RECAPITALIZATION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
99.1
This
RECAPITALIZATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is made as of the 31st day of December, 2007, by and among the persons listed
on
the Securityholder Signature pages attached hereto, which collectively represent
the holders of one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding principal amounts
of the Notes (as such term is defined below) and one hundred percent (100%)
of
the outstanding amount of the Series B Shares (as such term is defined below)
(each a “Signing
Securityholder” and collectively, the “Signing
Securityholders”) and VIKING SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”).
RECITALS:
A. The
Company currently has authorized: (i) 400,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common
Shares”), of which 69,934,072 are outstanding on the date hereof; (ii)
8,000 shares of Series B Variable Dividend Convertible Preferred Stock, par
value $0.001 per share (“Series
B
Shares”), of which 7,789 are issued and outstanding on the date
hereof.
B. Certain
of the Signing Securityholders are the holders of certain 8% Secured Convertible
Debentures Due February 23, 2009 (the “Notes”)
made by the Company in favor of the holders of the Notes (the “Noteholders”),
which Notes were purchased by the Noteholders pursuant to that certain
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2007, as amended (the
“First
Note
Purchase Agreement”) and/or that certain Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of July 31, 2007 (the “Second
Note
Purchase Agreement”, with the First Note Purchase Agreement and the
Second Note Purchase Agreement together referred to as the “Note
Purchase
Agreement”), among the Company and the Noteholders.
C. The
Signing Securityholders represent (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the
outstanding principal amounts of the Notes; and (ii) one hundred percent (100%)
of the outstanding amount of the Series B Shares.
D. The
Company presently is preparing to issue to investors in a private placement
(the
“Placement”)
(i) an aggregate of up to $3,000,000 of Common Shares, as described later herein
and (ii) warrants to purchase Common Shares at an exercise price approximately
equal to the purchase price of the Common Shares issued in the
Placement.
E. In
anticipation of the Placement, the directors of the Company have approved
certain resolutions which, inter alia, recommend to the
holders of Common Shares that a 1 for 50 reverse split of the Common Shares
be
implemented and authorizing and directing the proper officers of the Company
upon approval by the holders of the Common Shares and final approval by the
Company’s Board of Directors to effectuate the amendment of the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate
of
Incorporation”) by filing with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware promptly upon the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions
precedent set forth in Section
4 below (such date of filing, the “Closing
Date”) the Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate
the 1 for 50 reverse split of the Common Shares (the “Amended
Certificate”).
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F. In
anticipation of the Placement, certain holders of the Common Shares representing
greater than fifty percent (50%) have executed certain resolutions through
written consent approving a 1 for 50 reverse split of the Common Shares (the
“Reverse
Split”) and authorizing and directing the proper officers of the Company
upon final approval by the Company’s Board of Directors to file the Amended
Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
G. Under
the
terms of the Placement, a minimum of approximately 14,000,000 and a maximum
of
approximately 16,800,000 Common Shares would be issued for $0.178571 per share
(for an aggregate purchase price of between $2.5 million and $3.0 million)
and
warrants in the form of Exhibit
A attached hereto, with a term of exercise equal to five (5) years, which
may be exercised to acquire an equal number of Common Shares for $0.18 per
share
would be issued to the acquirer of such Common Shares.
H. In
anticipation of the Placement, the Signing Securityholders, including the
Noteholders, and the Company desire to effect a recapitalization (the “Recapitalization”)
to reconstitute the Company’s capital structure pursuant to which (i) the
Signing Securityholders will convert their Series B Shares into newly issued
Common Shares; (ii) the Signing Securityholders will convert their Notes into
newly issued Common Shares; (iii) the warrants (the “Note
Warrants”) issued to the Noteholders under the Note Purchase Agreement
will be cancelled and exchanged for new warrants in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto,
with a term of exercise equal to five (5) years, which may be exercised to
acquire Common Shares at an exercise price of $0.18 per share (the “Exchange
Warrants”); (iv) the warrants (the “Series
B
Warrants”) issued to the holders of Series B Shares under the Preferred
Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Series B Shares were purchased
will be also cancelled and exchanged for Exchange Warrants, all on the terms
and
conditions set forth herein.
I. In
connection with the Placement and the Recapitalization, the Company desires
to
issue certain securities in the form of stock options and/or stock awards to
those individuals and entities that have provided, and/or will continue to
provide, services to the Company.
J. In
connection with the Recapitalization, Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxx has agreed to a lock-up
until December 15, 2009, of his Common Shares.
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Recapitalization.
1.1. Conversion
of
Shares.
The
parties acknowledge that the Amended Certificate implements the Reverse
Split. The parties agree that immediately and automatically upon the
effectiveness of the Amended Certificate (such time, the “Effective
Time”), without any further action required by any party, (i) the Series
B Shares (including any and all accrued and unpaid dividends, interest,
penalties, liquidated damages or other damages or claims arising thereunder)
shall be converted into Common Shares at a conversion ratio of 538.945207 Common
Shares for each Series B Share. Immediately after the Effective Time,
the number of Common Shares to be held by each stockholder of the Company as
a
result of the conversion of the Series B Shares in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 1.1
shall be as set forth opposite their respective names in the Schedule of
Securityholders attached hereto as Exhibit B (the
“Securityholder
Schedule”).
