23,333,333 Shares and Warrants to Purchase 4,666,667 Shares LEV PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Common Stock ($.01 per value) PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
23,333,333
Shares
and
Warrants
to Purchase 4,666,667 Shares
LEV
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Common
Stock ($.01 per value)
August
13, 2007
XXXXXXXXX
& COMPANY, INC.
CIBC
World Markets Corp.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Co. Inc.
c/o JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Introductory.
Lev
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
proposes to issue and sell to the purchasers,
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Placement Agent Agreement (this
“Agreement”)
and
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 23,333,333 units
(the “Units”),
each
consisting of (i) one share (a “Share”
and,
collectively, the “Shares”)
of
common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common
Stock”)
of the
Company and (ii) one warrant in the form of Exhibit
B
attached
hereto (the “Warrant,”
collectively, the “Warrants”)
to
purchase 0.2 shares of Common Stock. The aggregate of 4,666,667 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants are referred to herein as
the
“Warrant
Shares.”
The
Warrant Shares, together with the Shares and the Warrants, are referred to
herein as the “Securities.”
The
Company hereby confirms that Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. (“Jefferies”
or
the
“Representative”),
CIBC
World Markets Corp. (“CIBC”)
and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Co. Inc. (“Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx”)
acted
as Placement Agents (each of Jefferies, CIBC and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, a “Placement
Agent”
and,
collectively, the “Placement
Agents”)
in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.
Section
1. Agreement
to Act as Placement Agents; Placement of Securities.
On the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein
contained, and subject to all the terms and conditions of this
Agreement:
(a) The
Company has authorized and hereby acknowledges that the Placement Agents have
acted as its exclusive agents to solicit offers for the purchase of all or
part
of the Units from the Company in connection with the proposed offering of the
Units (the “Offering”).
Until
the Closing Date (as defined in Section
3
hereof),
the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative,
solicit or accept offers to purchase Units, Common Stock or Warrants otherwise
than through the Placement Agents.
(b) The
Company hereby acknowledges that the Placement Agents, as agents of the Company,
used their reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Units
from
the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Prospectus (as defined below). The Placement Agents shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each
Purchaser whose offer to purchase Units was solicited by the Placement Agents
and accepted by the Company, but the Placement Agents shall not, except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, be obligated to disclose the identity
of
any potential purchaser or have any liability to the Company in the event any
such purchase is not consummated for any reason. Under no circumstances will
any
Placement Agent be obligated to underwrite or purchase any Units, Common Stock
or Warrants for its own account and, in soliciting purchases of Units, the
Placement Agents acted solely as the Company’s agents and not as principals.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise provided in this
Section
1(b),
it is
understood and agreed that the Placement Agents (or their respective affiliates)
may, solely at their discretion and without any obligation to do so,
purchase Units as principals.
(c) Subject
to the provisions of this Section
1,
offers
for the purchase of Units were solicited by the Placement Agents as agents
for
the Company at such times and in such amounts as the Placement Agents deemed
advisable. Each of the Placement Agents communicated to the Company, orally
or
in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase Units received by it as agent
of
the Company. The Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase
the Units and may reject any such offer, in whole or in part. Each of the
Placement Agents has the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, without
notice to the Company, to reject any offer to purchase Units received by it,
in
whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of this
Agreement.
(d) The
Units
are being sold to the Purchasers at a price of $1.50 per Unit. The purchases
of
the Units by the Purchasers shall be evidenced by the execution of Subscription
Agreements by each of the
Purchasers and the Company.
(e) As
compensation for services rendered, on the Closing Date (as defined in
Section
4
hereof),
the Company shall pay to the Placement Agents by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account or accounts designated by the Representative,
an
aggregate amount equal to six and one-half percent (6.5%) of the gross proceeds
received by the Company from the sale of the Units on such Closing
Date;
provided, however, that no fee shall be due on the first $3,000,000 of Units
sold in the Offering to the parties listed on Schedule B annexed to a certain
engagement letter by and between the Company and Jefferies, dated August 3,
2007.
2
(f) No
Units
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 Units shall have been delivered to the Purchaser
thereof against payment by such Purchaser. If the Company shall default in
its
obligations to deliver Units to a Purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the
Company shall indemnify and hold the Placement Agents harmless against any
loss,
claim, damage or expense arising from or as a result of such default by the
Company in accordance with Section
8
herein.
Section
2. Representations
and Warranties of
the Company.
The
Company hereby represents and warrants to each of the Placement Agents, as
of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined),
and covenants with each of the Placement Agents, as follows:
(a) The
Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the
“Commission”)
a
shelf registration statement on Form
S-3
(File No. 333-143196), and has prepared a base prospectus (the “Base
Prospectus”)
to be
used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Units. 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 all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
therein and any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange
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 (if any) the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement. Such
prospectus, in the form first used by the Placement Agents to confirm sales
of
the Units or in the form first made available to the Placement Agents by the
Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities
Act, is called the “Prospectus.” Any
preliminary prospectus supplement describing the Units and the offering thereof,
together with the Base Prospectus, is called the “Preliminary
Prospectus,”
and
the
Preliminary Prospectus and any other preliminary prospectus
supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Units and the offering
thereof and is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below),
together with the Base Prospectus, is called a “preliminary
prospectus.”
As
used herein, the term “Prospectus”
shall
mean the final prospectus supplement, dated August 13, 2007, to the Base
Prospectus that describes the Units and the offering thereof (the “Final
Prospectus Supplement”),
together with the Base Prospectus,
in the
form first used by the Placement Agents to confirm sales of the Units or
in the
form first made available to the Placement Agents by the Company to meet
requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act.
