SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
dated as of July 13, 2007, among China 3C Group, a Nevada corporation
(collectively with its predecessors, the “Company”),
and
the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto as Annex
A
and
identified on the signature pages hereto (each, an “Investor”
and
collectively, the “Investors”).
WHEREAS,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant
to
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act (as defined below) and Rule 506 promulgated
thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to each Investor, and each
Investor, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company
certain securities of the Company, as more fully described in this
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement,
and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investors agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
1.
DEFINITIONS
1.1. Definitions.
In
addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes
of
this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this
Section 1.1:
“Action”
means
any action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any
partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation pending or threatened
in writing against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their
respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or
administrative agency, regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local
or
foreign), stock market, stock exchange or trading facility.
“Affiliate”
means
any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such
terms are used in and construed under Rule 144.
“Business
Day”
means
any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a federal legal holiday
or
a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or State of Nevada
are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to
close.
“Buy-In”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).
“Closing”
means
the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to Article
II.
“Closing
Date”
means
the Business Day on which all of the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1 and
5.2 hereof are satisfied, or such other date as the parties may
agree.
“Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Stock”
means
the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any securities
into which such common stock may hereafter be reclassified.
“Common
Stock Equivalents”
means
any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary which entitle the holder thereof
to acquire Common Stock at any time, including without limitation, any debt,
preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any
time convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder
thereof to receive, Common Stock or other securities that entitle the holder
to
receive, directly or indirectly, Common Stock.
“Company
Deliverables”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Disclosure
Materials”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).
“Effective
Date”
means
the date that the initial Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) of
the
Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the
Commission.
“Evaluation
Date”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1(s).
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“GAAP”
means
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
“Intellectual
Property Rights”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p).
“Investment
Amount”
means,
with respect to each Investor, the Investment Amount indicated on such
Investor’s signature page to this Agreement.
“Investor
Deliverables”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
“Investor
Party”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.7.
“Lien”
means
any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal or
other restrictions of any kind.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any of (i) a material and adverse effect on the legality, validity or
enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material and adverse effect
on the results of operations, assets, prospects, business or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
or (iii) an adverse impairment to the Company’s ability to perform on a timely
basis its obligations under any Transaction Document.
“New
York Courts”
means
the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of
Manhattan.
“Outside
Date”
means
August 8, 2007.
“Per
Share Purchase Price”
equals
$5.60.
2
“Person”
means an
individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated
association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company,
government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any
kind.
“PRC”
means
the People’s Republic of China, not including Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Macau.
“Proceeding”
means an
action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation,
an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced
or threatened.
“Registration
Rights Agreement”
means
the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date of this Agreement,
among
the Company and the Investors, in the form of Exhibit
A
hereto.
“Registration
Statement”
means a
registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement and covering the resale by the Investors of the
Shares.
“Rule
144”
means
Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as
such
Rule.
“SEC
Reports”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Share
Delivery Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).
“Shares”
means
the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the Investors pursuant to
this
Agreement.
“Short
Sales”
include,
without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under
Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act and all types of direct and indirect
stock
pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar
arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other
transactions through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated
brokers.
“Subsidiary”
means
any “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of the Regulation S-X
promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act.
“Trading
Day”
means
(i) a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market (other than
the OTC Bulletin Board), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading
Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), a day on which the Common Stock
is
traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board,
or
(iii) if the Common Stock is not quoted on any Trading Market, a day on which
the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by the
Pink Sheets LLC (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its
functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the Common
Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then
Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.
3
“Trading
Market”
means
whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market
or OTC Bulletin Board on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading
on the date in question.
“Transaction
Documents”
means
this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and any other documents or
agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
ARTICLE
2.
PURCHASE
AND SALE
2.1. Closing.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing the
Company shall issue and sell to each Investor, and each Investor shall,
severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company, the Shares representing
such Investor’s Investment Amount. The Closing shall take place at the offices
of Xxxxx Xxxx LLP, 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 on the
Closing Date or at such other location or time as the parties may
agree.
2.2. Closing
Deliveries.
(a)
At the
Closing, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Investor
the
following (the “Company
Deliverables”):
(i) a
certificate evidencing a number of Shares equal to such Investor’s Investment
Amount divided by the Per Share Purchase Price, registered in the name of such
Investor;
(ii) the
legal
opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP, the Company’s United States securities law firm,
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, the Company’s Nevada law firm and Zhejiang Hong Taiyang
Law Firm, the Company’s law firm in the PRC (which
PRC
legal opinion shall address, among other things, the legality under PRC law
of
any reorganizations or legal structures owned by the Company in the
PRC),
each
such legal opinion in agreed form and addressed to the Investors;
and
(iii) the
Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company.
