) comply
as to form in all material respects with the requirements applicable to registration
statements on Form SB-2 under the Securities Act; and said financial statements have
been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States applied on a consistent basis, and the supporting schedules, if any,
included in the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
present fairly the information required to be stated therein; the Registration
Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement disclose all material
off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent
obligations), and other relationships of the Company or its consolidated
subsidiaries with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material
current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial
condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources
or significant components of revenues or expenses; the other financial and
statistical information and data included in the Registration Statement or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement are, in all material respects, accurately presented
and prepared on a basis consistent with
such financial statements and the books and records of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries.
5
(e) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information, subsequent to the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Time of Sale Information,
there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any material adverse change in or affecting
the business, prospects, condition (financial or other), stockholders’ equity or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a
“Material Adverse Change”) and no member of the Company’s management has
resigned from any position with the Company; and except as set forth or contemplated
in the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (as it stood
at the time of execution and delivery of this Agreement) the Company has not
declared, paid or made any dividend or distribution of any kind on any class of its
capital stock and neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has entered into any
transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business)
material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any
material liability, direct or contingent.
(f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with power and authority
(corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in
the Time of Sale Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation
for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other
jurisdiction which requires such qualification, other than where the failure to be
so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, condition (financial or other), stockholders’ equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material
Adverse Effect”).
(g) The list of subsidiaries on Schedule I includes the only subsidiaries,
direct or indirect, of the Company (the subsidiaries on such Schedule herein
referred to as the “subsidiaries”), and each of the Company’s subsidiaries
has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation with power and authority
(corporate and otherwise) under such laws to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, and has been duly qualified to
do business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction which
requires such qualification, other than where the failure to be so qualified or in
good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and all the outstanding shares of capital
stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued, are fully-paid and non-assessable, and, except as
otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, are owned by the Company,
directly or indirectly, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security
interests and similar claims.
6
(h) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be
subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (whether applied
by a court of law or equity) and the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought.
(i) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and such authorized capital stock conforms as to legal matters in all
material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Time of Sale
Prospectus, and all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully-paid and non-assessable and are
not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; and, except as described in or
expressly contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus, there are no outstanding
rights (including, without limitation, preemptive rights), warrants or options to
acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital
stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any
contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating
to the issuance of any capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any
such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights,
warrants or options.
(j) The Shares have been duly authorized, and, when issued and delivered against
payment thereof as provided herein and in the Subscription Agreements, will be duly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof
in the Time of Sale Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any
preemptive or similar rights.
(k) The Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC,
subject only to official notice of issuance.
(l) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice
or lapse of time or both would be, (A) in violation of its Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws or other constitutive documents or (B) or in default under
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material agreement or instrument
(a “Material Agreement or Instrument”) to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them or any of their respective
properties or assets is bound, except, in the case of clause (B) above, for defaults
which individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; the issue and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company
as provided herein and in the Subscription Agreements and the performance by the
Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein will not, or with the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both would not, (X) conflict with or result in a breach
7
of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other Material Agreement or
Instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or (Y) result in any
violation of (i) the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any applicable law or statute or
any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties, except, in the case of clauses (X) or (Y)(ii) above, for
such conflicts or breaches as would not be reasonably expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval,
authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any such
court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the
Shares to be sold by the Company as provided herein and in the Subscription
Agreements or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, except such consents, approvals,
authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations or qualifications as have been
obtained under the Securities Act and as may be required under state securities or
“blue sky” laws in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.
(m) Other than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus, there is
no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or
governmental proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, after
reasonable investigation, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or to which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject which, if determined adversely to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, could individually or in the aggregate
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the knowledge
of the Company, after reasonable investigation, no such action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding is
threatened or contemplated by any court, governmental agency or body or threatened
by others; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement that are not so described or filed.
(n) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any
of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders,
customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the other hand,
which is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement which is not so described.
8
(o) Except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, no person has the right, pursuant to any contract,
agreement, understanding or otherwise, to require the Company to (i) file a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of
the Company owned or to be owned by such person or (ii) to register any securities
for offering and sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the
Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission
or the issue and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company as provided herein and
in the Subscription Agreements or the filing of any other registration statement
filed by the Company under the Securities Act.
(p) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
Shares, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(q) KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the
Securities Act.
(r) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and
foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes
shown thereon and all assessments received by them or any of them to the extent that
such taxes have become due except for (i) such taxes and assessments as are being
contested in good faith and (ii) such returns, taxes and assessments for which the
failure to file or pay, as applicable, would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(s) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or
that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock of the Company.
(t) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns, possesses or has obtained all
licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other
authorizations from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal,
state, local and other governmental authorities (including foreign regulatory
agencies), all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals,
domestic or foreign, necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate
its properties and to carry on its business as conducted as of the date hereof,
except such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate,
to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any such
subsidiary has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or
modification of any such license, permit, certificate, consent, order, approval or
other authorization which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to
result in a Material Adverse Effect; and each of the Company and its subsidiaries is
in compliance with all laws and regulations relating to the conduct of its business
as conducted as of the date hereof, except where the failure to so comply would not
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
9
(u) There are no existing or, to the knowledge of the Company, after reasonable
investigation, threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(v) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all
applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the
protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”),
(ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under
applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are
in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval,
except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required
permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(w) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review
of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of
the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates
associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or
operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance
with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints
on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the
basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated
costs and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
(x) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, there are no contracts,
arrangements, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that
would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Placement Agent for a
brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this
offering or any other contracts, arrangements, agreements or understandings of the
Company or any person that may affect the Placement Agent’s compensation, as
determined by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”).