As used
herein,“Applicable
Time”
is
5:00
p.m. (New York time) on
August
13,
2007. As
used
herein, “Time
of Sale Prospectus”
means
the preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to
the
Applicable Time, and each “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the
Securities Act), if any, related to the offering of the Units contemplated
hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) (each such road show, a “Road
Show”).
As
used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,”“Rule
462(b) Registration Statement”, “Preliminary Prospectus”“preliminary
prospectus,” “Base Prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” 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, the Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus
or
the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document
under the Exchange Act which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
in
the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the
Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All
references in this Agreement to (i) the
Registration Statement, the 462(b) Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, a preliminary prospectus, the Base 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”)
and
(ii) the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the “electronic
Prospectus”
provided for use in connection with the offering of the Units as contemplated
by
Section 3(l) of this Agreement. All
references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other
information which are “contained,”
“included”
or
“stated”
in
the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall
be
deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and
other
information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references
in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement,
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any
preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or
the
Prospectus, as the case may be, and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus,
the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be
deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act
which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus
or
the Prospectus, as the case may be.
3
(b) Compliance
with Registration Requirements.
The
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been
declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. 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 best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated
or
threatened by the Commission.
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
Agents for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Units. 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 Applicable
Time, the Time of Sale Prospectus did not, and at the time of each sale of
the
Shares and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section
3),
the
Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if
applicable, 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. The
representations and warranties set forth in the three immediately preceding
sentences do 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 or the Time of Sale Prospectus, or any
amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity
with
information relating to any Placement Agent furnished to the Company in writing
by the Representative expressly for use therein, it
being
understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Placement
Agents to the Company consists of the information described in Section
8(b)
below.
There
are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Time of
Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
The
Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the
Representative’s prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing
prospectus.
4
(c) Offering
Materials Furnished to Placement Agents.
The
Company has delivered to the Representative a
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 Representative has reasonably requested for each of the Placement
Agents.
(d) Distribution
of Offering Material By the Company.
The
Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the Closing,
any
offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units other
than a preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus
or
the Registration Statement.
(e) Authorization
of Agreements.
Each of
this Agreement the Subscription Agreements and that certain Escrow Agreement,
dated the date hereof (the “Escrow
Agreement”),
between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
and thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors or by general equitable principles.
(f) Authorization
of the Securities.
The
Shares and Warrants to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this
Agreement, and the Warrant Shares which are issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this
Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement or the Warrants, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable, and the issuance and sale of the Securities is not
subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Securities.
(g) No
Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights.
There
are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity
or
debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included
in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.
(h) No
Material Adverse Change.
Except
as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, subsequent to the
respective dates as of which information is given in Time of Sale Prospectus:
(i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that
could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations
or
prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course
of
business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any
such change is called a “Material
Adverse Change”);
(ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not
incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent,
not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction
or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has
been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries,
any
of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption
by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital
stock.
5
(i) Independent
Accountants.
Xxxxxx
LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements
(which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and
supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration
Statement and included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and Time
of
Sale Prospectus (each, an “Applicable
Prospectus”
and
collectively, the “Applicable
Prospectuses”),
are
(i) independent public or certified public accountants as required by the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
(ii) in
compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of
accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X and (iii) a registered public
accounting firm as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(the
“PCAOB”)
whose
registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such
registration to be withdrawn.
(j) Preparation
of the Financial Statements.
The
financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration
Statement and included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position
of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly
the
information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and
supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be
expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements
or
supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement
or any Applicable Prospectus. The financial data set forth in each Applicable
Prospectus fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the
Registration Statement and each Applicable Prospectus. No person who has been
suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting
firm, or who has failed to comply with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300
promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or otherwise aided the preparation
of, or audited, the financial statements, supporting schedules or other
financial data filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement
and included in any Applicable Prospectus.
6
(k) Company’s
Accounting System.
The
Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep accurate books and records
and 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 authorization; (ii) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain
accountability for assets; (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 existing
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect
to
any differences. There has not been and is no material weakness in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated)
and since December 31, 2006, there has been no change in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or
is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(l) Incorporation
and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Each of
the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, as
the
case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited
liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and
authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its properties and
to
conduct its business as described in each Applicable Prospectus and, in the
case
of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement,
the Subscription Agreements, the Escrow Agreement and the Warrants. Each of
the
Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation,
partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, to transact business
and is in good standing in the State of New York and each other jurisdiction
in
which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of business. All of the issued and
outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each
subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries,
free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance
or
adverse claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly,
any
corporation, association or other entity other than (i) the subsidiaries listed
in Exhibit 21
to the
Registration Statement and (ii) such other entities omitted from Exhibit 21
which, when such omitted entities are considered in the aggregate as a single
subsidiary, would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning
of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X.
7
(m) Capitalization
and Other Capital Stock Matters.
The
authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth
in each Applicable Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described
in
the Time of Sale Prospectus or upon the exercise of outstanding options or
warrants described in each Applicable Prospectus). The Units (including the
Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares) conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus. All of the issued
and outstanding Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and
state
securities laws. None of the outstanding Shares was issued in violation of
any
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe
for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or
outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or
other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of
its
subsidiaries other than those accurately described in each Applicable
Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other
stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder,
set forth in each Applicable Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the
information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements,
options and rights.
(n) Trading;
Exchange Account
Registration.
The
Shares trade publicly on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol LEVP.OB.
The
Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the
Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of,
terminating the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act, nor has
the
Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating
terminating such registration.
8
(o) Non-Contravention
of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals
Required.
Neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or
by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational
document, as applicable, or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or
lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”)
under
any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise,
lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
a
party or by which it or any of them may be bound (including, without limitation,
any credit agreement, indenture, pledge agreement, security agreement or other
instrument or agreement evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to
indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries ),
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing
Instrument”),
except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result
in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and the Escrow Agreement,
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and by each
Applicable Prospectus and the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance
by the Company with the terms and provisions of the Warrants (i) have been
duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws, partnership agreement
or
operating agreement or similar organizational document of the Company or any
subsidiary, as applicable, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any
of
its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to,
any
Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the
Company or any subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order
of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or
regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus, except such
as
have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect
under
the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the
NASD.