(b) At
the
Closing, each Investor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company
the
following (the “Investor
Deliverables”):
(i) its
Investment Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds,
by wire transfer to an account designated in writing by the Company for such
purpose; and
(ii) the
Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by such Investor.
4
ARTICLE
3.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
3.1. Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The
Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each
Investor:
(a) Subsidiaries.
The
Company has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries other than as specified in the
SEC Reports. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock
of each Subsidiary free and clear of any and all Liens, and all the issued
and
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and
are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar
rights.
(b) Organization
and Qualification.
The
Company and each Subsidiary are duly incorporated or otherwise organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its
incorporation or organization (as applicable), with the requisite power and
authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business
as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation
of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. The Company
and each Subsidiary are duly qualified to conduct its respective businesses
and
are in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned
by
it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not, individually
or in
the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) Authorization;
Enforcement.
The
Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents
and otherwise to carry out its obligations thereunder. The execution and
delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further
action is required by the Company in connection therewith. Each Transaction
Document has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company
and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the
valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company
in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation
or
similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’
rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general
application.
(d) No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company
and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby
do
not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or
any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a
default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become
a
default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both)
of,
any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company
or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company
or
any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company
or
any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) result in a violation of any
law,
rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction
of
any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is
subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by
which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected;
except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not,
individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Effect.
5
(e) Filings,
Consents and Approvals.
The
Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order
of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any United
States or PRC court or other federal, state, local or other governmental
authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than (i) the
filing with the Commission of one or more Registration Statements in accordance
with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) filings
required by state securities laws, (iii) the filing of a Notice of Sale of
Securities on Form D with the Commission under Regulation D of the Securities
Act, (iv) the filings required in accordance with Section 4.5 and (v) those
that
have been made or obtained prior to the date of this Agreement.
(f) Issuance
of the Shares.
The
Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance
with the Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid
and
nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens. The Company has reserved from its
duly authorized capital stock the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant
to
this Agreement in order to issue the Shares.
(g) Capitalization.
The
number of shares and type of all authorized, issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company, and all shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance
under
the Company’s various option and incentive plans, is specified in the SEC
Reports. Except as specified in the SEC Reports, no securities of the Company
are entitled to preemptive or similar rights, and no Person has any right of
first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right
to
participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Except as specified in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding options,
warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character
whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into
or
exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire,
any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or
arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound
to
issue additional shares of Common Stock, or securities or rights convertible
or
exchangeable into shares of Common Stock. The issue and sale of the Shares
will
not, immediately or with the passage of time, obligate the Company to issue
shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the
Investors) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities
to
adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under such
securities.
6
(h) SEC
Reports; Financial Statements.
The
Company has filed all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof,
for the twelve months preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as
the
Company was required by law to file such reports) (the foregoing materials
being
collectively referred to herein as the “SEC
Reports”
and,
together with the Schedules to this Agreement (if any), the “Disclosure
Materials”)
on a
timely basis or has timely filed a valid extension of such time of filing and
has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension.
As
of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC
Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included
in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect
thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have
been
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved, except as may be otherwise specified in such financial
statements or the notes thereto, and fairly present in all material respects
the
financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and
for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the
periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal,
immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.
(i) Press
Releases.
The
press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve months preceding
the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made and when made, not
misleading.
(j) Material
Changes.
Since
the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC
Reports, except as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i) there has
been
no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not
incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade
payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required
to be
reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to
be disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not
altered its method of accounting or the identity of its auditors, (iv) the
Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other
property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements
to
purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, and (v) the Company has
not
issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except
pursuant to existing Company stock option plans. The Company does not have
pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of
information.
(k) Litigation.
There
is no Action which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity
or
enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Shares or (ii) except
as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports, could, if there were an
unfavorable decision, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably
be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof (in his or her capacity as
such), is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation
of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach
of
fiduciary duty, except as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports. There
has
not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending any
investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former
director or officer of the Company (in his or her capacity as such). The
Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the
effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any
Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
7
(l) Labor
Relations.
No
material labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent
with respect to any of the employees of the Company.
(m) Compliance.
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in violation of (and
no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of
time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under),
nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is
in
default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit
agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or
violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of any court,
arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii) is or has been in violation of any
statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority, including without
limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes,
environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and
safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not,
individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Effect. The Company is in compliance with all effective
requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, that are applicable to it, except where such
noncompliance could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(n) Regulatory
Permits.
The
Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and
permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory
authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in
the
SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not,
individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
such
permits.
(o) Title
to Assets.