(y) The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or
otherwise) (i) to any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in
consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the
Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company, (ii) to any NASD
member or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation
or association with any NASD member, within the twelve months prior to the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, other than
10
payments made or to be made by the Company to the Placement Agent as contemplated in
the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or such other
payments as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
(z) None of the proceeds of the offering of the Shares will be paid by the Company
to any participating NASD member of its affiliates, except as specifically
authorized herein as contemplated by the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement.
(aa) All of the information provided to the Placement Agent or to counsel for the
Placement Agent by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, after
reasonable investigation, its officers and directors and the holders of any
securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in
connection with letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to NASD
Regulation Inc. pursuant to NASD Conduct Rule 2710 or 2720 is true, complete and
correct.
(bb) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks,
trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights,
confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively,
“intellectual property rights”) necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any
intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc) The information contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus regarding the
Company’s expectations, plans and intentions, and any other “forward-looking”
information within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, were made
by the Company on a reasonable basis and reflect the Company’s good faith belief
and/or estimate of the matters described therein.
(dd) The Company and each of its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in
such amounts and covering such risks as is customary for companies engaged in
similar industries. All material policies of insurance insuring the Company or any
of it subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, assets, employees,
officers and directors are in full force and effect, and the Company and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material
respects. There are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
under any such policy or instrument as to which an insurance company is denying
liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause.
(ee) No payments or inducements have been offered, made or given, directly or
indirectly, to any federal, state or local official or candidate for, any federal,
state or local office in the United States or foreign offices by the Company or any
of its
11
subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Company, after reasonable investigation, by
any of their officers, directors, employees or agents or by any other person in
connection with any opportunity, contract, agreement, permit, certificate, consent,
order, approval, waiver or other authorization relating to the business of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for such payments or inducements as were
lawful under applicable laws, rules and regulations. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, after reasonable
investigation, any of their directors, officers, agents or employees, (i) has used
any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other
unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect
unlawful payment to any government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii)
violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977; or (iv) made any bribe, unlawful rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback
or other unlawful payment in connection with the business of any of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries.
(ff) The operations of the Company is, and has been conducted at all times, in
compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and
reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of
1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the
rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules,
regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental
agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or
proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any
arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, after reasonable investigation,
threatened.
(gg) (i) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient
to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles; and (C) the recorded assets are compared
with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences; (ii) Based on the evaluation of its disclosure controls
and procedures, the Company is not aware of (A) any significant deficiency in the
design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect its ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in
internal controls; or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in its internal controls;
and (iii) since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls
and procedures, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal
controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls,
including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and
material weaknesses.
12
(hh) There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business
expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the
Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of Company or its
subsidiaries or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the
Time of Sale Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, in
violation of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”),
directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of
credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for
any director or executive officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The
Company is otherwise in compliance with all of the requirements of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act applicable to it.
4. Certain Covenants and Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and
agrees with the Placement Agent as follows:
(a) to use its best efforts (i) to cause the Registration Statement to become
effective at the earliest possible time and, if required, to file the Prospectus
with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act, and to furnish copies of the Prospectus to the Placement Agent as
promptly as practicable in such quantities as the Placement Agent may reasonably
request and (ii) keep the Registration Statement effective from the date hereof
through the date which is 90 days after the date hereof;
(b) to deliver, at the expense of the Company, to the Placement Agent two signed
copies of the Registration Statement (as originally filed) and each amendment
thereto, in each case including exhibits and documents incorporated by reference
therein, and, during the period mentioned in Section 4(e) below, to the Placement
Agent as many copies of the Prospectus as the Placement Agent may reasonably
request;
(c) before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus to furnish to the Placement Agent a copy of the proposed amendment or
supplement for review and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
which the Placement Agent reasonably objects;
(d) to advise the Placement Agent promptly (i) when any amendment to the
Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective, (ii) when any supplement
to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed and to furnish the
Placement Agent with copies thereof, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any
amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, (v) of the occurrence of any event,
within the period referenced in Section 4(e) below, as a result of which the
Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the
13
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares
for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; and to use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any such stop order, or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the
Prospectus, or of any order suspending any such qualification of the Shares, or
notification of any such order thereof and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible
the withdrawal thereof;
(e) if at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be
delivered in connection with sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition
shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the judgment of the Placement
Agent or the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances existing at the time
it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the judgment of the
Placement Agent or the Company, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement
or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of
the Securities Act, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission
such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or
omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such
requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Placement Agent such number of
copies of such amendment or supplement as the Placement Agent may reasonable
request;
(f) to endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or
“blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Placement Agent shall reasonably
request and to continue such qualification in effect so long as reasonably required
for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to
(x) file a general consent to service of process, (y) subject itself to taxation or
(z) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise required to do so;
(g) to make generally available to its security holders and to the Placement Agent
as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve
months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, which shall satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated
thereunder;
(h) for a period of two years, to furnish to the Placement Agent copies of all
reports or other communications not otherwise publicly available (financial or
other) furnished to holders of the Shares (in the same manner as such documents are
furnished to holders of the Shares), and copies of any reports and financial
statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities
exchange;
14
(i) for a period of 45 days after the date hereof, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the
Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any additional shares
of its Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for any shares of its Common Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any
such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent
of the Placement Agent, except the issuance of any securities or options to purchase
Common Stock under current employee benefit plans, the filing of any registration
statement with respect to its current employee benefit plans, the filing of any
post-effective amendment to its registration statement on Form SB-2, File No.
333-140367, or the issuance by the Company of securities in exchange for or upon
conversion of its outstanding securities outstanding on the date hereof;
provided, however, that, in the event that either (x) during the
last 17 days of the “lock-up” period, the Company releases earnings results or
material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (y) prior to the
expiration of the “lock-up” period, the Company announces that it will release
earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the “lock-up”
period, then, in either case, the expiration of the “lock-up” period will be
extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the
release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as
applicable, unless the Placement Agent waives, in writing, such extension.