For
purposes of qualification under state securities, or “blue sky,” laws, the
Company has listed
with the S&P Company Guide, which listing will be effective on or before the
Closing Date.
(p) No
Material Actions or Proceedings.
There
are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings (including any
proceeding before the United States Food and Drug Administration of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (“FDA”)
or
comparable federal, state, local or foreign governmental bodies) pending or,
to
the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which have as the subject
thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or
discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable
possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely
to the Company, such subsidiary or such officer or director, (B) any such
action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Subscription Agreements or (C) any such action, suit or proceeding is or would
be material in the context of the sale of Units. No material labor dispute
with
the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with the employees
of any principal supplier, manufacturer, customer or contractor of the Company,
exists or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or
imminent.
9
(q) Intellectual
Property Rights.
The
Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the right to use all patents,
trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations,
trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, software, databases, know-how,
Internet domain names, trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, and other
intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual
Property”)
necessary to carry on their respective businesses as currently conducted, and
as
proposed to be conducted and described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, and
the
Company is not aware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other
person to the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to the
foregoing except for those that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Change. To the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual
Property licenses described in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale
Prospectus are valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the parties
thereto in accordance to its terms. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company
and each of its subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with, and
is
not in breach nor has received any asserted or threatened claim of breach of,
any Intellectual Property license, and the Company has no knowledge of any
breach or anticipated breach by any other person to any Intellectual Property
license. The Company’s and each of its subsidiaries’ businesses as now conducted
and as proposed to be conducted do not and will not, to the Company’s knowledge,
infringe or conflict with any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
copyrights, trade secrets, licenses or other Intellectual Property or franchise
right of any person. To the Company’s knowledge, no claim has been made against
the Company or any of its subsidiaries alleging the infringement by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries of any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name,
copyright, trade secret, license in or other intellectual property right or
franchise right of any person which is expected by the Company to have a
material adverse effect on the the Company. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries has taken all reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard
its rights in all Intellectual Property, including the execution of appropriate
nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or
impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require
the consent of any other person in respect of, the Company’s or any of its
subsidiaries’ right to own, use, or hold for use any of the Intellectual
Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the businesses as
currently conducted. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has at all times
complied with all applicable laws relating to privacy, data protection, and
the
collection and use of personal information collected, used, or held for use
by
the Company and any of its subsidiaries in the conduct of the Company’s and its
subsidiaries businesses. To the Company’s knowledge, no claims have been
asserted or threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries alleging
a
violation of any person’s privacy or personal information or data rights and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not breach or
otherwise cause any violation of any law related to privacy, data protection,
or
the collection and use of personal information collected, used, or held for
use
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the conduct of the Company’s or any
of its subsidiaries’ businesses. The Company and each of its subsidiaries take
reasonable measures to ensure that such information is protected against
unauthorized access, use, modification, or other misuse.
10
(r) All
Necessary Permits, etc.
The
Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current certificates,
authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign
regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses
(including any certificates, authorizations or permits required by the FDA
or
comparable federal, state, local or foreign governmental bodies), and neither
the Company nor any subsidiary has received, or has any reason to believe that
it will receive, any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization
or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(s) Compliance
with Laws.
The
Company has not been advised, and has no reason to believe, that it and each
of
its subsidiaries are not conducting business in compliance with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting
business, including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of the FDA
or
comparable federal, state, local or foreign governmental bodies, except where
failure to be so in compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
The studies, tests and preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf
of the Company that are described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (the “Company
Studies and Trials”)
were
and, if still pending, are being, conducted in all material respects in
accordance with experimental protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to,
where applicable, accepted professional scientific standards; the descriptions
of the results of the Company Studies and Trials contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects; and the
Company has not received any notices or correspondence with the FDA or any
foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority
mandating the termination, suspension or material modification of any Company
Studies or Trials that termination, suspension or material modification would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
11
(t) Title
to Properties.
The
Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of
the
real and personal property and other assets reflected as owned in the financial
statements referred to in Section 2(a)
above
(or elsewhere in any Applicable Prospectus), in each case free and clear of
any
security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, adverse claims
and
other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value
of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed
to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real
property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by
the
Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with
such
exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use
made
or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or
personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.
(u) Tax
Law Compliance.
The
Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign
income and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes required to be paid
by
any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine
or
penalty levied against any of them. The Company has made adequate charges,
accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in
Section 2(a)
above
in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for
all
periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
has not been finally determined.
(v) Company
Not an “Investment Company.”
The
Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”).
The
Company is not, and will not be, either after receipt of payment for the Shares
or after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of
Proceeds” in each Applicable Prospectus, an “investment
company”
within
the meaning of Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner
so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.
(w) Insurance.
Each of
the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound
and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such
deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and
customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering
real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries
against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes and
policies covering the Company and its subsidiaries for product liability claims
and clinical trial liability claims. The Company has no reason to believe that
it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance
coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable
coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct
its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material
Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any
insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
12
(x) No
Price Stabilization or Manipulation;
Compliance with Regulation M.
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 Shares or any other “reference
security”
(as
defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“Regulation
M”))
whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise, and has
taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M.
(y) Related
Party Transactions.
There
are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person required to be described
in each Applicable Prospectus which have not been described as required.