The
Company and the Subsidiaries have valid title in fee simple to all real property
owned by them that is material to their respective businesses and good title
in
all personal property owned by them that is material to their respective
businesses, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens as do
not
materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere
with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and
the Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the
Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and
enforceable leases of which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance,
except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
8
(p) Patents
and Trademarks.
The
Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent
applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names,
copyrights, licenses and other similar rights that are necessary or material
for
use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC
Reports and which the failure to so have could, individually or in the
aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
(collectively, the “Intellectual
Property Rights”).
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a written notice that the
Intellectual Property Rights used by the Company or any Subsidiary violates
or
infringes upon the rights of any Person. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports,
to the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are
enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any
of
the Intellectual Property Rights.
(q) Insurance.
The
Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial
responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent
and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are
engaged. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew
its and the Subsidiaries’ existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage
expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary
to continue its business on terms consistent with market for the Company’s and
such Subsidiaries’ respective lines of business.
(r) Transactions
With Affiliates and Employees.
Except
as set forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the
Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the
Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any
Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors),
including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the
furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal
property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer,
director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in
which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest
or
is an officer, director, trustee or partner.
(s) Internal
Accounting Controls.
The
Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed
in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any differences. The Company has established disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures
to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its
Subsidiaries, is made known to the certifying officers by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which the Company’s Form 10-KSB or
10-QSB, as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company’s certifying officers
have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s controls and procedures in
accordance with Item 307 of Regulation S-B under the Exchange Act for the
Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter or fiscal year-end (such date, the
“Evaluation
Date”).
The
Company presented in its most recently filed Form 10-KSB or Form 10-QSB the
conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date.
Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in the
Company’s internal controls (as such term is defined in Item 308(c) of
Regulation S-B under the Exchange Act) or, to the Company’s knowledge, in other
factors that could significantly affect the Company’s internal
controls.
9
(t) Solvency.
Based
on the financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date (and assuming
that the Closing shall have occurred), (i) the Company’s fair saleable value of
its assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect
of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known
contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not
constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business for the current
fiscal year as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its
capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the
business conducted by the Company, and projected capital requirements and
capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company,
together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate
all
of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash,
would
be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its debt when such amounts
are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond
its
ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and
amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt).
(u) Certain
Fees.
No
brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company
to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent,
investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Investors shall have no obligation with
respect to any fees or with respect to any claims (other than such fees or
commissions owed by an Investor pursuant to written agreements executed by
such
Investor which fees or commissions shall be the sole responsibility of such
Investor) made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated
in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(v) Certain
Registration Matters.
Assuming the accuracy of the Investors’ representations and warranties set forth
in Section 3.2(b)-(e), no registration under the Securities Act is required
for
the offer and sale of the Shares by the Company to the Investors under the
Transaction Documents. The Company is eligible to register its Common Stock
for
resale by the Investors under Form SB-2 or Form S-1 promulgated under the
Securities Act. The Company has not granted or agreed to grant to any Person
any
rights (including “piggy-back” registration rights) to have any securities of
the Company registered with the Commission or any other governmental authority
that have not been satisfied.
(w) Listing
and Maintenance Requirements.
Except
as specified in the SEC Reports, the Company has not, in the two years preceding
the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market to the effect that
the
Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements
thereof. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the
foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with the listing and
maintenance requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock on the
Trading Market on which the Common Stock is currently listed or quoted. The
issuance and sale of the Shares under the Transaction Documents does not
contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market on which the Common
Stock is currently listed or quoted, and no approval of the shareholders of
the
Company thereunder is required for the Company to issue and deliver to the
Investors the Shares contemplated by Transaction Documents.
10
(x) Investment
Company.
The
Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately following the
Closing will not have become, an “investment company” within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(y) Application
of Takeover Protections.
The
Company has taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable
any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including
any
distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision
under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (or similar charter documents) or
the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to
the
Investors as a result of the Investors and the Company fulfilling their
obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents,
including without limitation the Company’s issuance of the Shares and the
Investors’ ownership of the Shares.
(z) No
Additional Agreements.
The
Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Investor with
respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other
than
as specified in the Transaction Documents.
(aa) Consultation
with Auditors.
The
Company has consulted its independent auditors concerning the accounting
treatment of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and
in
connection therewith has furnished such auditors complete copies of the
Transaction Documents.
(bb) Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent
or other person acting on behalf of any of the Company or any Subsidiary, has,
directly or indirectly, (i) used any funds, or will use any proceeds from the
sale of the Shares, for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other
unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made
any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees
or
to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds,
(iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any
Subsidiary (or made by any Person acting on their behalf of which the Company
is
aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) has violated in any material
respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(cc) PFIC.