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1.2. Conversion
of
Notes. The
parties agree that, effective as of the Effective Time, without any further
action required by any party, the full principal amount of the Notes (excluding
all, if any, accrued and unpaid interest, penalties, liquidated damages or
other
damages or claims arising thereunder, which shall be considered cancelled,
along
with any other damages or claims arising thereunder) shall be converted into
Common Shares at the ratio of one (1) Common Share for every $0.356095 face
value of Notes, such conversion to be effected automatically at the Effective
Time and without further action required by any party. The
Noteholders shall deliver to the Company the original executed Notes; provided,
however, that such action by the Noteholders shall not be necessary to make
such
conversion effective. Upon the effectiveness of the conversion, all
indebtedness of the Company to the Noteholders under the Notes shall be
discharged and deemed satisfied, and the Company shall have no further liability
under the Notes, the Note Purchase Agreement or any related documents or
agreements.
1.3. Exchange
and
Cancellation of Series B Warrants. At
the Effective Time, all of the Series B Warrants will be exchanged for Exchange
Warrants such that for every 15.873016 Common Shares that could be acquired
under the Series B Warrants prior to the Reverse Split, Exchange Warrants
allowing the acquisition of one (1) Common Share (post-Reverse Split) at an
exercise price of $0.18 will be issued to the holder of such Series B
Warrants. The exchange of the Series B Warrants shall occur
automatically and without further action required by any party, and upon such
exchange, all Series B Warrants are cancelled and of no further force and
effect.
1.4. Exchange
and
Cancellation of Note Warrants. At
the Effective Time, all of the Note Warrants will be exchanged for Exchange
Warrants such that for every 1.978306 Common Shares that could be acquired
under
the Note Warrants prior to the Reverse Split, Exchange Warrants allowing the
acquisition of one (1) Common Share (post-Reverse Split) at an exercise price
of
$0.18 will be issued to the holder of such Note B Warrants. The
exchange of the Note Warrants shall occur automatically and without further
action required by any party, and upon such exchange, all Note Warrants are
cancelled and of no further force and effect.
1.5. Common
Shares. All
newly issued Common Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable when issued
pursuant to this Section
1. The Company shall cancel all existing share certificates,
issue new certificates and record in its stockholders’ ledger, to reflect the
share ownership set forth on the Stockholder Schedule; provided, however, that
such action by the Company shall not be necessary to make such share ownership
effective.
1.6. Tax
Free
Reorganization. The
Recapitalization is intended to qualify as a “recapitalization” within the
meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”),
and this Agreement is intended to constitute a “plan of reorganization” within
the meaning of Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3 of the United States Income
Tax
Regulations. No party hereto shall take any action which is
inconsistent with such intent and each party hereto shall cause all tax returns
relating to the Recapitalization to be filed on the basis of treating the
Recapitalization as a “recapitalization” within the meaning of Section
368(a)(1)(E) of the Code.
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1.7. Exempted
Reorganization. The
parties acknowledge that the securities issued in the Recapitalization, and
the
Recapitalization, are intended to qualify for an exemption under Section 3(a)(9)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”).
1.8. Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
Lock-Up. Xx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxx agrees that he shall not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge,
hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or
otherwise dispose of any of his Common Shares or any of his rights to acquire
Common Shares until December 15, 2009.
2. Representations,
Warranties and Covenant of the Signing Securityholders. Each
Signing Securityholder hereby, severally and not jointly, represents and
warrants to the Company as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date
as
follows:
2.1. Requisite
Power; Authorization; Binding Obligations. Such
Signing Securityholder has all requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to carry out the provisions of this
Agreement. All action on such Signing Securityholder’s part necessary
for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the performance of
all
obligations of such Signing Securityholder hereunder has been or will be taken
prior to the Closing. This Agreement constitutes valid and binding
obligations of such Signing Securityholder enforceable against it in accordance
with their terms, except as limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors’ rights, and (b) general principles of equity that
restrict the availability of equitable remedies.
2.2. Investment
Representations. Such
Signing Securityholder understands that the Common Shares have not been
registered under the Securities Act. Such Signing Securityholder also
understands that the Common Shares are being issued pursuant to an exemption
from registration contained in the Securities Act based in part upon such
Signing Securityholder’s following representations and warranties:
(a) Such
Signing Securityholder has substantial experience in evaluating and investing
in
private placement transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company
so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment
in
the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. Such
Signing Securityholder understands that it must bear the economic risk of this
investment indefinitely unless the Common Shares are registered pursuant to
the
Securities Act, or an exemption from registration is available. Such
Signing Securityholder understands that the Company intends to register the
Common Shares, but that the Company can give no assurance as to when, or if,
such registration may occur. Such Signing Securityholder also
understands that there is no assurance that any exemption from registration
under the Securities Act will be available and that, even if available, such
exemption may not allow such Signing Securityholder to transfer all or any
portion of the Common Shares under the circumstances, in the amounts or at
the
times such Signing Securityholder might propose.
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(b) Such
Signing Securityholder is acquiring the Common Shares for its own account for
investment only, and not with a view towards their
distribution.
(c) Such
Signing Securityholder represents that by reason of its, or of its management’s,
business or financial experience, such Signing Securityholder has the capacity
to protect its own interests in connection with the transactions contemplated
in
this Agreement. Further, such Signing Securityholder is aware of no
publication of any advertisement in connection with the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.
(d) Such
Signing Securityholder has had an opportunity to discuss the Company’s business,
management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of
the
Company and has had the opportunity to review the Company’s operations and
facilities. Such Signing Securityholder has also had the opportunity
to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company and its management
regarding the terms and conditions of this investment.