(y) S-3
Eligibility. At
the
time the Registration Statement was originally declared effective and at the
time the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 2006 (the “Annual
Report”)
was
filed with the Commission, the Company met the then applicable requirements
for
use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Company does not meet the
requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act specified in
Conduct Rule 2710(b)(7)(C)(i) of the National Association of Securities
Dealers Inc. (the “NASD”).
(z) Exchange
Act Compliance.
The
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission,
complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
the
Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the
Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto
become effective and at the Closing Date will not contain an untrue statement
of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were
made, not misleading.
(z) NASD
Matters.
All of
the information provided to the Placement Agents or to counsel for the Placement
Agents by the Company, 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 the NASD pursuant to NASD Conduct Rule 2710 or 2720 is true, complete
and correct.
(aa) Parties
to Lock-Up Agreements.
Each of
the Company’s directors and executive officers listed in Exhibit D
has
executed and delivered to Jefferies a lock-up agreement in the form of
Exhibit E
hereto.
Exhibit D
hereto
contains a true, complete and correct list of all directors and executive
officers of the Company. If any additional persons shall become directors or
executive
officers
of the Company prior to the end of the Company Lock-up Period (as defined
below), the Company shall cause each such person,
prior
to or contemporaneously with their appointment or election as a director or
executive officer of the Company,
to
execute and deliver to Jefferies an agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
E.
13
(bb) Statistical
and Market-Related Data.
The
statistical, demographic and market-related data included in the Registration
Statement and each Applicable Prospectus are based on or derived from sources
that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate or represent the Company’s
good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such
sources.
(cc) Disclosure
Controls and Procedures; Deficiencies in or Changes to Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting.
The
Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), which (i) are
designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including
its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal
executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those
entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required
under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have been evaluated by
management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most
recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to
perform the functions for which they were established. The Company is not aware
of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize
and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material,
that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in
the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of
any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred
during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting.
(dd) ERISA
Compliance.
The
Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee
benefit plan”
(as
defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively,
“ERISA”))
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their
“ERISA
Affiliates”
(as
defined below) are, to the Company’s knowledge, in compliance in all material
respects with ERISA. “ERISA
Affiliate”
means,
with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of
organizations described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the “Code”)
of
which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable
event”
(as
defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with
respect to any “employee
benefit plan”
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA
Affiliates. No “employee
benefit plan”
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA
Affiliates, if such “employee
benefit plan”
were
terminated, would have any “amount
of unfunded benefit liabilities”
(as
defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their
ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability
under
(i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal
from, any “employee
benefit plan”
or
(ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee
benefit plan”
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA
Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure
to
act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
14
(ee) Brokers.
Except
for the commissions payable to the Placement Agents as described
in the
Time
of
Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no broker, finder or other party
that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or
other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, except for sales to parties on the
Schedule B described in Section 1(e) above
(ff) Compliance
with Cuba Act.
The
Company has complied with, and is and will be in compliance with, the provisions
of that certain Florida act relating to disclosure of doing business with Cuba,
codified as Section 517.075 of the Florida statutes, and the rules and
regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Cuba
Act”)
or is
exempt therefrom.
(gg) Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act.
Neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company,
any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on
behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any
action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”),
including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or
instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer,
payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other
property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything
of
value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any
foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign
political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and the Company and its
subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s affiliates have
conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have
instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which
are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance
therewith.
15
Any
certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Placement
Agents or to counsel for the Placement Agents shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Placement Agents and the
Purchasers as to the matters covered thereby.
The
Company acknowledges that the Placement Agents and, for purposes of the opinions
to be delivered pursuant to Section
6
hereof,
counsel to the Company and counsel to the Placement Agents, will rely upon
the
accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations (and to the extent
deemed necessary by counsel to the Company, certificates of officers of the
Company and its subsidiaries) and hereby consents to such reliance.
Section
3. The
Closing.
The
time
and date of closing and delivery of the documents required to be delivered
to
the Placement Agents and the Purchasers pursuant to Sections
4 and
6
hereof
shall be at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on August 17, 2007 (the “Closing
Date”)
at the
office of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, P.A., 00 Xxxxxxxx 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000.
Section
4. Additional
Covenants of
the Company.
The
Company further covenants and agrees with each Placement Agent and the
Purchasers as follows:
(a) Delivery
of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus.
The
Company shall furnish to you, without charge, three signed copies of the
Registration Statement, any amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement (including exhibits thereto) and shall furnish to you in New York
City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business
day
next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned
in
Section 4(e) or 4(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus,
the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration
Statement as you may reasonably request.
(b) Placement
Agents’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. Prior
to
amending or supplementing the Registration Statement (including any registration
statement filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act), any
preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus including
any amendment or supplement through incorporation of any report filed under
the
Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Placement Agents for review,
a
reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof,
a
copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not
file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the
Representative’s consent, and to file with the Commission within the applicable
period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required
to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
16
(c) Free
Writing Prospectuses. The
Company shall not use any free writing prospectuses.
(d) Amendments
and Supplements to Time of Sale Prospectus.
If
the
Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Units at
a
time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and
any
event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to
amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the Time of Sale
Prospectus does not include an 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 when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not
misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which
the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the
Registration Statement, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Placement
Agents, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus
to
comply with applicable law, including the Securities Act, the Company shall
(subject to Sections
4(b)
and
(c))
forthwith prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense,
to
the Placement Agents and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or
supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time
of
Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an 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 when delivered
to a prospective purchaser, not misleading or so that the Time of Sale
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the
Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended
or
supplemented, will comply with applicable law including the Securities
Act.
(e) Securities
Act Compliance.
After
the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Company shall promptly
advise the Placement Agents in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of,
or
requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii)
of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or
the
Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to
the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes
effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment
or
supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings
to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Shares from any
securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or
designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings
for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order
at
any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such
order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that
it
shall comply with the provisions of Rule 424(b), and Rule 430A, as applicable,
under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that
any
filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner
by the Commission.