(j) to use the net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Shares as
provided herein and in the Subscription Agreements in the manner specified in the
Prospectus under caption “Use of Proceeds”;
(k) whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated
or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid on each of the Closing
Date or the Additional Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing
Date, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
hereunder, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all costs and
expenses (i) incident to the preparation, registration, transfer, execution and
delivery of the Shares to the Purchasers, including any transfer or other taxes
payable thereon, (ii) incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the
Securities Act of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) incurred in
connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares under the laws of
such jurisdictions as the Placement Agent may designate (including fees of counsel
for the Placement Agent and their disbursements), (iv) related to any required
filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the NASD (including fees of counsel
for the Placement Agent and their disbursements), (v) in connection with the
printing (including word processing and duplication costs) and delivery of this
Agreement and the furnishing to the Placement Agent and dealers of copies of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including mailing and shipping, as herein
provided, (vi) the cost of preparing stock
15
certificates, and (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent and any
registrar; provided, that, if the offering is consummated, the Company
agrees to pay on the Closing Date to the Placement Agent by wire transfer in
immediately available funds to the account specified to the Company an amount equal
to $588,750 as a non-accountable expense allowance; provided,
further, that, if the offering is not consummated because any condition to
the obligations of the Placement Agent set forth in Section 5 hereof is not
satisfied or because this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8
hereof (other than in each such case solely by reason of a default by the Placement
Agent on its obligations hereunder after all conditions hereunder have been
satisfied in accordance herewith), the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid in
a timely manner upon demand by the Placement Agent all fees, disbursements and
out-of-pocket expenses (including legal fees and third-party engineering services)
reasonably incurred by the Placement Agent up to $75,000; and
(l) not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be
reasonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the
price of the Common Stock.
5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Placement Agent and the Purchasers, and the Sale
of the Stock. The obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder and the Purchasers under
the Subscription Agreements, and the Closing of the sale of the Shares on the Closing Date
or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, are subject to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and to the additional conditions set forth below. If
any of the conditions provided for in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and
as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Placement Agent may be
terminated by notifying the Company of such termination in writing at or prior to the
Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. In such event, the Company
and the Placement Agent shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the
extent provided in Section 6 hereof).
(a) the Registration Statement shall have become effective (or if a post-effective
amendment is required to be filed under the Securities Act, such post-effective
amendment shall have become effective) not later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
on the date hereof and shall remain effective; and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment shall be
in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened
by the Commission; the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the
Securities Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests of the
Placement Agent for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Placement Agent;
(b) on the date hereof, the Placement Agent shall have received from KPMG LLP,
independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, (i) a letter
dated the date hereof addressed to the Placement Agent, in form and
16
substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent, containing statements and information
of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters,
delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor
bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and
certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Time
of Sale Prospectus, and, with respect to each letter dated the date hereof only, the
Prospectus, and (ii) confirming that they are (A) independent public or certified
public accountants as required by the Securities Act and (B) in compliance with the
applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01
of Regulation S-X;
(c) the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein are true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional
Closing Date, as the case may be, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or the
Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company shall have complied
with all covenants and agreements hereunder in all material respects at or prior to
the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be;
(d) subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have
occurred (i) any Material Adverse Change which, in the judgment of the Placement
Agent, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public
offering or the sale of and payment for the Shares; (ii) any change in U.S. or
international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates
or exchange controls as would, in the judgment of the Placement Agent, be likely to
prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or distribution of the
Shares, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary
market; (iii) any material suspension or material limitation of trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or the
American Stock Exchange or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such
exchanges; (iv) any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any
exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (v) any banking moratorium declared by
U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vi) any major disruption of settlements of
securities or clearance services in the United States or Canada or (vii) any attack
on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United
States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international
calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Placement Agent, the effect of any
such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it
impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the
sale of and payment for the Shares;
(e) the Placement Agent shall have received certificates dated the Closing Date or
the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, signed by (i) the Chief Executive
Officer and (ii) the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, on
behalf of the Company, to the effect that (a) the representations and warranties set
forth in Section 3 hereof are true and correct in all material respects with
the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of such date,
17
(b) the Company has performed and complied with all agreements and satisfied all
conditions in all material respects on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to such date, (c) at such date, since the date hereof or since the date of the
most recent financial statements in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto after the date hereof), no event or events have occurred, no
information has become known nor does any condition exist that would reasonably be
expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change,
and (d) since the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), other than
as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the
Company has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, not in
the ordinary course of business, that have or would result in a Material Adverse
Change from that set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus;
(f) Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP, outside counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to
the Placement Agent its written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional
Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Placement Agent, to the effect that:
(i) the Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power
and authority under such laws to own its properties and conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus;
(ii) the Company has been duly qualified to do business and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation under the laws of the states listed on an
exhibit to the opinion;
(iii) each of the Company’s subsidiaries has been duly organized and is
validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization with
corporate or other organizational power and authority under such laws to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and
has been duly qualified to do business and is in good standing under the
laws of the states listed on an exhibit to the opinion; and, except as
otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary are owned by
the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, security interests and similar claims;
(iv) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company;
(v) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters
in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock”;
18
(vi) the Shares to be issued and sold as provided herein and in the
Subscription Agreements have been duly authorized by the Company, and when
delivered to and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
the Subscription Agreements, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any
preemptive rights contained in the Certificate of Incorporation or Amended
and Restated Bylaws of the Company or, to such counsel’s knowledge, to any
preemptive rights of any stockholder of the Company or of any other person;
(vii) the description in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale
Prospectus of statutes, legal or governmental proceedings and contracts and
other documents are accurate in all material respects; and to such counsel’s
knowledge, there are no statutes or regulations, agreements, contracts or
other documents that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Time of Sale Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required;
(viii) other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, to such
counsel’s knowledge, there are no (and none of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries has received any actual notice of any) legal or governmental
investigations, inquiries, actions, suits or proceedings pending or
threatened or contemplated against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their respective properties or assets or to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the
Company or its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, if determined
adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries would individually or in the
aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(ix) the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus (other than
the financial statements, the notes thereto and the auditor’s reports
thereon and the other financial and accounting data contained therein, as to
which such counsel need express no opinion) as of the dates they became
effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, appear on
their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or threatened by the
Commission;
(x) the issue and sale of the Shares being delivered on the Closing Date or
the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and the performance by the
Company of its obligations under this Agreement and the Subscription
Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will
not (either with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both) (1) result in any violation of the provisions of
19
(a) the Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated By-Laws of
the Company or (b) any law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of
any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Company or its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets
or (2) conflict with or result (whether with or without the lapse of time or
the giving of notice, or both) in a breach of any of the terms or provisions
of any exhibits to the Registration Statement, except, in the case
of clauses 1(b) and (2) above, as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xi) no consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the issuance by the Company of the Shares to be sold by it as
provided herein and in the Subscription Agreements or the consummation by
the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations or
qualifications as have been obtained under the Securities Act and as may be
required under state securities or “blue sky” laws in connection with the
distribution of the Shares by the Placement Agent; and
(xii) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale
of the Shares, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined
in the Investment Company Act.