2.3. Ownership
of
Stock. Such
Signing Securityholder represents that the Series B Shares held by such Signing
Securityholder as set forth in column 1 of the Securityholder Schedule and
the
Series B Warrants issued in connection with such Series B Shares are owned
of
record and beneficially by such Signing Securityholder, free and clear of any
liens, claims or other encumbrances (collectively “Encumbrances”),
and such Signing Securityholder has the full and unrestricted right, power
and
authority to transfer such shares of stock to the Company in connection with
the
Recapitalization and to cancel all such Series B Warrants owned by such Signing
Securityholder.
2.4. Ownership
of
Notes and Warrants. To
the extent such Signing Securityholder is also a Noteholder, such Signing
Securityholder represents that he, she or it is the sole beneficial owner and
sole owner of record of the Notes held by such Signing Securityholder in the
principal amount set forth in column 2 of the Securityholder Schedule and the
Note Warrants issued in connection with such Notes, free and clear of any
Encumbrances, and such Signing Securityholder has the full and unrestricted
right, power and authority to convert all amounts owing with respect to such
Notes into Common Shares and to cancel all such Note Warrants owned by such
Signing Securityholder.
2.5. Bring
Down
Covenant. Each
Signing Securityholder covenants that the representations and warranties of
such
Signing Securityholder set forth in Section 2 shall be true and correct in
all
material respects as of the Closing Date.
3. Representations
and Warranties of the Company. The
Company hereby represents and warrants to each Signing Securityholder as of
the
date of this Agreement and the Closing Date as follows:
3.1. Requisite
Power; Authorization; Binding Obligations. The
Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. All
corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers and directors
necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the performance of
all
obligations of the Company hereunder has been or will be taken prior to the
Closing. This Agreement constitutes valid and binding obligations of
the Company enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as
limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or
other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights,
and (b) general principles of equity that restrict the availability of equitable
remedies.
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3.2. No
Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the
Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or
charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event
that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result
in the creation of any lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company,
or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement,
credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company debt or
otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company is a party or by which
any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, or (iii) subject
to
the Required Approvals (as such term is defined in Section 3.3, conflict with
or
result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction,
decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which
the
Company is subject (including federal and state securities laws and
regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or
affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could
not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “MaterialAdverse
Effect” means (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results
of operations, assets, business or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Company taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s
ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations
under this Agreement.
3.3. Filings,
Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any
consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any
filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other
governmental authority or other person in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of the this Agreement, other than (i)
filings required under federal securities laws, and (ii) the filing of Form
D
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
and such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities
laws (collectively, the “Required
Approvals”).
3.4. Material
Changes. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included within the SEC Reports (as such term is defined below), except as
specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date
hereof, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had
or
that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii)
the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other
than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course
of
business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to
be
reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in
filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method
of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or
distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased,
redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital
stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer,
director or affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans.
The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for
confidential treatment of information. For purposes of this Agreement, “SEC
Reports” means the reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and
the
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two
years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was
required by law or regulation to file such material), including the exhibits
thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and amendments
thereof.
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3.5. Valid
Issuance. Subject
to the filing of the Amended Certificate, when issued in connection with the
Recapitalization in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the
Amended Certificate, the Common Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable, will be delivered free and clear of any
Encumbrances, and will have the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions
set forth in the Amended Certificate; provided, however, that such Common Shares
may be subject to restrictions on transfer under state or federal securities
laws or as otherwise required by such laws at the time a transfer is
proposed.
3.6. Disclosure.
All disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Securityholder
Signature regarding the transactions contemplated hereby is true and correct
and
does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
3.7. Registration. The
Company intends to register the Common Shares issued hereunder, and agrees
to
file a registration statement (the “Registration
Statement”) including the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Exchange Warrants within 30 days after filing its Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the year ending December 31, 2007. The Company will use its best
commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared
effective, and to have it remain effective at least until December
2009. However, no assurance can be given by the Company as to when,
or if, such registration will become effective or as to what shares will
ultimately be covered by the Registration Agreement.
4. Conditions
to
Consummation of the Recapitalization. The
Company shall not file the Amended Certificate, and the Recapitalization shall
not occur, until the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions
precedent:
4.1. Signing
Securityholder Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of each of the Signing Securityholders set forth
in Section
2 shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date. This condition may only be
waived by the Company.
4.2. Company
Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 shall
have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and
as
of the Closing Date. The condition may only be waived by a majority
of the Signing Securityholders.
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4.3. Executed
Agreement. Each
of the Signing Securityholders and the Company shall have executed and delivered
to the Company this Agreement.
4.4. Placement. The
Company shall have entered into a binding agreement to receive at least
$2,500,000 in connection with the Placement, funding of which shall take place
contemporaneously with, and subject to, the consummation of the
Recapitalization. This condition may only be waived by a majority of
the Noteholders and the Company, jointly.
5. Additional
Issuances.
5.1. Employee
Stock
Ownership Plan. Each
of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Company intends to adopt
an employee stock ownership plan (the “Plan”)
for the benefit of its directors, officers, employees and consultants and
intends to reserve an aggregate of 6,720,000 Common Shares (approximately
fifteen percent (15%) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares immediately
following the Recapitalization (including the Placement) for issuance under
the
Plan and, subject to approval of, and modification by, the Company’s board of
directors, the Company will issue initial options having an exercise price
of
$0.18 per share under the Plan and, subject to approval of, and modification
by,
the Company’s board of directors, the Company will issue an initial option for
the purchase of 2,240,000 Common Shares to Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx in his new capacity
as chief executive officer. Such options shall: (i) be granted under
the terms of the Plan; (ii) be exercisable at the fair value at the time of
issuance; (iii) have a term of exercise of ten (10) years from the date of
grant; and (iv) vest 25% immediately and 25% on each of the first three
anniversaries of the grant.