17
(f) Amendments
and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act
Matters.
If any
event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to
amend or supplement the Prospectus so that the Prospectus does not include
an
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
when
the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion
of the Placement Agents or counsel for the Placement Agents it is otherwise
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law,
including the Securities Act, the Company agrees (subject to Section 4(b)
and
4(c))
to
promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish at its own expense to
the
Placement Agents and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
so
that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not
include an 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 when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading
or
so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable
law including the Securities Act. Neither a Placement Agent’s consent to, or
delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of
any
of the Company’s obligations under Sections 4(b)
or
(c).
(g) Blue
Sky Compliance.
The
Company shall cooperate with the Placement Agents and counsel for the Placement
Agents to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain
exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws
of
those
jurisdictions designated by the Placement Agents, shall comply with such laws
and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect
so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. The Company shall
not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that
would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where
it
is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign
corporation. The Company will advise the Placement Agents promptly of the
suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption
relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction
or
any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the
event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration
or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
thereof at the earliest possible moment.
18
(h) Use
of Proceeds.
The
Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units sold by it
in
the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the
Prospectus.
(i) Transfer
Agent.
The
Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer
agent for the Shares.
(j) Earnings
Statement.
As soon
as practicable, but in any event no later than twelve months after the date
of
this Agreement, the Company will make generally available to its security
holders and to the Placement Agents an earnings statement (which need not be
audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first
fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which
shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(k) Periodic
Reporting Obligations.
The
Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and
documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.
(l) Company
to Provide Copy of the Prospectus in Form That May be Downloaded from the
Internet.
The
Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered, at its expense, within one
business day from the effective date of this Agreement, to Jefferies
an
“electronic
Prospectus”
to
be
used by the Placement Agents in connection with the offering and sale of the
Shares. As used herein, the term “electronic
Prospectus”
means
a
form of Time of Sale Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that
meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic
format, satisfactory to Jefferies, that may be transmitted electronically by
Jefferies and the other Placement Agents to offerees and purchasers of the
Shares; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper Time of
Sale Prospectus, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot
be
disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material
shall
be replaced in the electronic Prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative
description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and
(iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic
format, satisfactory to Jefferies, that will allow investors to store and have
continuously ready access to the Time of Sale Prospectus at any future time,
without charge to investors (other than any fee charged for subscription to
the
Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that
it
has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to XXXXX or
otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time
it
was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an
investor or his or her Placement Agent, the Company shall transmit or cause
to
be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Time of Sale
Prospectus.
19
(m) Agreement
Not to Offer or Sell Additional Shares.
During
the period commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on and
including the 90th
day
following the date of the Prospectus (as the same may be extended as described
below, the “Lock-up
Period”),
the
Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative (which
consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representative), directly
or indirectly, sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), offer,
contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open
“put
equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act,
or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any
registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Shares,
options, rights or warrants to acquire Shares or securities exchangeable or
exercisable for or convertible into Shares (other than as contemplated by this
Agreement with respect to the Shares) or publicly announce the intention to
do
any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the Company may (i) issue Shares
or options to purchase Shares, or issue Shares upon exercise of options,
pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement
described in each Applicable Prospectus, (ii) issue securities upon exercise
or
conversion of any of the Company’s outstanding securities, (iii) issue Shares or
securities exercisable for Shares to lenders of the Company, (iv) file a
registration statement on Form S-8 relating to employee benefit plans and (v)
file post-effective
amendments to registration statement (File No.
333-138729)
for the
purpose of complying with that certain registration rights agreement entered
into in connection therewith.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up
Period, the Company issues an earnings release 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 each case the Lock-up Period will be extended until the expiration of the
18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release
or
the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable,
unless
Jefferies waives, in writing, such extension (which waiver may be withheld
at
the sole discretion of Jefferies), except that such extension will not apply
if,
(i) within three business days prior to the 15th calendar day before the last
day of the Lock-up Period, the Company delivers a certificate, signed by the
Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certifying
on
behalf of the Company that (i) the Shares are “actively traded securities” (as
defined in Regulation M), (ii) the Company meets the applicable requirements
of
paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 139 under the Securities Act in the manner
contemplated by NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f)(4), and (iii) the provisions of
NASD Conduct Rule 2711(f)(4) are not applicable to any research reports
relating to the Company published or distributed by any of the Placement Agents
during the 15 days before or after the last day of the Lock-up Period (before
giving effect to such extension).
The
Company will provide the Placement Agents with prior notice of any such
announcement that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-up Period.
20
(n) Investment
Limitation.
The
Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company
from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would require the Company or
any
of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act.
(o) No
Stabilization or Manipulation;
Compliance with Regulation M.
The
Company will not 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 Shares or any other reference security, whether to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise, and the Company will,
and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with all applicable provisions
of Regulation M. If the limitations of Rule 102 of Regulation M (“Rule
102”)
do not
apply with respect to the Shares or any other reference security pursuant to
any
exception set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102, then promptly upon notice from
the Placement Agents (or, if later, at the time stated in the notice), the
Company will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with Rule 102
as
though such exception were not available but the other provisions of Rule 102
(as interpreted by the Commission) did apply.
(p) NASD.
To use
its best efforts to assist the Placement Agents with any filings with the NASD
and obtaining clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable
or payable to the Placement Agents.
Section
5. Payment
of Expenses.