Such counsel shall also state that they have participated in conferences with
officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the
independent accountants of the Company and representatives of the Placement Agent
and their counsel at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and related matters were discussed; and, although such counsel did not
independently verify such information and is not passing upon, and does not assume
any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, on the basis of the
foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel to lead such counsel
to believe that (a) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements,
the notes thereto and the auditor’s reports thereon and the other financial and
accounting data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no
view), at its effective date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Time of Sale Information (other than
the financial statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the notes thereto and the
auditor’s reports thereon and the other financial and accounting data contained in
the Time of Sale Prospectus, as to which such counsel need express no
view), at
the time the Time of Sale Information was issued, or at the Closing Date or
Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light
20
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (c) the
Prospectus (other than the financial statements, the notes thereto and the auditor’s
reports thereon and the other financial and accounting data contained therein, as to
which such counsel need express no view), at the time the Prospectus was issued,
or at the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP described above shall be rendered to the
Placement Agent at the request of the Company and shall so state therein. Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxx LLP shall be permitted to rely on the opinions of counsel in the British
Virgin Islands, China and Mauritius as to certain matters contained in the opinion
required by this Section 5(f).
(g) the Placement Agent shall have received, at the time this Agreement is executed
and at the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, letters
dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Placement Agent from KPMG LLP, independent public accountants,
to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them
pursuant to Section 5(b), except that the specified date referred to therein
for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior
to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be;
(h) the Placement Agent shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or
Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP,
counsel to the Placement Agent, with respect to the due authorization and valid
issuance of the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related
matters as the Placement Agent may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have
received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them
to pass upon such matters;
(i) on or prior to the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be,
the Company shall have furnished to the Placement Agent such further certificates
and documents as the Placement Agent shall reasonably request;
(j) the “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, between the Placement Agent, the Company and the executive officers,
directors and key employees of the Company listed on Schedule II attached
hereto relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or
certain other securities shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or
Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and
(k) on or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the
Placement Agent an executed copy of (i) the Joint Development Agreement Regarding
Coal Conversion Projects, by and between AEI and the Company, (ii)
21
the Letter Agreement, by and among AEI and the Company, (iii) each document and
instrument contemplated therein, and (iv) AEI shall have purchased the AEI Shares
from the Company, and the Company shall have received from AEI the purchase price
therefor in immediately available funds.
6. Indemnification and Contribution. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Placement Agent and each of its directors, officers, partners, members and
employees and each person, if any, who controls the Placement Agent (a “controlling person”)
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, penalties, judgments,
awards and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable
legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or
any claim asserted, as such expenses are incurred) caused by any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the (i) Registration Statement (as amended
if the Company shall have furnished any amendments), or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or (ii) the Prospectus, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, except insofar as such claims, liabilities, losses, damages, penalties,
judgments and awards are caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to
the Placement Agent furnished to the Company in writing by the Placement Agent expressly for
use therein; it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described
as such in the next paragraph.
The Placement Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors,
its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act to
the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Placement Agent, but
only with reference to information relating to the Placement Agent furnished to the Company
in writing by the Placement Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus; it being understood and agreed that the only such information in the Prospectus
furnished by the Placement Agent consists of the information appearing in the fourth,
twelfth and thirteenth paragraphs under the caption “Plan of Distribution”.
If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory
investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 6,
such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person or persons
against whom such indemnity may be sought (each an “Indemnifying Person”) in
writing, and such Indemnifying Persons, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified
Person and any others the Indemnifying Persons may designate in such proceeding and shall
pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any
such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own
22
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Person and not the Indemnifying Persons unless (i) the Indemnifying Persons and
the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying
Persons has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both an Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. It is understood that no Indemnifying Person
shall, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Placement Agent and such
control persons of the Placement Agent shall be designated in writing by the Placement Agent
and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and such control persons of the Company shall be designated in
writing by the Company. No Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, each Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify
any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement
or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (i) includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an
admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person.