6. Releases.
6.1. Release
of
Signing Securityholder. In
connection with the Recapitalization, the Company hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally releases each Signing Securityholder, its subsidiaries and
their
respective stockholders, officers, directors, employees, lenders, agents,
representatives, advisors, predecessors and successors (collectively, the “Securityholder
Released Parties” and individually, a “Securityholder
Released Party”) from any, and each Securityholder Released Party shall
have no, liability or obligation of any kind in connection or related to the
capital stock of the Company held by a Signing Securityholder prior to the
Recapitalization or the affairs, business, assets or operations of the Company
based on or in connection with events, facts, acts or omissions existing or
occurring on or prior to the date hereof. The Company further waives
any claim, complaint or demand against each Securityholder Released Party in
connection with its interests in the Company and the affairs, business, assets
or operations of the Company, with respect to any period on or before the date
hereof.
6.2. Release
of
Company. In
connection with the Recapitalization, each Signing Securityholder hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally releases the Company, its subsidiaries and
their
respective stockholders, officers, directors, employees, lenders, agents,
representatives, advisors, predecessors and successors (collectively, the “Company
Released Parties” and individually, a “Company
Released Party”) from any, and each Company Released Party shall have no,
liability or obligation of any kind in connection or related to the capital
stock held by a Signing Securityholder prior to the Recapitalization or the
affairs, business, assets or operations of the Company based on or in connection
with events, facts, acts or omissions existing or occurring on or prior to
the
date hereof. Each Signing Securityholder further waives any claim,
complaint or demand against each Company Released Party in connection with
its
interests in the Company and the affairs, business, assets or operations of
the
Company, with respect to any period on or before the date hereof.
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In
connection with the foregoing release, each Signing Securityholder hereby waives
any and all rights which exist or may exist under Section 1542 of the California
Civil Code and any other comparable provisions or principles of state or Federal
law, or the common law. Civil Code Section 1542 provides:
“A
GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW
OR
SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE,
WHICH
IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE
DEBTOR.”
It
is understood and agreed that the release set forth herein is a full and final
release of any and all claims of every nature and kind whatsoever arising out
of
the facts and circumstances described herein and that the foregoing release
extinguishes all such claims whether known, unknown, foreseen or unforeseen,
existing or hereafter arising. Each Signing Securityholder
understands and acknowledges the significance and consequences of this specific
waiver of California Civil Code Section 1542 and any other comparable provision
or principle of State or Federal law, or the common law, and hereby assumes
full
responsibility for any injuries, damages, losses or liabilities that any of
them
may hereafter incur by virtue of this waiver.
7. Other
Agreements.
7.1. Transfer
Restrictions.
(a) The
Common Shares issued upon conversion of the Series B Shares and the Notes,
the
Exchange Warrants and the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Exchange
Warrants (collectively, the "Securities")
may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws.
In
connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective
registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an affiliate of a
Signing Securityholder, the Company may require the transferor thereof to
provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and
reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such
transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under
the
Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree
in
writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
(b) The
Signing Securityholders agree to the imprinting, so long as is required by
this
Section 7.1, of a legend on any of the Securities in the following
form:
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[NEITHER]
THIS SECURITY [NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE]
HAS
BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES
COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY,
MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM,
OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS
EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE
SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY
AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON [EXERCISE] OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED
IN
CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH
SECURITIES.
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that a Signing Securityholder may from time
to
time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a registered
broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities
to a
financial institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)
under the Securities Act and who agrees to be bound by the provisions of this
Agreement and, if required under the terms of such arrangement, such Signing
Securityholder may transfer pledged or secured Securities to the pledgees or
secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval
of
the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel of the pledgee, secured party
or pledgor shall be required in connection therewith. Further, no notice shall
be required of such pledge. At the appropriate Signing Securityholder’s expense,
the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee
or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a
pledge or transfer of the Securities, including the preparation and filing
of
any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities
Act
or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend
the
list of selling stockholders thereunder.
(c) Certificates
evidencing the Securities (other than the Exchange Warrants) shall not contain
any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 7.1(b)): (i) while a
registration statement covering the resale of such security is effective under
the Securities Act, or (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant
to
Rule 144, or (iii) if such Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144(k),
or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the
Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued
by
the staff of the Commission). If all or any portion of an Exchange
Warrant is exercised at a time when there is an effective registration statement
to cover the resale of the Common Shares issuable upon such exercise, or if
such
Common Shares may be sold under Rule 144(k) or if such legend is not otherwise
required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial
interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) then
such Common Shares shall be issued free of all legends. The Company
agrees that following the effective date of a registration statement covering
the resale of the Securities or at such time as such legend is no longer
required under this Section 7.1(c), it will, no later than three trading days
following the delivery by a Signing Securityholder to the Company or its
transfer agent of a certificate representing the Securities issued with a
restrictive legend (such third trading day, the “Legend
Removal Date”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Signing
Securityholder a certificate representing such shares that is free from all
restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its
records or give instructions to its transfer agent that enlarge the restrictions
on transfer set forth in this Section. Certificates for Securities
subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Company's
transfer agent to the Signing Securityholders by crediting the account of the
Signing Securityholder’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company
System.