The
Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with
the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all
expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including
all
printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar
and transfer agent of the Securities, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer
and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities
to the Purchasers, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel,
independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors,
(v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation,
printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement
(including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates
of experts), the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, and each preliminary
prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement,
(vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company
or the Placement Agents in connection with qualifying or registering (or
obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any
part
of the Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky
laws
and, if requested by the Placement Agents, preparing and printing a
“Blue
Sky Survey”
or
memorandum and any supplements thereto, advising the Placement Agents of such
qualifications, registrations, determinations and exemptions, (vii) the
filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for
the
Placement Agents in connection with, the NASD’s review, if any, and approval of
the Placement Agents’ participation in the offering and distribution of the
Units,
(viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor
presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of
the offering of the Units, including, without limitation, expenses associated
with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses
associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and
expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show
presentations with the prior approval of the Company, and travel and lodging
expenses of the Placement Agents, employees and officers of the Company and
of
the Placement Agents and any such consultants and any such consultants,
(ix) all other fees, costs and expenses of the nature referred to in Item
14 of Part II of the Registration Statement
and (x)
the fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Placement Agents;
provided
that the
Company’s obligation to reimburse the Placement Agents for their expenses under
clause (x) shall not exceed $85,000.
Except
as provided in this Section 5,
Section 7,
Section
8,
Section 9
and
Section 10
hereof,
the Placement Agents shall pay their own expenses.
21
Section
6. Conditions
of the Obligations of the Placement Agents
and the Purchasers and the Sale of the Units.
The
respective obligations of (i) the several Placement Agents hereunder, and of
(ii) the Purchasers under the Subscription Agreements to purchase and pay for
the Units as provided therein on the Closing Date, shall be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set
forth in Section 2 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date
as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants
and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional
conditions:
(a) Accountants’
Comfort Letter.
On the
date hereof, the Placement Agents shall have received from Xxxxxx LLP,
independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, (i) a
letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Placement Agents, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Placement Agents, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to
Placement Agent, 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, the Preliminary Prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus, and (ii) confirming that they are (A) independent public or
certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act and (B) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the
qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(b) Compliance
with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from
NASD.
For
the
period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the Closing
Date:
22
(i) the
Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the
information previously omitted from the Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule
430B under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required
by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;
(ii) no
stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose
shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and
(iii) the
NASD
shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the
placement terms and arrangements.
(c) No
Material Adverse Change.
For the
period from and after the date of this Agreement and through and including
the
Closing Date,
in the
judgment of the Representative there shall not have occurred any Material
Adverse Change.
(d) Opinion
of Counsel for the Company.
On the
Closing Date the Placement Agents shall have received the opinion of Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxxx, LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date,
the form of which is attached as Exhibit C
and to
such further effect as counsel for the Placement Agents shall reasonably
request.
(e) Opinion
of Counsel for the Placement Agents.
On each
of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Placement Agent shall
have
received the opinion of Proskauer Rose, LLP, counsel for the Placement Agents,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agents, dated as of such
Closing Date.
(f) Officers’
Certificate.
On the
Closing Date the Placement Agents shall have received a written certificate
executed by the Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the
effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) and (c) of this Section
6,
and
further to the effect that:
(i) for
the
period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including
such
Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the
representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in
Section 2
of this
Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made on and as of such Closing Date;
and
(iii) the
Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to
such Closing Date.
(g) Bring-down
Comfort Letter.
On the
Closing Date the Placement Agent shall have received from Xxxxxx LLP,
independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter
dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agents,
to
the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by
them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6,
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.
23
(h) Lock-Up
Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company.
On or
prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative
an agreement in the form of Exhibit E
hereto
from the persons listed on Exhibit
D
hereto,
and
such agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date.
(i) The
Company shall have entered into Subscription Agreements with each of the
Purchasers and such agreements shall be in full force and effect.
(j) The
Company shall have entered into the Escrow Agreement and such agreement shall
be
in full force and effect.
(k) The
Company shall have prepared and filed with the Commission a Current Report
on
Form 8-K including as an exhibit thereto this Agreement.
(l) Additional
Documents.
On or
before the Closing Date, the Placement Agents and counsel for the Placement
Agents shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they
may
reasonably request for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance
and sale of the Units as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the
accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction
of
any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken
by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Units as
contemplated herein and in connection with the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement
Agents and counsel for the Placement Agents.
If
any
condition specified in this Section
6
is not
satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated
by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the
Closing Date which termination shall be without liability on the part of any
party to any other party, except that Section 5,
Section 7,
Section
8, Section
9
and
Section
10
shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section
7. Reimbursement
of Placement Agents’ Expenses.
If this
Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 6,
or
Section 10
or if
the sale to the Purchasers of the Shares on the Closing Date is not consummated
because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to
perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company
agrees to reimburse the Placement Agents, severally, upon demand for all
out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Placement
Agents in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of
the
Units, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing
expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone
charges.
24
Section
8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
of the Placement Agents.
The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Placement Agent, its officers
and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Placement Agent within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Placement Agent or
such
officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, other federal or state statutory law or regulation,
or
the
laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Units have been
offered
or
sold or
at
common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation), insofar
as
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof
as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon
(i) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information
deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act,
or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to
be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
or
(ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any preliminary prospectus, the
Time
of Sale Prospectus or
the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order
to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading; or (iii) any act or failure to act or any alleged
act
or failure to act by any Placement Agent in connection with, or relating in
any
manner to, the Units or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included
as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above,
provided
that the
Company shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that a court
of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts
or
failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Placement Agent
through its bad faith or willful misconduct, and
to
reimburse each Placement Agent and
each
such officer, employee and
controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative) as such expenses are
reasonably incurred by such Placement Agent or such officer, employee or
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling,
compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
action; provided,
however,
that
the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of
or
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Placement Agents expressly for
use
in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being
understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Placement
Agents to the Company consists of the information described in subsection (b)
below.
The
indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a)
shall be
in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
25
(b) Indemnification
of the Company, its Directors and Officers.