If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable to an
Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified
Person, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Placement Agent on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Placement
Agent on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Placement Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions
as the net proceeds from the public offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company and the total placement fees received by the Placement Agent in
connection with the public offering of the Shares bear to the aggregate public offering
price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Placement
Agent on the other hand shall be determined by reference to,
23
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by the Company or by the Placement Agent, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Placement Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation or by
any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an
Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations
set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall the Placement Agent be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount and commissions
applicable to the Shares pursuant to this Agreement exceeds the amount of any damages that
the Placement Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not
limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at
law or in equity.
7. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon execution
and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
8. Termination; Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The Placement
Agent shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date
or the Additional Closing Date by written notice to the Company upon the occurrence of any
event pursuant to Section 5 hereof. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the
Placement Agent set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by
or on behalf of the Placement Agent, the Company or any of their respective representatives,
officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Shares.
9. Absence of a Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) the Placement Agent’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in
nature, the Placement Agent has been retained solely to act as Placement Agent in
connection with the Offering and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship
between the Company and the Placement Agent has been created in respect of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, regardless of whether the
Placement Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;
24
(b) the price of the Shares set forth in this Agreement was established by the
Company following discussions with the Placement Agent and arms-length negotiations
with the Purchasers, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and
understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) it has been advised that the Placement Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a
broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of
the Company and that the Placement Agent has no obligation to disclose such
interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or
agency relationship; and
(d) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have
against the Placement Agent for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of
fiduciary duty and agrees that the Placement Agent shall have no liability (whether
direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to
any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company,
including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.
10. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company, the Placement Agent, any controlling persons referred to herein and their
respective successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to give any other person, firm or corporation any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
herein contained. No purchaser of Shares from the Placement Agent shall be deemed to be a
successor merely by reason of such purchase.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Placement Agent shall be given to it at CRT Capital
Group, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (Facsimile:
203-569-6887), Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, with a copy to: Proskauer Rose LLP, 0000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 (Facsimile: 212-969-2900), Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx. Notices
to the Company shall be given to it at Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc., 0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (Facsimile: 713-579-0610), Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, with a
copy to: Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx, L.L.P., 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
(Facsimile: 713-226-6274), Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx.
12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall
be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
25
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of
conflicts of laws. The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
14. Amendments. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor
consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall be effective unless given in writing
and signed by the parties hereto.
26
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return four
counterparts hereof.
SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Accepted: [ ], 2007 | Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
CRT CAPITAL GROUP LLC | |||
By: |
|||
Name: | |||
Title: |
27
SCHEDULE I
SUBSIDIARIES
-
Synthesis Energy Holdings, Inc. (Florida corporation)
- Owns 100% of:
- Synthesis Energy Systems LLC (West Virginia corporation)
- Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (British Virgin Islands corporation)
- Owns 100% of:
- Radiance Generation, Inc. (British Virgin Islands corporation)
- Synthesis Energy Systems Investments, Inc. (Mauritius corporation)
- Synthesis Energy Investment Holdings, Inc. (Mauritius corporation)
- Synthesis Energy Technology Holdings, Inc. (Mauritius corporation)
- Synthesis Energy Systems (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Chinese corporation)
Schedule I-1
SCHEDULE II
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND CERTAIN KEY EMPLOYEES
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Schedule II-1
ANNEX A
A. Time of Sale Information
[list each free writing prospectus to be included in the Time of Sale Information]
B. Pricing Information
[include pricing information used by the Placement Agent to confirm sales]
Annex A-1
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT]
October [ ], 2007
Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned (the “Purchaser”) hereby confirms its agreement with you as follows:
1. This Subscription Agreement (including all annexes and exhibits hereto,
collectively, this “Agreement”) is made as of the date set forth above between Synthesis Energy
Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the Purchaser.
2. The Company has authorized the sale and issuance to certain investors of up to an
aggregate of 5,000,000 shares, plus an additional 487,500 shares at the option of the placement
agent (the “Shares”), of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the
Company, subject to adjustment by the Company’s Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, for a
purchase price of $9.00 per Share (the “Purchase Price”).
3. The offering and sale of the Shares (the “Offering”) is being made pursuant to (1) an
effective Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (including a preliminary prospectus (the “Preliminary
Prospectus”) contained therein (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and (2) a final prospectus, in the form filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), (the “Final
Prospectus” and together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Prospectus”).
4. The Company and the Purchaser agree that the Purchaser will purchase from the Company, and
the Company will issue and sell to the Purchaser, the Shares set forth below for the aggregate
purchase price set forth below. The Shares shall be purchased pursuant to the Terms and Conditions
for Purchase of Shares attached hereto as Annex I and incorporated herein by this reference
as if fully set forth herein. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Offering is not being
underwritten by the placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) named in the Prospectus and that there
is no minimum offering amount.
5. The manner of settlement of the Shares purchased by the Purchaser
shall be determined by such purchaser as follows (Check one):
o
|
A. | Delivery by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker (as specified by such Purchaser on Exhibit A annexed hereto) with the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (“DWAC”) system, whereby Purchaser’s prime broker shall initiate a DWAC transaction on the Closing Date using its DTC participant identification number, and release by the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”), at the Company’s direction. NO LATER THAN ONE (1) BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT BY THE PURCHASER AND THE COMPANY, THE PURCHASER SHALL: |
(I) | DIRECT THE BROKER-DEALER AT WHICH THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS TO BE CREDITED WITH THE SHARES ARE MAINTAINED TO SET UP A DWAC INSTRUCTING THE TRANSFER AGENT TO CREDIT SUCH ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS WITH THE SHARES, AND | ||
(II) | REMIT BY WIRE TRANSFER THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS EQUAL TO THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY THE PURCHASER TO THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT: |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
ABA # 000000000
Account Name: Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
Account Number: [ ]
ABA # 000000000
Account Name: Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
Account Number: [ ]
o
|
B. | Delivery versus payment (“DVP”) through DTC (i.e., the Company shall deliver Shares registered in the Purchaser’s name and address as set forth below and released by the Transfer Agent to the Purchaser through DTC at the Closing directly to the account(s) at the Placement Agent identified by the Purchaser and simultaneously therewith payment shall be made by the Placement Agent by wire transfer to the Company). NO LATER THAN ONE (1) BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT BY THE PURCHASER AND THE COMPANY, THE PURCHASER SHALL: |
(I) NOTIFY THE PLACEMENT AGENT OF THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS AT THE PLACEMENT AGENT TO BE
CREDITED WITH THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY SUCH PURCHASER, AND
Exhibit A-1
(II) CONFIRM THAT THE ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS AT THE PLACEMENT AGENT TO BE CREDITED
WITH THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY THE PURCHASER HAVE A MINIMUM BALANCE EQUAL TO THE
AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES BEING PURCHASED BY THE PURCHASER.