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is or intends to become a “passive foreign
investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(dd) OFAC.
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or Person acting on behalf of
the
Company or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions
administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury
Department (“OFAC”);
and
the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of
the
Shares, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any
Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person or entity, towards any sales
or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar or any other country
sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person
currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
11
(ee) Money
Laundering Laws.
The
operations of each of the Company and any Subsidiary are and have been conducted
at all times in compliance with the money laundering statutes of applicable
jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar
rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any
applicable 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 and/or any Subsidiary
with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge
of the Company, threatened.
(ff) Additional
PRC Representations and Warranties.
(i) All
material consents, approvals, authorizations or licenses requisite under PRC
law
for the due and proper establishment and operation of the Company
and the Subsidiaries
have
been duly obtained from the relevant PRC governmental authorities and are in
full force and effect.
(ii) All
filings and registrations with the PRC governmental authorities required in
respect of the Company and the Subsidiaries and their operations including,
without limitation, the registration with the Ministry of Commerce, the State
Administration of Industry and Commerce, the State Administration for Foreign
Exchange, tax bureau and customs authorities have been duly completed in
accordance with the relevant PRC rules and regulations, except where, the
failure to complete such filings and registrations does not, and would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) The
Company and the Subsidiaries have complied with all relevant PRC laws and
regulations regarding the contribution and payment of its registered share
capital, the payment schedule of which has been approved by the relevant PRC
governmental authorities. There are no outstanding rights of, or commitments
made by the Company or any Subsidiary to sell any of their respective equity
interests.
(iv) Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is in receipt of any letter or notice from any
relevant PRC governmental authority notifying it of the revocation, or otherwise
questioning the validity, of any licenses or qualifications issued to it or
any
subsidy granted to it by any PRC governmental authority for non-compliance
with
the terms thereof or with applicable PRC laws, or the need for compliance or
remedial actions in respect of the activities carried out by the Company or
such
Subsidiary, except such revocation as does not, and would not, individually
or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) The
Company and the Subsidiaries have conducted their respective business activities
within their permitted scope of business or have otherwise operated their
respective businesses in compliance with all relevant legal requirements and
with all requisite licenses and approvals granted by competent PRC governmental
authorities other than such non-compliance that do not, and would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. As to
licenses, approvals and government grants and concessions requisite or material
for the conduct of any part of the Company or any Subsidiaries’ business which
is subject to periodic renewal, neither the Company nor such Subsidiary has
any
knowledge of any grounds on which such requisite renewals will not be granted
by
the relevant PRC governmental authorities.
12
(vi) With
regard to employment and staff or labor, the Company and the Subsidiaries have
complied with all applicable PRC laws and regulations in all material respects,
including without limitation, laws and regulations pertaining to welfare funds,
social benefits, medical benefits, insurance, retirement benefits, pensions
or
the like, other than such non-compliance that do not, and would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(gg) Disclosure.
The
Company confirms that neither it nor any Person acting on its behalf has
provided any Investor or its respective agents or counsel with any information
that the Company believes constitutes material, non-public information except
insofar as the existence and terms of the proposed transactions hereunder may
constitute such information. The Company understands and confirms that the
Investors will rely on the foregoing representations and covenants in effecting
transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the
Investors regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated
hereby, furnished by or on behalf of the Company (including the Company’s
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement) are true and correct
and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3.2. Representations
and Warranties of the Investors.
Each
Investor hereby, for itself and for no other Investor, represents and warrants
to the Company as follows:
(a) Organization;
Authority.
Such
Investor is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite
corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate
the
transactions contemplated by the applicable Transaction Documents and otherwise
to carry out its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance
by such Investor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement has been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if such Investor is not a
corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable
like action, on the part of such Investor. Each of this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed by such Investor, and
when
delivered by such Investor in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute
the valid and legally binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against
it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited
by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation
or
similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’
rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general
application.
(b) Investment
Intent.
Such
Investor is acquiring the Shares as principal for its own account for investment
purposes only and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such
Shares or any part thereof, without prejudice, however, to such Investor’s right
at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Shares
in
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Subject to the
immediately preceding sentence, nothing contained herein shall be deemed a
representation or warranty by such Investor to hold the Shares for any period
of
time. Such Investor is acquiring the Shares hereunder in the ordinary course
of
its business. Such Investor does not have any agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the
Shares.
13
(c) Investor
Status.
At the
time such Investor was offered the Shares, and at the date hereof it is, an
“accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act. Such
Investor is not a registered broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange
Act.
(d) General
Solicitation.
Such
Investor is not purchasing the Shares as a result of any advertisement, article,
notice or other communication regarding the Shares published in any newspaper,
magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented
at
any seminar or any other general solicitation or general
advertisement.