Each
Placement Agent agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed
the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such
director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation,
or
at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such
settlement is effected with the written consent of such Placement Agent ),
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus the
Time
of Sale Prospectus
or the
Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is
based upon the 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 each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus, the
Time
of Sale Prospectus, the
Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and
in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Placement
Agent expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such
director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising
or
paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided
that no
Placement Agent shall be required to pay any amount under this Section
8(b)
in
excess of the total compensation received by such Placement Agent hereunder
in
connection with the sale of the Units. The Company hereby acknowledges that
the
only information that the Placement Agents have furnished to the Company
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus
or
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements
set
forth in (i)
the
last paragraph on the front cover page of the Prospectus Supplement concerning
the terms of the offering by the Placement Agents; and (ii) the statements
concerning the Placement Agents contained in the first paragraph under the
heading “Plan of Distribution.”
The
indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b)
shall be
in addition to any liabilities that each Placement Agent may otherwise
have.
26
(c) Notifications
and Other Indemnification Procedures.
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8
of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under
this
Section 8,
notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability
which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8
or to
the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case
any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified
party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that
it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified,
by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving
the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided,
however,
if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that
there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which
are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party,
the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel
to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
such
indemnified party under this Section 8
for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall
have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding
sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not
be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together
with local counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to
such action),
which
counsel (together with any local counsel) for the indemnified parties shall
be
selected by the Representative (in the case of counsel for the indemnified
parties referred to in Section 8(a)
above)
or by the Company (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred
to in Section 8(b)
above))
(ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to
the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable
time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii)
the
indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for
the
indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party,
in each
of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of
the
indemnifying party and shall be paid as they are incurred.
27
(d) Settlements.
The
indemnifying party under this Section 8
shall
not 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, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such
settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by
Section 8(c)
hereof,
the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of
the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent
to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding
in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
Section
9. Contribution.
If
the
indemnification provided for in Section 8
is for
any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless
an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute
to
the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred,
as
a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to
therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents,
on
the other hand, from the offering of the Units pursuant to this Agreement 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 Agents, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on
the
one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, in connection with the
offering of the Units pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the
same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of
the
Units pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company, and the total fees received by the Placement Agents, in each case
as
set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate
initial public offering price of the Units as set forth on such cover. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on
the
other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
any
such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the
Company, on the one hand, or the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and the
parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission.
28
The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c),
any
legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth
in
Section 8(c)
with
respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for
contribution is to be made under this Section 9;
provided,
however,
that no
additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice
has been given under Section 8(c)
for
purposes of indemnification.
The
Company and the Placement Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 9
were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Placement Agents were treated
as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does
not
take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.
Section
10. Termination
of this Agreement.
Prior to
the purchase of the Units by the Purchasers on the Closing Date this Agreement
may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to the Company if at
any
time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have
been suspended or limited by the Commission or trading in securities generally
on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have
been
suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally
established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD;
(ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of
federal, New York, Delaware or California authorities; (iii) there shall
have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international
hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or
international financial markets, or any substantial change or development
involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international
political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Placement
Agent is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Units
in
the manner and on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the
judgment of the Representative there shall have occurred any Material Adverse
Change; (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood,
earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment
of
the Representative may interfere materially with the conduct of the business
and
operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have
been
insured or (vi) or for any other reason permitted under this Agreement or the
Subscription Agreements. Any termination pursuant to this Section 10
shall be
without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Placement Agent,
except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the
Placement Agents pursuant to Sections 5
and 7
hereof,
(b) any Placement Agent to the Company or (c) of any party hereto to
any other party except that the provisions of Section 8
and
Section 9
shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination. The Company hereby
acknowledges that in the event that this Agreement is terminated by the
Placement Agents pursuant to the terms hereof, the Subscription Agreements
shall
automatically terminate without any further action on the part of the parties
thereto.
29
Section
11. No
Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Units
pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering
price of the Units is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the
Company, on the one hand, and the several Purchasers, on the other hand, (b)
in
connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to
such
transaction each Placement Agent is and has been acting solely as a principal
and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders,
creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Placement Agent has assumed
or
will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company
with
respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto
(irrespective of whether such Placement Agent has advised or is currently
advising the Company on other matters) and no Placement Agent has any obligation
to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the
obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Placement Agents
and
their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions
that
involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the
Placement Agents have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax
advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has
consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent
it deemed appropriate.
Section
12. Representations
and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.
The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Placement Agents
set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Placement
Agent or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors
or
any controlling person, as the case may be, and, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold
hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section
13. Notices.
All
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered
or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If
to the
Placement Agent:
Xxxxxxxxx
& Company, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
New
York,
New York 10022
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
General Counsel
30
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx
& Company, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
New
York,
New York 10022
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
General Counsel
If
to the
Company
Lev
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
New
York,
New York 10017
Facsimile:
(212) 682−2559
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.D., CEO
Any
party
hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written
notice to the others.
Section
14. Successors.
This
Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto,
and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling
persons referred to in Section 8
and
Section 9,
and in
each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right
or obligation hereunder.
Section
15. Partial
Unenforceability.
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section,
paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this
Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there
shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes)
as
are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
Section
16. Governing
Law Provisions.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal
laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed
in such state. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based
upon
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related
Proceedings”)
may be
instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in
the
Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or the courts of the State of
New
York in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York
(collectively, the “Specified
Courts”),
and
each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for
proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such
court (a “Related
Judgment”),
as to
which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit,
action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by
mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of
process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court.
The
parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of
venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and
irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in
the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a New York City office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
XX
00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx, as its agent to receive service of process
or
other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that
may
be instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in
the
City of New York.