IT IS THE PURCHASER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO (A) MAKE THE NECESSARY WIRE TRANSFER OR CONFIRM THE
PROPER ACCOUNT BALANCE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND (B) ARRANGE FOR SETTLEMENT BY WAY OF DVP IN A TIMELY
MANNER. IF THE PURCHASER DOES NOT DELIVER THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SHARES OR DOES NOT
MAKE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTLEMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE SHARES MAY NOT BE DELIVERED AT
CLOSING TO THE PURCHASER OR THE PURCHASER MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM THE CLOSING ALTOGETHER.
6. The Purchaser represents to the matters set forth in Annex I and that,
except as set forth below, (a) it has had no position, office or other material relationship within
the past three years with the Company or persons known to it to be affiliates of the Company, (b)
it has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder, and this Agreement has been duly authorized and executed by the Purchaser and represents
a valid and binding agreement of the Purchaser enforceable in accordance with its terms, without
conflict under any organizational document of the Purchaser, or any agreement to which it is a
party, or law, regulation or order, to which the Purchaser is subject, (c) it is not a NASD member
or an Associated Person (as such term is defined under the NASD Membership and Registration Rules
Section 1011) as of the Closing, and (d) neither the Purchaser nor any group of persons (whether
identified in a public filing made with the Commission or otherwise) of which the Purchaser is a
part, prior to, in connection with or following the Offering of the Shares, has acquired,
beneficially owns or obtained the right to acquire, 5% or more of the Common Stock (including, on
an as-converted, exercised or exchanged basis, securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock) or the voting power of the Company.
Exceptions: (If no exceptions, write “none.” If left blank, response will be deemed to be
“none.”)
7. The Purchaser represents that it has received (or otherwise had made available
to it by the filing by the Company of an electronic version thereof with the Commission) the
Preliminary Prospectus prior to or in connection with the receipt of this Agreement. The Purchaser
acknowledges that, prior to the delivery of this Agreement to the Company, the Purchaser has
received certain additional information regarding the Offering, including pricing information (the
“Offering Information”). The Offering Information may be provided to the Purcahser by any means
permitted under the Act, including by delivery of the Final Prospectus.
Exhibit A-2
9. No offer by the Purchaser to buy Shares will be accepted and no part of the Purchase Price
will be delivered to the Company until the Company has accepted such offer by countersigning a copy
of this Agreement, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment
of any kind, at any time prior to the Company sending (orally, in writing, or by electronic mail)
notice of its acceptance of such offer. An indication of interest will involve no obligation or
commitment of any kind until this Agreement is accepted and countersigned by or on behalf of the
Company.
Number of Shares: |
||||
Purchase Price Per Share:
|
$ | 9.00 | ||
Aggregate Purchase Price
|
$ | |||
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between us by signing in
the space provided below for that purpose.
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Address: |
________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ |
|||||
Agreed and Accepted
SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
By:
|
||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
Exhibit A-3
ANNEX I TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PURCHASE OF SHARES
1. Authorization and Sale of the Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the Placement Agreement (as defined below), the Company has authorized the sale of
the Shares.
2. Agreement to Sell and Purchase the Shares; Placement Agent.
2.1 At the Closing (as defined in Section 3.1), the Company will sell to the
Purchaser, and the Purchaser will purchase from the Company, upon the terms and conditions set
forth herein, the number of Shares set forth in Section 9 on page 3 of this Agreement (“Page 3”)
for the aggregate purchase price set forth on Page 3.
2.2 The Company proposes to enter into substantially this same form of
Subscription Agreement with certain other purchasers (the “Other Purchasers”) and expects to
complete sales of Shares to them. The Purchaser and the Other Purchasers are hereinafter sometimes
collectively referred to as the “Purchasers,” and this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements
executed by the Other Purchasers are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the
“Agreements.”
2.3 The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company intends to pay CRT Capital Group
LLC (the “Placement Agent”) a placement fee (the “Placement Fee”) in respect of the sale of Shares
to the Purchaser.
2.4 The Company has entered into the Placement Agent Agreement, dated October [ ], 2007 (the
“Placement Agreement”), with the Placement Agent that contains certain representations, warranties,
covenants, and agreements of the Company to the Placement Agent. A copy of the Placement Agreement
is available upon request by contacting the Placement Agent at (000)000-0000.
3. Closings and Delivery of the Shares and Funds.
3.1 Closing. The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the
“Closing”) shall occur at a place and time (the “Closing Date”) to be specified by the Company and
the Placement Agent, and of which the Purchasers will be notified in advance by the Placement
Agent, in accordance with Rule 15c6-1 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”). At the Closing, (a) the Company shall cause the Transfer Agent to
deliver to the Purchaser the number of Shares set forth on Page 3 registered in the name of the Purchaser or, if so indicated on the Purchaser Questionnaire attached hereto as
Exhibit A, in the name of a nominee designated by the Purchaser, and (b) the aggregate purchase price for the
Shares being purchased by the Purchaser will be delivered by or on behalf of the Purchaser to the
Company.