(e) Access
to Information.
Such
Investor acknowledges that it has reviewed the Disclosure Materials and has
been
afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary
of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning
the
terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares and the merits and risks
of
investing in the Shares; (ii) access to information about the Company and the
Subsidiaries and their respective financial condition, results of operations,
business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to
evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional
information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable
effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision
with
respect to the investment. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation
conducted by or on behalf of such Investor or its representatives or counsel
shall modify, amend or affect such Investor’s right to rely on the truth,
accuracy and completeness of the Disclosure Materials and the Company’s
representations and warranties contained in the Transaction
Documents.
(f) Certain
Trading Activities.
Such
Investor has not directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf
of
or pursuant to any understanding with such Investor, engaged in any transactions
in the securities of the Company (including, without limitations, any Short
Sales involving the Company’s securities) since the time that such Investor was
first contacted by the Company regarding the investment in the Company
contemplated by this Agreement. Such Investor covenants that neither it nor
any
Person acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will engage
in any transactions in the securities of the Company (including Short Sales)
prior to the earlier of the time that (i) the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement are publicly disclosed or (ii) this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to the terms hereof.
(g) Independent
Investment Decision.
Such
Investor has independently evaluated the merits of its decision to purchase
Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and such Investor confirms that
it
has not relied on the advice of any other Investor’s business and/or legal
counsel in making such decision. Such Investor has not relied on the business
or
legal advice of the Company or any of its agents, counsel or Affiliates in
making its investment decision hereunder, and confirms that none of such Persons
(other than the Company) has made any representations or warranties to such
Investor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents; provided that this representation and warranty does not impair in
any
way the right of such Investor to rely on (i) the representations and warranties
of the Company contained in the Transaction Documents or (ii) the legal opinions
to be delivered to the Investors pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(ii).
14
(h) Confidentiality.
Such
Investor hereby acknowledges that all information pertaining to the existence
and terms of the proposed transactions hereunder that was provided to such
Investor is confidential (other than information which is in the public domain
or becomes public knowledge without any action or breach on the part of such
Investor and other than information that is otherwise available to such Investor
on a nonconfidential basis) and such Investor shall not disclose any such
confidential information (other than as may be required by law) to any third
party prior to the earlier of (i) the public announcement of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with Section 4.5 hereof or (ii)
the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof.
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that no Investor has made or makes any
representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Section 3.2.
ARTICLE
4.
OTHER
AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
4.1. (a) Shares
may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws.
In
connection with any transfer of the Shares other than pursuant to an effective
registration statement, to the Company, to an Affiliate of an Investor or in
connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company may
require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel
selected by the transferor, the form and substance of which opinion shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does
not require registration of such transferred Shares under the Securities
Act.
(b) Certificates
evidencing the Shares will contain the following legend, until such time as
they
are not required under Section 4.1(c):
THESE
SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES
ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR
TO
SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE
COMPANY. THESE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN
ACCOUNT SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
15
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that an Investor may from time to time pledge,
and/or grant a security interest in some or all of the Shares pursuant to a
bona
fide margin agreement in connection with a bona fide margin account and, if
required under the terms of such agreement or account, such Investor may
transfer pledged or secured Shares to the pledgees or secured parties. Such
a
pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval or consent of the Company
and no legal opinion of legal counsel to the pledgee, secured party or pledgor
shall be required in connection with the pledge, but such legal opinion may
be
required in connection with a subsequent transfer following default by the
Investor transferee of the pledge. No notice shall be required of such pledge.
At the appropriate Investor’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such
reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Shares may reasonably
request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Shares including the
preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule
424(b)(3) of the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities
Act to appropriately amend the list of Selling Stockholders thereunder. Except
as otherwise provided in Section 4.1(c), any Shares subject to a pledge or
security interest as contemplated by this Section 4.1(b) shall continue to
bear
the legend set forth in this Section 4.1(b) and be subject to the restrictions
on transfer set forth in Section 4.1(a).