10
(d) Each
Signing Securityholder, severally and not jointly with the other Signing
Securityholders, agrees that such Signing Securityholder will sell any
Securities only pursuant to either the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements,
or an
exemption therefrom, and that if Securities are sold pursuant to a registration
statement, they will be sold in compliance with the plan of distribution set
forth therein, and acknowledges that the removal of the restrictive legend
from
certificates representing Securities as set forth in this Section 7.1 is
predicated upon the Company’s reliance upon this understanding. If a
registration statement ceases to be effective for a 30 consecutive day period,
at any time before the time the Securities are eligible for sale under Rule
144(k), each Signing Securityholder shall, at the Company’s request immediately
after such 30 day period, return the certificates representing the Securities
to
the Company's transfer agent for the purpose of exchanging such certificates
for
a certificate representing such Securities with a legend required by this
Agreement.
7.2. Furnishing
of
Information. As long as any Signing Securityholder owns Securities, the
Company covenants to file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file
within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the
Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. As long
as any Purchaser owns Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports
pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchasers
and
make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as
is
required for the Purchasers to sell the Securities under Rule 144. The Company
further covenants that it will take such further action as any holder of
Securities may reasonably request, to the extent required from time to time
to
enable such holder to sell such Securities without registration under the
Securities Act within the requirements of the exemption provided by Rule
144.
7.3. Equal
Treatment of Purchasers. The Company shall not offer or pay any Signing
Securityholder to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision
of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration is also offered to all
of
the parties to this Agreement. For clarification purposes, this
provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Signing Securityholder
by
the Company and negotiated separately by each Signing Securityholder, and is
intended for the Company to treat the Signing Securityholders as a class and
shall not in any way be construed as the Signing Securityholders acting in
concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of
Securities or otherwise.
11
7.4. Reservation
of
Securities.
(a) The
Company shall maintain a reserve from its duly authorized shares of Common
Shares for issuance pursuant to this Agreement in such amount as may be required
to fulfill its obligations in full under this Agreement.
(b) If,
on any date, the number of authorized but unissued (and otherwise unreserved)
shares of Common Shares is less than the number of shares issuable upon exercise
of the Exchange Warrants (the "Required
Minimum") on such date, then the Board of Directors of the Company shall
use commercially reasonable efforts to amend the Company’s certificate of
incorporation to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Shares to at least the Required Minimum at such time, as soon as possible and
in
any event not later than the 75th day after such date.
7.5. Non-Public
Information. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company covenants and
agrees that neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf will provide
any Signing Securityholder or its agents or counsel with any information that
the Company believes constitutes material non-public information, unless prior
thereto such Signing Securityholder shall have executed a written agreement
regarding the confidentiality and use of such information. The Company
understands and confirms that each Signing Securityholder shall be relying
on
the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the
Company.
8. General
Provisions.
8.1. Governing
Law. This
Agreement shall be enforced, governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed
entirely within such state, without regard to the principles of conflict of
laws. The party which does not prevail in any dispute arising under
this Agreement shall be responsible for all reasonable fees and expenses,
including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the prevailing party in connection with
such dispute.
8.2. Jurisdiction;
Venue. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning
the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective
affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be
commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the State
of
Delaware. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of
the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for
such
proceeding.
12
8.3. Counterparts;
Electronic Signatures. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party
and
delivered to the other party. This Agreement, once executed by a
party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by electronic transmission
of
a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this
Agreement.
8.4. Headings. The
headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
8.5. Severability. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable
under
any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed
inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed
modified to conform to such statute or rule of law. Any provision
hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
8.6. Entire
Agreement; Amendments. This
Agreement and the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding
of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and
therein. No provision of this Agreement may be waived other than by
an instrument in writing signed by the party to be charged with
enforcement. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended only by
a written instrument signed by the Company and a majority of the Signing
Securityholders (based on the number of Common Shares to be issued to the
Signing Securityholders in connection with the Recapitalization).
8.7. Successors
and
Assigns. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their successors and assigns. The Company shall not assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of the
Signing Securityholders. No Signing Securityholder shall assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Company.
8.8. Third
Party
Beneficiaries. This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any
provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.
8.9. Further
Assurances. Each
party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further
acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements,
certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.10. No
Strict
Construction. The
language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by
the
parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction
will
be applied against any party.
8.11. Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated by the Signing Securityholders by written notice
to
the Company if the Recapitalization has not been consummated on or before
January 15, 2008.
[NEXT
PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE]
13
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be duly executed
as of the date first above written.
COMPANY:
VIKING
SYSTEMS, INC.
|
|||
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
By:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title: |
Executive
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
|
[Signature
Page to Recapitalization Agreement - 1]
14
SECURITYHOLDER
SIGNATURE PAGE
______________________________________________ | |||
(Print
name of Signing Securityholder)
|
|||
By:
|
______________________________________ | ||
Title:
|
______________________________________ |
Indicate
whether the Signing Securityholder is an “accredited investor” within the
meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”): YES
___ NO ___
If
“YES”, indicate how the Signing Securityholder is an “accredited investor” from
the definition below (by reference to the number(s) corresponding to the
categories below): ______
Regulation
D of the Act defines an “accredited investor” as one of the following:
(1) Any
bank as
defined in section 3(a)(2) of the Act, or any savings and loan association
or
other institution as defined in section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Act whether acting
in
its individual or fiduciary capacity; any broker or dealer registered pursuant
to section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; any insurance company
as
defined in section 2(a)(13) of the Act; any investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined
in section 2(a)(48) of that Act; any Small Business Investment Company licensed
by the U.S. Small Business Administration under section 301(c) or (d) of the
Small Business Investment Act of 1958; any plan established and maintained
by a
state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state
or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan
has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; any employee benefit plan within
the
meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 if the investment
decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in section 3(21) of such act,
which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or
registered investment adviser, or if the employee benefit plan has total assets
in excess of $5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, with investment decisions
made solely by persons that are accredited investors;
(2)
Any private business development company as defined in section 202(a)(22) of
the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
(3)
Any organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or partnership, not formed
for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets
in excess of $5,000,000;
(4)
Any director, executive officer, or general partner of the issuer of the
securities being offered or sold, or any director, executive officer, or general
partner of a general partner of that issuer;
(5)
Any natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that
person’s spouse, at the time of his purchase exceeds $1,000,000;
(6)
Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each
of
the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse in excess of
$300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching
the
same income level in the current year;
(7)
Any trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the
specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed
by a sophisticated person as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) and
(8)
Any entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors.