3.2 Conditions to Obligations.
(a) Conditions to the Company’s Obligations. The Company’s obligation to
issue and sell the Shares to the Purchaser shall be subject to: (i) the receipt by the
Company of the purchase price of the Shares being purchased hereunder as set forth on Page 3
and (ii) the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser and the
fulfillment of those undertakings of the Purchaser to be fulfilled prior to the Closing
Date.
(b) Conditions to the Purchaser’s Obligations. The Purchaser’s obligation to
purchase the Shares will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties
made by the Company, and the fulfillment of those undertakings of the Company to be
fulfilled prior to the Closing Date as set forth in this Agreement and to the further
condition that the Placement Agent shall not have: (a) terminated the Placement Agreement
pursuant to the terms thereof or (b) determined that the conditions to the obligations of
the Placement Agent pursuant to Section 5 of the Placement Agreement have not been
satisfied. The Purchaser’s obligations are expressly not conditioned on the purchase by any
or all of the Other Purchasers of the Shares that they have agreed to purchase from the
Company.
Exhibit A-4
3.3 Delivery of Funds. (a) DWAC Delivery. If the Purchaser elects to settle the Shares purchased by such
Purchaser through DTC’s Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) delivery system, no later than
one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the Company,
the Purchaser shall remit by wire transfer the amount of funds equal to the aggregate purchase
price for the Shares being purchased by the Purchaser to the following account designated by the
Company and the Placement Agent pursuant to the terms of that certain Escrow Agreement (the “Escrow
Agreement”) dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Placement Agents and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Escrow Agent”):
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
ABA # 000000000
Account Name:
Account Number:
ABA # 000000000
Account Name:
Account Number:
Such funds shall be held in escrow until the Closing and delivered by the Escrow Agent on
behalf of the Purchasers to the Company upon the satisfaction, in the sole judgment of the
Placement Agent, of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2(b) hereof. The Placement Agent shall
have no rights in or to any of the escrowed funds, unless the Placement Agent and the Escrow Agent
are notified in writing by the Company in connection with the Closing that a portion of the
escrowed funds shall be applied to the Placement Fee.
(b) Delivery Versus Payment through the Depository Trust Company. If the Purchaser
elects to settle the Shares purchased by such Purchaser by delivery versus payment through DTC,
no later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Purchaser and
the Company, the Purchaser shall confirm that the accounts or account at the Placement Agent to
be credited with the Shares being purchased by the Purchaser have a minimum balance equal to the
aggregate purchase price for the Shares being purchased by the Purchaser.
3.4 Delivery of Shares. (a) DWAC Delivery. If the Purchaser elects to settle the Shares purchased by such
Purchaser through DTC’s DWAC delivery system, no later than one (1) business day after the
execution of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the Company, the Purchaser shall direct the
broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with the Shares being purchased by
such Purchaser are maintained, which broker/dealer shall be a DTC participant, to set up a DWAC and
instructing the Transfer Agent to credit such account or accounts with the Shares. Such DWAC
instruction shall indicate the settlement date for the deposit of the Shares, which date shall be
provided to the Purchaser by the Placement Agent. Simultaneously with the delivery to the Company
by the Escrow Agent of the funds held in escrow pursuant to Section 3.3 above, the Company
shall direct the Transfer Agent to credit the Purchaser’s account or accounts with the Shares
pursuant to the information contained in the DWAC.
(b) Delivery Versus Payment through The Depository Trust Company. If the Purchaser
elects to settle the Shares purchased by such Purchaser by delivery versus payment through DTC
No later than one (1) business day after the execution of this Agreement by the Purchaser and
the Company, the Purchaser shall notify the Placement Agent of the account or accounts at the
Placement Agent to be credited with the Shares being purchased by such Purchaser. On the Closing
Date, the Company shall deliver the Shares to the Purchaser through DTC directly to the account(s)
at the Placement Agent identified by the Purchaser and simultaneously therewith payment shall be
made by the Placement Agent by wire transfer to the Company.
4. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Purchaser.
4.1 The Purchaser represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company that
(a) the Purchaser is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making, and is qualified to
make decisions with respect to, investments in shares presenting an investment decision like that
involved in the purchase of the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the Company
and investments in comparable companies, and has requested, received, reviewed and considered all
information it deemed relevant in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares; (b) the
Purchaser is acquiring the number of Shares set forth on the Page 3 in the ordinary course of its
business and for its own account; (c) the Purchaser will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell,
pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise
acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Shares except in compliance with the Securities Act,
applicable state securities laws and their prospective rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder; (d) the Purchaser has answered all questions on Page 3 and the answers thereto are true
and correct as of the date hereof and will be true and correct as of the Closing Date; (e) the
Purchaser, in connection with its decision to purchase the number of Shares set forth on the Page
3, is relying only upon the Offering Information, and the representations and warranties of the
Company contained herein.
4.2 The Purchaser acknowledges, represents and agrees that no action has been or
will be taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States by the Company or the Placement Agent
that would permit an offering of the Shares, or possession or distribution of offering materials in
connection with the issue of the Shares in any jurisdiction outside the United States where action
for that purpose is required. Each Purchaser outside the United States will comply with all
applicable laws and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells
or delivers Shares or has in its possession or distributes any offering material, in all cases at
its own expense. The Placement Agent is not authorized to make and have not made any
representation or use of any information in connection with the issue, placement, purchase and sale
of the Shares, except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.
4.3 The Purchaser understands that nothing in this Agreement, the Prospectus or
any other materials presented to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase and sale of the
Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. The 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 Shares.