(c) Certificates
evidencing Shares shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth
in Section 4.1(b)): (i) following a sale or transfer of such Shares pursuant
to
an effective registration statement (including a Registration Statement), or
(ii) following a sale or transfer of such Shares pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming
the transferee is not an Affiliate of the Company), or (iii) while such Shares
are eligible for sale under Rule 144(k). If an Investor shall make a sale or
transfer of Shares either (x) pursuant to Rule 144 or (y) pursuant to a
registration statement and in each case shall have delivered to the Company
or
the Company’s transfer agent the certificate representing Shares containing a
restrictive legend which are the subject of such sale or transfer
and a representation letter in customary form (the
date of
such sale or transfer and Share delivery being the “Share
Delivery Date”)
and (1)
the Company shall fail to deliver or cause to be delivered to such Investor
a
certificate representing such Shares that is free from all restrictive or other
legends by the third Trading Day following the Share Delivery Date and (2)
following such third Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date and prior to
the
time such Shares are received free from restrictive legends, the Investor,
or
any third party on behalf of such Investor, purchases (in an open market
transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction
of a
sale by the Investor of such Shares (a "Buy-In"),
then
the Company shall pay in cash to the Investor (for costs incurred either
directly by such Investor or on behalf of a third party) the amount by which
the
total purchase price paid for Common Stock as a result of the Buy-In (including
brokerage commissions, if any) exceed the proceeds received by such Investor
as
a result of the sale to which such Buy-In relates. The Investor shall provide
the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Investor in
respect of the Buy-In.
16
4.2. Furnishing
of Information.
As long
as any Investor owns the Shares, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain
extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period)
all
reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant
to
the Exchange Act. As long as any Investor owns Shares, if the Company is not
required to file reports pursuant to such laws, it will prepare and furnish
to
the Investors and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such
information as is required for the Investors to sell the Shares under Rule
144.
The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any
holder of Shares may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time
to
time to enable such Person to sell the Shares without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule
144.
4.3. Integration.
The
Company shall not, and shall use its best efforts to ensure that no Affiliate
of
the Company shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise
negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities
Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares in a manner
that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of
the
Shares to the Investors, or that would be integrated with the offer or sale
of
the Shares for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market
in a
manner that would require stockholder approval of the sale of the securities
to
the Investors.
4.4. Intentionally
Omitted.
4.5. Securities
Laws Disclosure; Publicity.
By 9:00
a.m. (New York time) on the Trading Day following the execution of this
Agreement, and by 9:00 a.m. (New York time) on the Trading Day following the
Closing Date, the Company shall issue press releases disclosing the transactions
contemplated hereby and the Closing. On the second Trading Day following the
execution of this Agreement the Company will file a Current Report on Form
8-K
disclosing the material terms of the Transaction Documents (and attach as
exhibits thereto the Transaction Documents), and on the Trading Day following
the Closing Date the Company will file an additional Current Report on Form
8-K
to disclose the Closing. In addition, the Company will make such other filings
and notices in the manner and time required by the Commission and the Trading
Market on which the Common Stock is listed. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the
Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Investor, or include the
name of any Investor in any filing with the Commission (other than the
Registration Statement and any exhibits to filings made in respect of this
transaction in accordance with periodic filing requirements under the Exchange
Act) or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written
consent of such Investor, except to the extent such disclosure is required
by
law or Trading Market regulations.
4.6. Limitation
on Issuance of Future Priced Securities.
During
the six months following the Closing Date, the Company shall not issue any
“Future Priced Securities” as such term is described by NASD
IM-4350-1.
4.7. Indemnification
of Investors.
In
addition to the indemnity provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Company will indemnify and hold the Investors and their directors, officers,
shareholders, partners, employees and agents (each, an “Investor
Party”)
harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims,
contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts
paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of
investigation (collectively, “Losses”)
that
any such Investor Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to any
misrepresentation, breach or inaccuracy of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement made by the Company in any Transaction Document. In
addition to the indemnity contained herein, the Company will reimburse each
Investor Party for its reasonable legal and other expenses (including the cost
of any investigation, preparation and travel in connection therewith) incurred
in connection therewith, as such expenses are incurred. Except as otherwise
set
forth herein, the mechanics and procedures with respect to the rights and
obligations under this Section 4.7 shall be the same as those set forth in
Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
17
4.8. Non-Public
Information.
The
Company covenants and agrees that neither it nor any other Person acting on
its
behalf will provide any Investor or its agents or counsel with any information
that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information, unless
prior thereto such Investor shall have executed a written agreement regarding
the confidentiality and use of such information. The Company understands and
confirms that each Investor shall be relying on the foregoing representations
in
effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
4.9. Listing
of Shares.
The
Company agrees, (i) if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded
on
any other Trading Market, it will include in such application the Shares, and
will take such other action as is necessary or desirable to cause the Shares
to
be listed on such other Trading Market as promptly as possible, and (ii) it
will
take all action reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of
its
Common Stock on a Trading Market and will comply in all material respects with
the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules
of the Trading Market.
4.10. Use
of
Proceeds.
The
Company will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares hereunder for
working capital purposes and not for the satisfaction of any portion of the
Company’s debt (other than payment of trade payables and accrued expenses in the
ordinary course of the Company’s business and consistent with prior practices),
or to redeem any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents.