[Signature
Page to Recapitalization Agreement -
2]
15
[EXHIBIT
A]
NEITHER
THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE
BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES
COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY,
MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM,
OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS
EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE
SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.
WARRANT
TO PURCHASE
COMMON
STOCK
OF
VIKING
SYSTEMS, INC.
This
Warrant (this “Warrant”)
certifies that, for value received, [__________________________] and its
permitted assignees (the “Holder”), is
entitled, upon the terms and conditions of this Warrant, at any time and from
time to time, on or after [INSERT ISSUANCE
DATE] (the “Initial
Exercise
Date”) and on or before the Termination Date (as defined below) but not
thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Viking Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), up
to
[_________] shares (the “Warrant Shares”)
of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common
Stock”). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under
this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section
2.
This
Warrant shall terminate (the “Termination
Date”) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the earlier of (i) the five (5) year
anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date; and (ii) ten days prior to the
effective date of a transaction in which (each, a “Corporate
Transaction”) (A) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity (other than a merger or reorganization
involving only a change in the state of incorporation of the Company or the
acquisition by the Company of other businesses where the Company survives as
a
going concern), (B) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all
of
its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (C) any tender offer
or
exchange offer (whether by the Company or another entity) is completed pursuant
to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their
shares for other securities, cash or property, or (D) the Company effects any
reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant
to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other
securities, cash or property.
Stock
Purchase
Agreement. This Warrant is issued pursuant to that certain
Stock Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof (the “Stock Purchase
Agreement”) by and between the Company and the Holder.
Vesting
and
Exercise.
Vesting.
This
Warrant is exercisable as to all of the Warrant Shares on the Initial Exercise
Date.
Exercise.
Exercise of the purchase rights for vested Warrant Shares represented by this
Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after
the
Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to
the
Company of (i) a duly executed copy of the Notice of Exercise Form annexed
hereto (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by
notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder
appearing on the books of the Company); specifying therein the amount of vested
Warrant Shares to be exercised, (ii) payment of the aggregate Exercise Price
of
the shares thereby purchased by wire transfer or cashier's check drawn on a
United States bank, and (iii) if this Warrant is exercised in full, surrender
of
this Warrant to the Company.
A-1
Surrender
of
Warrant. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder
shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until
this Warrant has been exercised in full. Partial exercises of this
Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant
Shares shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant
Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of
Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain
records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such
purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of
Exercise Form within three Trading Days (as defined below) of receipt of such
notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant,
acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph,
following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number
of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be
less
than the amount stated on the face hereof. Under no circumstances
shall this Warrant be exercised for unvested Warrant Shares.
Exercise
Price. The exercise price of the Common Stock under this Warrant
shall be $0.18, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise
Price”).
Cashless
Exercise. If at any time (i) the Warrants have been held for the
then-applicable holding period (including any available “tacking” period for
such Warrants) under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,
as
amended (the “Securities
Act”),
or any
successor provision then in effect which would allow the Holder to exercise
the
Warrants and “tack” the holding period of this Warrant and the Warrant Shares
which may be acquired thereunder, and (ii) there is no effective registration
statement pursuant to which, the Warrant Shares may be resold by the Holder,
then this Warrant may also be exercised at such time by means of a “cashless
exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the
number of vested Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
[(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
(A)
= the VWAP on the
Trading Day immediately preceding the date of such election;
(B)
= the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted; and
(X)
= the number of vested Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this
Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant by means of a cash exercise
rather than a cashless exercise.
As
used herein, “VWAP”
shall
mean, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses
that applies: (i) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on the American
Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market,
the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market (each a “Trading
Market”), the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for
such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the
Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P.
(based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time);
(ii) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market and
if
prices for the Common Stock are then quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the
volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest
preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board; (iii) if the Common Stock is not
then
listed or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock
are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by the National Quotation
Bureau Incorporated (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its
functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the
Common Stock so reported; or (iv) in all other cases, the fair market value
of a
share of Common Stock as determined by in good faith by the Company's Board
of
Directors or a committee thereof.
A-2
As
used herein “Trading Day”
shall mean a day on which the Common Stock is traded on one of the following
markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading
on the date in question: the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock
Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq
Capital Market or the OTC Bulletin Board.
Holder’s
Restrictions. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and
the
Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant,
pursuant to 0or
otherwise,
to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set
forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the
Holder’s affiliates, and any other person or entity acting as a group together
with the Holder or any of the Holder’s affiliates), would beneficially own in
excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For
purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates shall include the number
of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect
to
which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares
of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) exercise of the remaining,
nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any
of
its affiliates and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted
portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock ) subject to a
limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained
herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates. Except as
set
forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this 0,
beneficial
ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)
and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the
Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation
is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely
responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith.