4.4 The Purchaser represents, warrants and agrees that, since the earlier to occur
of (i) the date on which the Placement Agent first contacted such Purchaser about the offering and
sale of the Shares and (ii) the date of this Agreement, it has not engaged in any transactions in
the securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any Short Sales (as defined below)
involving the Company’s securities). The Purchaser covenants that it will not engage in any
transactions in the securities of the Company (including Short Sales) prior to the time that the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed. For purposes hereof, “Short
Sales” include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under
Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and all types of direct and
indirect stock pledges, forward sales contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, swaps, “put
equivalent positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements
(including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-US broker dealers
or foreign regulated brokers.
Exhibit A-5
5. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements; Third Party Beneficiary.
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement or by the Placement Agent,
all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company and the Purchaser
herein will survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the Purchaser of the Shares
being purchased and the payment therefor. The Placement Agent shall be a third party beneficiary
with respect to representations, warranties and agreements of the Purchaser in Section 4 hereof.
6. Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing, shall be mailed (a) if within the domestic United States, by first-class registered or
certified airmail, or nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by
facsimile or (b) if delivered from outside the United States, by International Federal Express or
facsimile, and will be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or certified mail
domestic, three business days after so mailed, (ii) if delivered by nationally recognized overnight
carrier, one business day after so mailed, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express, two
business days after so mailed and (iv) if delivered by facsimile, upon electric confirmation of
receipt, and will be delivered and addressed as follows:
(a) if to the Company, to:
Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Fax: 000-000-0000
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Fax: 000-000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to the Purchaser, at its address set forth on the signature page of this Agreement, or
at such other address or addresses as may have been furnished to the Company in writing.
7. Changes. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an
instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Purchaser and any third party beneficiary.
8. Headings. The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and will not be deemed to be part of this Agreement.
9. Severability. In case any provision contained in this Agreement should be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions contained herein will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
10. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of
conflicts of law that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which will constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, will constitute but
one instrument, and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each
party hereto and delivered to the other parties. The Company and the Purchaser acknowledge and
agree that the Company shall deliver its counterpart to the Purchaser along with the Prospectus.
Exhibit A-6
12. Confirmation of Sale. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that such
Purchaser’s receipt of the Company’s counterpart to this Agreement, together with the Prospectus,
shall constitute written confirmation of the Company’s sale of Shares to such Purchaser.
13. Termination. In the event that the Placement Agreement is terminated by the
Placement Agent pursuant to the terms thereof, this Agreement shall terminate without any further
action on the part of the parties hereto.
14. Third Party Beneficiary. Except as expressly set forth in the second sentence of
Section 5 hereof, nothing in this Agreement shall create or be deemed to create any rights in any
person or entity not a party to this Agreement.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
Exhibit
A
SYNTHESIS ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
PURCHASER QUESTIONNAIRE
Pursuant to Section 3 of Annex I to the Agreement, please provide us with the
following information:
1.
|
The exact name that your Shares are to be registered in. You may use a nominee name if appropriate: | |||
2.
|
The relationship between the Purchaser and the registered holder listed in response to item 1 above: | |||
3.
|
The mailing address of the registered holder listed in response to item 1 above: | |||
4.
|
The Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of the registered holder listed in the response to item 1 above: | |||
5.
|
Name of DTC Participant (broker-dealer at which the account or accounts to be credited with the Shares are maintained): | |||
6.
|
DTC Participant Number: | |||
7.
|
Name of Account at DTC Participant being credited with the Shares: | |||
8.
|
Account Number at DTC Participant being credited with the Shares: | |||
Exhibit A-7
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT]
Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
CRT Capital Group LLC
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Dear Sirs:
As an inducement to the Placement Agent to execute the Placement Agent Agreement, pursuant to
which an offering will be made that is intended to result in an orderly market for the Common
Stock, $0.01 par value (the “Securities”), of Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc., and any
successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto, (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby agrees
pursuant to this letter agreement dated as of September 24, 2007 (this “Agreement”) that
from the date hereof and until 45 days after the public offering date set forth on the final
prospectus used to sell the Securities (the “Public Offering Date”) pursuant to the
Placement Agent Agreement, to which you are or expect to become parties, the undersigned will not
offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares
of Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of
Securities, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap,
hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
ownership of the Securities, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by
delivery of the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the
intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any such
transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of
CRT Capital Group LLC (the “Placement Agent”). However, in the event that either (i)
during the last 17 days of the “lock-up” period, the Company releases earnings results or material
news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (ii) prior to the expiration of the
“lock-up” period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day
period beginning on the last day of the “lock-up” period, then, in either case, the expiration of
the “lock-up” period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the
date of the release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as
applicable, unless the Placement Agent waives, in writing, such extension.
Any Securities received upon exercise of options granted to the undersigned will also be
subject to this Agreement. Any Securities acquired by the undersigned in the open market will not
be subject to this Agreement. A transfer of Securities either during the undersigned’s lifetime or
on death, by gift, will or intestate succession, (i) to members of the immediate family of the
undersigned or a trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, all of the
beneficial interests of which are held by the undersigned and/or members of the immediate family of
the undersigned, (ii) to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent pursuant to a
Exhibit B-1
domestic relations order, as defined in Section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section
206(d)(3) of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or (iii) to charitable
organizations and other health and welfare organizations, including schools may be made;
provided, in each case, that the transferee agrees, prior to the transfer, to be bound in
writing by the terms of this Agreement. As used herein, “members of the immediate family” of a
person include such person’s spouse, lineal descendants (including adopted and step-children),
father, mother, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby
authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of Securities if such transfer would
constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal
representatives and assigns of the undersigned. This Agreement shall lapse and become null and
void if the Public Offering Date shall not have occurred on or before October 15, 2007.
Very truly yours, |
||||
Name: | ||||
Exhibit B-2