31
With
respect to any Related Proceeding, each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, all immunity (whether on the basis of
sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction, service of process, attachment
(both before and after judgment) and execution to which it might otherwise
be
entitled in the Specified Courts, and with respect to any Related Judgment,
each
party waives any such immunity in the Specified Courts or any other court of
competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded
any
such immunity at or in respect of any such Related Proceeding or Related
Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity pursuant to the United
States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.
Section
17. Authority
of the Representative.
In
connection with this Agreement, Jefferies will act as the Representative for
and
on behalf of the Placement Agents, and any action taken under this Agreement
by
the Representative, will be binding on all the Placement Agents. Each of CIBC
and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx authorizes Jefferies to manage the Offering and to take such
action in connection therewith as Jefferies in its sole discretion deems
appropriate or desirable, consistent with the provisions of the Agreement Among
Underwriters previously entered into between Jefferies and each of CIBC and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, taking into account that the Offering will be in the form of
a
best efforts placement and not a firm commitment underwriting.
Section
18. General
Provisions.
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement
and
supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements,
understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall
be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto
were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express
or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the
condition is meant to benefit. The Section headings herein are for the
convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Each
of
the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person
who
was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the
provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions
of Section 8
and the
contribution provisions of Section 9,
and is
fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further
acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8
and 9
hereto
fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate
the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments
and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act.
Section
19. Certain
Definitions and Usage of Terms.
When
used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings: (i)
“to
the Company’s knowledge” or “to the knowledge of the Company” or words of
similar import shall mean to the knowledge of any officer or director of the
Company after a reasonable investigation of such facts by such officer or
director and (ii) “received by the Company” or words of similar import shall
mean received by any of the officers or directors of the Company.
32
If
the
foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly
sign
and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument,
along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in
accordance with its terms.
Very
truly yours,
XXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, INC
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
The
foregoing Placement Agent Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the
Placement Agents in New York, New York as of the date first above
written.
XXXXXXXXX
& COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
Managing Director
CIBC
WORLD MARKETS CORP.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Executive Director
XXXXXX
XXXXXX & CO. INC.
By: /s/
XX
Xxxxxxxxx
Name:
XX
Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
Executive Vice President
33
EXHIBIT
A
Form
of Subscription Agreement
A-1
EXHIBIT
B
Form
of Warrant
B-1
EXHIBIT
C
Opinion
of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to
Section 6(d)
of the Placement Agent Agreement
C-1
EXHIBIT
D
LIST
OF
PERSONS EXECUTING LOCK-UPS
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
D-1
EXHIBIT
E
[Date]
Xxxxxxxxx
& Company, Inc.
CIBC
World Markets Corp.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Co. Inc.
c/o
Jefferies & Company, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
New
York,
New York 10022
RE: Lev
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”)
Ladies
& Gentlemen:
The
undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (“Shares”)
or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares. The
Company proposes to carry out a public offering (the “Offering”)
of
Units comprised of Shares and warrants to purchase Shares for which you will
act
as the Placement Agents. The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will
be of
benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by,
among
other things, raising additional capital for its operations.
The
undersigned acknowledges that the Placement Agents are relying on the
representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter
agreement in carrying out the Offering and in entering into a Placement Agent
Agreement with the Company with respect to the Offering.
In
consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the
undersigned will not, (and will cause any spouse or immediate family member
of
the spouse or the undersigned living in the undersigned’s household not to),
without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. (which
consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell,
offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any
short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position”
within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or otherwise dispose of any Shares, options or warrants to acquire
Shares, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Shares
currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by the
undersigned (or such spouse or family member), or publicly announce an intention
to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and
continuing through the close of trading on the date 90 days after
the
date of the Prospectus (as defined in the Placement Agent Agreement relating
to
the Offering to which the Company is a party) (the “Lock-up
Period”);
provided,
that if
(i) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period, the Company issues an
earnings release 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 each case the Lock-up
Period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning
on
the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the
material news or material event, as applicable, unless Xxxxxxxxx & Company,
Inc. waives, in writing, such extension, except
that such extension will not apply if, (i) within three business days prior
to
the 15th calendar day before the last day of the Lock-up Period, the Company
delivers a certificate, signed by the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, certifying on behalf of the Company that (i) the Shares
are “actively traded securities” (as defined in Regulation M), (ii) the Company
meets the applicable requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 139
under the Securities Act in the manner contemplated by NASD Conduct
Rule 2711(f)(4), and (iii) the provisions of NASD Conduct
Rule 2711(f)(4) are not applicable to any research reports relating to the
Company published or distributed by any of the Placement Agent during the 15
days before or after the last day of the Lock-up Period (before giving effect
to
such extension);
provided,
further,
that
the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to the transfer of any or all of
the
Shares owned by the undersigned, either during is lifetime or on death, by
gift,
will or intestate succession to the immediate family of the undersigned or
to a
trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned and/or a member
or members of his immediate family; provided, however, that in any such case,
it
shall be a condition to such transfer that the transferee executes and delivers
to Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. an agreement stating that the transferee is
receiving and holding the Shares subject to the provisions of this letter
agreement, and there shall be no further transfer of such Shares, except in
accordance with this letter agreement. The undersigned hereby acknowledges
and
agrees that written notice of any extension of the Lock-up Period pursuant
to
the preceding sentence will be delivered by Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. to the
Company and that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have
been
given to, and received by, the undersigned.
E-1
The
undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions
with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of Shares
or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares held
by
the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing
restrictions.
With
respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration rights
relating to registration under the Securities Act of any Shares owned either
of
record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights to receive
notice of the Offering.
This
agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the
respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the
undersigned.
_________________________
Printed
Name of Holder
By:_________________________
Signature
_________________________
Printed
Name of Person Signing
(and
indicate capacity of person signing if
signing
as custodian, trustee, or on behalf
of
an
entity)
E-2