To
the extent that the limitation contained in this 0applies,
the
determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other
securities owned by the Holder together with any affiliates) and of which
portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the
Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the
Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to
other securities owned by the Holder together with any affiliates) and of which
portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial
Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or
confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as
to
any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. For purposes of this 0,
in
determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may
rely
on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the
Company’s most recent Form 10-QSB or Form 10-KSB, as the case may be, (y) a more
recent public announcement by the Company or (z) any other notice by the Company
or the Company’s transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company
shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the
number ofshares
of
Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares
of
Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or
exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder
or
its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares
of
Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial
Ownership Limitation”
shall
be
4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after
giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of this Warrant. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this
0may
be waived
by the Holder, at the election of the Holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior
notice to the Company to change the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to 9.99%
of
the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving
effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant,
and the provisions of this 0shall
continue
to apply. Following a change by a Holder of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation
from such 4.99% limitation to such 9.99% limitation, the Beneficial Ownership
Limitation provisions of this 0may
be waived
by the Holder, at the election of the Holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior
notice to the Company to change the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to
49.99%. Upon the change by a Holder of the Beneficial Ownership
Limitation to such 49.99% limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation may
not be further waived by the Holder. The provisions of this paragraph shall
be
construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with
the terms of this 0to
correct
this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent
with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make
changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such
limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a
successor holder of this Warrant.
A-3
Mechanics
of
Exercise.
Authorization
of Warrant Shares. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares
which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by
this
Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant,
be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from
all taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes
in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Delivery
of Certificates Upon Exercise.
Certificates
for shares acquired hereunder shall be transmitted by the transfer agent of
the
Company to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with
the Depository Trust Company through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission
(“DWAC”)
system if the Company is a participant in such system and (i) there is an
effective registration statement permitting the resale of the Warrant Shares
by
the Holder, or (ii) the shares are eligible to be sold under Rule 144(k) as
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”). Otherwise, the shares shall be transmitted by physical
delivery to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise within
three Trading Days following the last to be received by the Company of (A)
the
Notice of Exercise Form, (B) surrender of this Warrant (if required) and (C)
payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (“Warrant Share
Delivery
Date”). This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised on the date
the Exercise Price and the Notice of Exercise Form is received by the
Company.
Compensation
for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates. Upon Exercise. In addition
to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause
its
transfer agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or certificates
representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant
Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker
to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s
brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in
satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder
anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then
the Company shall (1) pay in cash to the Holder the amount by which (x) the
Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the
shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by
multiplying (A) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required
to
deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (B) the
price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was
executed, and (2) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion
of
the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise
was
not honored or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that
would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and
delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common
Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect
to
an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price
giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (1) of the
immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall be required to pay the Holder
$1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the
amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of
the
Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a
Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or
in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or
injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver
certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant
as
required pursuant to the terms hereof.
A-4
No
Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip
representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this
Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise
be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash
adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction
multiplied by the Exercise Price.
Charges,
Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares shall
be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other
incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which
taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall
be
issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed
by
the Holder; provided, however, that in the event certificates for Warrant Shares
are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant
when
surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached
hereto duly executed by the Holder; and the Company may require, as a condition
thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax
incidental thereto.
Closing
of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records
in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant pursuant to
the
terms hereof.
Certain
Adjustments.
Stock
Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is
outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or
distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity
equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance
of
doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company
pursuant to this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse
stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares
of
capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares
of
Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before
such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted. Any
adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately
after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive
such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after
the
effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re
classification.
Calculations. All
calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the
nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this
Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and
outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of
Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
A-5
Notice
to
Holders.
Adjustment
to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant
to this Section 3, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice
setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a
brief
statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
Notice
to Allow Exercise by Holder. If the Company (A) declares a dividend
(or any other distribution) on the Common Stock; (B) declares a special
nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock; (C)
authorizes the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants
to
subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any
rights; (D) the Company shall authorize any Corporate Transaction; (E)
authorizes the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding
up
of the affairs of the Company; then, as applicable, the Company shall cause
the
following to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear
on
the books of the Company at the time indicated: (x) at least 10 calendar days
prior to the applicable record date, a notice stating the date on which a record
is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption,
rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which
the
holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend,
distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) at
least 20 calendar days prior to the expected effective date, a notice stating
the date on which such Corporate Transaction is expected to become effective
or
close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock
of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for
securities, cash or other property deliverable upon the effectiveness of such
Corporate Transaction; provided, that the failure to mail any such notice or
any
defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the
corporate action required to be specified in such notice.
Transfer
of
Warrant.
Transferability. Subject
to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth
in Sections 4(c), this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in
whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of
the
Company, together with the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by
the
Holder or its duly authorized agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay
any
transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such
surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver
a new warrant or warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the
denomination or denominations specified in the Assignment Form, and shall issue
to the assignor a new warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so
assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Any such
assignee must sign an investment letter in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company before a warrant is issued to such
assignee. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of
this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof
or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual
notice to the contrary.
New
Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other warrants
upon presentation hereof at the principal office of the Company, together with
a
written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new warrants
are
to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject
to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in
such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new
warrant or warrants in exchange for the warrant or warrants to be divided or
combined in accordance with such notice.