4.11. Acknowledgment
Regarding Investors’
Trading Activity. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that it has not asked any Investor, nor has
any
Investor
agreed
to, either (a) restrict or become restricted or limit in any way its or any
of
its Affiliates trading in the securities of the Company, including any hedging,
derivative or Short Sales transactions, from and after the
time
that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed
in
accordance with Section 4.5 except
as
and to the extent required by federal securities laws, or (b) hold the Shares
for any specified term.
ARTICLE
5.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
5.1. Conditions
Precedent to the Obligations of the Investors to Purchase Shares.
The
obligation of each Investor to acquire Shares at the Closing is subject to
the
satisfaction or waiver by such Investor, at or before the Closing, of each
of
the following conditions:
18
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true
and
correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing
as though made on and as of such date;
(b) Performance.
The
Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects
with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction
Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to
the
Closing;
(c) No
Injunction.
No
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any
of
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents;
(d) Adverse
Changes.
Since
the date of execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall
have
occurred that reasonably could have or result in a Material Adverse
Effect;
(e) No
Suspensions of Trading in Common Stock; Listing.
Trading
in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or any
Trading Market (except for any suspensions of trading of not more than one
Trading Day solely to permit dissemination of material information regarding
the
Company) at any time since the date of execution of this Agreement, and the
Common Stock shall have been at all times since such date listed for trading
on
a Trading Market;
(f) Officer’s
Certificate.
A
certificate executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company certifying
that
(i) all representations and warranties made by the Company and information
furnished by the Company in any schedules to this Agreement, are true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, (ii) all covenants,
agreements and obligations required by this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by the Company, prior to or at the Closing, have been performed
or
complied with and (iii) the items referenced in Sections 5.1(c)-5.1(e) are
true
and correct as of the Closing Date;
(g) Company
Deliverables.
The
Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section
2.2(a); and
(h) Termination.
This
Agreement shall not have been terminated as to such Investor in accordance
with
Section 6.5.
5.2. Conditions
Precedent to the Obligations of the Company to sell Shares.
The
obligation of the Company to sell Shares at the Closing is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver by the Company, at or before the Closing, of each of
the
following conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of each Investor contained herein shall be true
and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the
Closing Date as though made on and as of such date;
(b) Performance.
Each
Investor shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects
with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction
Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Investor at or
prior to the Closing;
19
(c) No
Injunction.
No
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall
have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any
of
the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents;
(d) Investors
Deliverables.
Each
Investor shall have delivered its Investors Deliverables in accordance with
Section 2.2(b); and
(e) Termination.
This
Agreement shall not have been terminated as to such Investor in accordance
with
Section 6.5.
ARTICLE
6.
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1. Fees
and Expenses.
Each
party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants
and
other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident
to
the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of the
Transaction Documents. The Company shall pay all stamp and other taxes and
duties levied in connection with the issuance of the Shares.
6.2. Entire
Agreement.
The
Transaction Documents, together with the Exhibits and Schedules thereto, contain
the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and
representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the
parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and
schedules.
6.3. Notices.
Any and
all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to
be
provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective
on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile (provided the sender receives a machine-generated
confirmation of successful transmission) at the facsimile number specified
in
this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b)
the
next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section
on
a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time)
on
any Trading Day, (c) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent
by
U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt
by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as follows:
If
to the
Company: Xxxxx
0X
Group
000
XxXxx Xxx Xxxx
|
XxxxXxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx |
Facsimile: |
Attention: |
20
With
a
copy to:
Loeb
& Loeb LLP
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 |
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 |
Attn.: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq. |
If
to an
Investor: To
the
address set forth under such Investor’s name on the signature pages
hereof;
or
such
other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner,
by
such Person.
6.4. Amendments;
Waivers; No Additional Consideration.
No
provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written
instrument signed by the Company and the Investors holding a majority of the
Shares. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or
requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in
the
future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision,
condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either
party
to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such
right. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Investor to amend or
consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any Transaction Document
unless the same consideration is also offered to all Investors who then hold
Shares. Without the written consent or the affirmative vote of each Investor
affected thereby, an amendment or waiver under this Section 6.4 may not waive
or
amend any Transaction Document the effect of which would be to permit the
Company to (1) name any Investor as an underwriter in a Registration Statement
without such Investor’s specific written consent thereto, or (2) not include any
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) of
an
Investor in a Registration Statement due to their refusal to be named as an
underwriter therein.
6.5. Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated prior to Closing:
(a) by
written agreement of the Investors and the Company; and
(b) by
the
Company or an Investor (as to itself but no other Investor) upon written notice
to the other, if the Closing shall not have taken place by 6:30 p.m. Eastern
time on the Outside Date; provided,
that
the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 6.5(b) shall not
be available to any Person whose failure to comply with its obligations under
this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Closing
to occur on or before such time.