Transfer
Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in
connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant
shall
not be registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, the
Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer (i) that the
Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, furnish to the Company
a written opinion of counsel (which opinion shall be in form, substance and
scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions) to the
effect that such transfer may be made without registration under the Securities
Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, (ii) that the holder
or transferee execute and deliver to the Company an investment letter in form
and substance acceptable to the Company and (iii) that the transferee be an
“accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities
Act or a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the
Securities Act.
A-6
Legends. The
Holder understands and agrees that the certificate representing the Warrant
Shares shall bear a legend similar to the following:
“THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND
HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THE SHARES
MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR PLEDGED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION
OR
AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY
TO
VIKING SYSTEMS THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT
TO
RULE 144 OF SUCH ACT.”
The
certificates evidencing the Warrant Shares may also bear any applicable legend
required by any state, local or foreign law governing such securities.
Miscellaneous.
Title
to
Warrant. Prior to the Termination Date and subject to compliance with
applicable laws and 0,
this Warrant
and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, at the office
or
agency of the Company by the Holder in person or by duly authorized attorney,
upon surrender of this Warrant together with the Assignment Form annexed hereto
properly endorsed.
No
Rights as
Shareholder Until Exercise. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder
to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior
to
the exercise hereof, and following such exercise, only to the extent this
Warrant was exercised. The Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have
been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein
shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all
purposes, as of the close of business on the later of (i) the date this Warrant
has been exercised by delivery of a duly executed Notice of Exercise Form and
payment to the Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required to be paid
by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(e)(iv) before the issuance of
such
shares, have been paid or (ii) the date this Warrant is surrendered to the
Company, if required under the terms hereof. No dividends or interest
shall be payable or accrued in respect of this Warrant or the interest
represented hereby or the shares purchasable hereunder until, and only to the
extent that, this Warrant shall have been exercised.
Loss,
Theft,
Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon
receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss,
theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate
relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of
indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of
this
Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and
cancellation of such warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and
dated
as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
Saturdays,
Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking
of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall
be
a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then such action may be taken or such
right may be exercised on the next succeeding day not a Saturday, Sunday or
legal holiday.
A-7
Authorized
Shares.
The
Company covenants that during the period this Warrant is outstanding, it will
reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of
shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise
of
any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants
that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its
officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to
execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the
exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will
take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant
Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable
law
or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the
Common Stock may be listed.
Except
and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall
not
by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of
incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action,
avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of
this
Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of
all
such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or
appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against
impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company will (A) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the
amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase
in
par value, (B) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (C) use commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents
from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof as may be necessary
to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Titles
and
Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Warrant are used for
convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting
this
Warrant.
Restrictions. The
Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this
Warrant, if not registered, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state
and federal securities laws.
Attorneys'
Fees. In the event that any legal proceeding with respect to the
interpretation or enforcement of this Warrant is initiated, the prevailing
party
shall be awarded their costs and expenses including, but not limited to,
reasonable attorneys' fees.
Notices. Any
notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered
to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice
provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement.
Limitation
of
Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative
action by Holder to exercise this Warrant or purchase Warrant Shares, and no
enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder, shall give rise to
any
liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a
stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company
or
by creditors of the Company.
A-8
Successors
and
Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the
rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted
assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be
for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall
be
enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
Amendment. This
Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the
written consent of the Company and the Holder.
Severability. Wherever
possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner
as
to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision
shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of
this Warrant.
Force
Majeure. In no event shall a Holder have any claim or right against
the Company for any failure of performance in accordance with this Warrant
due
to causes beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to: such
delays arising directly out of an act of God, fire, flood or other natural
catastrophe; laws, orders, rules, regulations, directions or action of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction or any civil military authority;
or
national emergency, riot, act of terrorism or war or labor dispute.
Governing
Law;
Venue. This Warrant is to be construed in accordance with and
governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect
to
any choice of law rule that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the internal laws of the State of Delaware to the rights
and duties of the Company and the Holder. All disputes and
controversies arising out of or in connection with this Warrant shall be
resolved exclusively by the state and federal courts located in the State of
Delaware, and each of the Company and the Holder hereto agrees to submit to
the
jurisdiction of said courts and agrees that venue shall lie exclusively with
such courts.
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A-9
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its
officer thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: January
10, 2008
VIKING
SYSTEMS, INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Title:
Chief Financial
Officer
|
A-10
NOTICE
OF EXERCISE
To: VIKING
SYSTEMS, INC.
(1)
The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company
pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full),
and
tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all
applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2)
Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
[ ]
in lawful money of the United States; or
[
] the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in
accordance with the formula set forth in Section 2(d) of the Warrant, to
exercise the Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares
purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in Section
2(d).
(3)
Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Warrant Shares
in
the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
_______________________________
The
Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following address:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
(4)
Accredited
Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as
defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
[SIGNATURE
OF HOLDER]
Name
of
Holder:________________________________________________________________
Signature
of
Authorized Signatory of
Holder:_________________________________________
Name
of Authorized
Signatory:_____________________________________________________
Title
of Authorized
Signatory:______________________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________________________________________
A-11
ASSIGNMENT
FORM
(To
assign the foregoing warrant, execute
this
form and supply required information.
Do
not use this form to exercise the warrant.)
FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are
hereby assigned to_______________________________________________
whose address is_______________________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________
Dated: ______________,
_______
Holder's
Signature:
_____________________________
Holder's
Address:
_____________________________
_____________________________
Signature
Guaranteed: ___________________________________________
NOTE: The
signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears
on
the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust
company. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or
other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign
the foregoing Warrant.