In
the
event of a termination pursuant to this Section, the Company shall promptly
notify all non-terminating Investors. Upon a termination in accordance with
this
Section 6.5, the Company and the terminating Investor(s) shall not have any
further obligation or liability (including as arising from such termination)
to
the other and no Investor will have any liability to any other Investor under
the Transaction Documents as a result therefrom.
21
6.6. Construction.
The
headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language
chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict
construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement shall be
construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden
of
proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship
of any provisions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction
Documents.
6.7. Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Investors. Any Investor may assign any or all of its rights
under
this Agreement to any Person to whom such Investor assigns or transfers any
Shares, provided such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect
to
the transferred Shares, by the provisions hereof that apply to the
“Investors.”
6.8. No
Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any
provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set
forth
in Section 4.7 (as to each Investor Party).
6.9. Governing
Law.
All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all Proceedings
concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether
brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or
agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the New York Courts. Each party hereto
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts
for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or
with
any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect
to the enforcement of the any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby
irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that
it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such New York Court,
or
that such Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum.
Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and
consents to process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy
thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence
of
delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted
by
applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions
of
a Transaction Document, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall
be
reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs
and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of
such Proceeding.
6.10. Survival.
The
representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall
survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares.
22
6.11. Execution.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken
together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to
the
other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of
the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same
force and effect as if such facsimile signature page were an original
thereof.
6.12. Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions
of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and
the
parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is
a
reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such
substitute provision in this Agreement.
6.13. Rescission
and Withdrawal Right.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting
any
similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Investor
exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document
and
the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods
therein provided, then such Investor may rescind or withdraw, in its sole
discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant
notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future
actions and rights.
6.14. Replacement
of Shares.
If any
certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is mutilated, lost, stolen
or
destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and
substitution for and upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution
therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction and
customary and reasonable indemnity, if requested. The applicants for a new
certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable
third-party costs associated with the issuance of such replacement Shares.
If a
replacement certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is requested due
to
a mutilation thereof, the Company may require delivery of such mutilated
certificate or instrument as a condition precedent to any issuance of a
replacement.
6.15. Remedies.
In
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted
by
law, including recovery of damages, each of the Investors and the Company will
be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties
agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss
incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing
sentence and hereby agrees to waive in any action for specific performance
of
any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
6.16. Payment
Set Aside.
To the
extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Investor pursuant
to
any Transaction Document or an Investor enforces or exercises its rights
thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement
or
exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be
fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are
required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee,
receiver or any other person under any law (including, without limitation,
any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action),
then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof
originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full
force
and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff
had not occurred.
23
6.17. Independent
Nature of Investors’
Obligations and Rights.
The
obligations of each Investor under any Transaction Document are several and
not
joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Investor under any Transaction Document. The decision of each Investor to
purchase Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such
Investor independently of any other Investor. Nothing contained herein or in
any
Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant thereto,
shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association,
a
joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the
Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such
obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
Each
Investor acknowledges that no other Investor has acted as agent for such
Investor in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Investor
will be acting as agent of such Investor in connection with monitoring its
investment in the Shares or enforcing its rights under the Transaction
Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce
its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this
Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Investors
has been provided with the same Transaction Documents for the purpose of closing
a transaction with multiple Investors and not because it was required or
requested to do so by any Investor.
6.18. Limitation
of Liability.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company acknowledges and
agrees that the liability of an Investor arising directly or indirectly, under
any Transaction Document of any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied
solely out of the assets of such Investor, and that no trustee, officer, other
investment vehicle or any other Affiliate of such Investor or any investor,
shareholder or holder of shares of beneficial interest of such a Investor shall
be personally liable for any liabilities of such Investor.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE
PAGES FOLLOW]
24
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as
of
the date first indicated above.
XXXXX 0X GROUP | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title: |
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE
PAGES FOR INVESTORS FOLLOW]
25
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as
of
the date first indicated above.
NAME OF INVESTOR | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Investment Amount: $_______________ | ||
Tax ID No.: _______________________ |
ADDRESS FOR NOTICE | ||
c/o: | ||
Street: | ||
City/State/Zip: | ||
Attention: | ||
Tel: | ||
Fax: | ||
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS | ||
(if
different from above)
|
||
c/o: | ||
Street: | ||
City/State/Zip: | ||
Attention: | ||
Tel: |
26
Annex
A
SCHEDULE
OF BUYERS
(1)
|
(2)
|
Buyer
|
Address
and
Facsimile
Number
|
|
|
27