22ND CENTURY GROUP, INC. WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
Exhibit 4.3
EXECUTION VERSION
TRANCHE 2 WARRANT
NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY ARE 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 APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO (I) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR 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 (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY) TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY OR (II) RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, 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.
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
Warrant No.:
Date of Issuance: September 29, 2014 (“Issuance Date”)
22nd Century Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Xxxxx XX III, Ltd., the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon exercise of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), One Million (1,000,000) (subject to adjustment as provided herein) fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below) (the “Warrant Shares”). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 17. This Warrant is one of the Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (the “Consulting Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2014, by and among the Company, Xxxxx XX III, Ltd. and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (the “Consulting Agreement”).
1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.
(a) Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(f)) and provided that the Vesting Condition has been met, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Issuance Date in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant. Within one (1) Trading Day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (in respect of such specific exercise, the “Aggregate Exercise Price”) via wire transfer of immediately available funds if the Holder did not notify the Company in such Exercise Notice that such exercise was made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)). The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant certificate and issuance of a new Warrant certificate evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant certificate after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the later of (i) the date on which the Company has received an Exercise Notice or (ii) the date on which the Company receives the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Exercise Notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). On or before the second (2nd) Trading Day following the later (such later date is referred to herein as the “Delivery Date”) of (i) the date on which the Company has received such Exercise Notice or (ii) if the Aggregate Exercise Price is not paid by the Holder within one (1) Trading Day following such exercise as contemplated above in this Section 1(a), the date on which the Company receives the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Company shall (X) provided that (I) the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and (II) such Warrant Shares are otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Xxxxx XX III, Ltd.), credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/ Withdrawal at Custodian system, or (Y) if either of the immediately preceding clauses (I) or (II) are not satisfied, issue and deliver to the Holder or, at the Holder’s instruction pursuant to the Exercise Notice, the Holder’s agent or designee, in each case, sent by reputable overnight courier to the address as specified in the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Exercise Notice), for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. Upon delivery of an Exercise Notice, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares (as the case may be). If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then, at the request of the Holder and upon surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 8(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all transfer taxes and other fees which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.
| 2 |
(b) Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, “Exercise Price” means $3.3736, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(c) Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue (or cause to be issued) to the Holder on or before the applicable Delivery Date, a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant (as the case may be), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after such third (3rd) Trading Day following the Delivery Date that the issuance of such shares of Common Stock is not timely effected an amount equal to 1% of the product of (A) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on a timely basis and to which the Holder is entitled and (B) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the last possible date on which the Company could have issued such shares of Common Stock to the Holder without violating Section 1(a). In addition to the foregoing, if the Company shall fail to issue and deliver (or cause to be issued and delivered) a certificate to the Holder and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise or exchange hereunder (as the case may be) on or prior to the applicable Delivery Date, and if on or after such Delivery Date, the Holder (or any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock, or a sale of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock, issuable upon such exercise or exchange that the Holder so anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, in lieu of payments under the previous sentence, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise or exchange hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise or exchange hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock multiplied by (B) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice or Exchange Notice, as the case may be, and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (ii).
| 3 |
(d) Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (other than Section 1(f) below), if at the time of an exercise hereof an Equity Conditions Failure with respect to clauses (ii) or (iii) of the definition of Equity Conditions shall then exist, then the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to make a cashless exercise (each a “Cashless Exercise” ) under this paragraph (d). A Cashless Exercise under this paragraph (d) may be made, at the election of the Holder from time to time and irrespective of any other election to make a Cashless Exercise, so that upon such exercise Holder shall receive the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula:
Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)
B
For purposes of the foregoing formula:
A = the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.
B = as applicable: (i) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b)(64) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day or (ii) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if the date of such Exercise Notice is a Trading Day and such Exercise Notice is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof after the opening of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day.
C = the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, exercise of this Warrant on a cashless basis may also be made from time to time at the election of the Holder (and irrespective of any election to make a Cashless Exercise under this paragraph (d)), pursuant to the exchange provisions of Section 5 of this Warrant.
(e) Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the number of Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms hereof (including, without limitation, the Net Number), the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed, provided that following such issuance to Holder such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with Section 14.
| 4 |
(f) Limitations on Exercises. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant, this Warrant shall not be exercisable by the Holder hereof to the extent (but only to the extent) that the Holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 9.9% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Common Stock after giving effect to such exercise. To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether this Warrant shall be exercisable (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates) and of which such securities shall be exercisable (as among all such securities owned by the Holder) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be determined on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion or exercise or exchange (as the case may be). No prior inability to exercise this Warrant pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of exercisability. For the purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership and all determinations and calculations (including, without limitation, with respect to calculations of percentage ownership) shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The provisions of this paragraph shall be implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this paragraph to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Maximum Percentage beneficial ownership limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such Maximum Percentage limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor Holder of this Warrant. The holders of Common Stock shall be third party beneficiaries of this paragraph and the Company may not waive this paragraph without the consent of holders of a majority of its Common Stock. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, including by virtue of any prior conversion or exercise or exchange of convertible or exercisable or exchangeable securities into Common Stock, including, without limitation, pursuant to this Warrant or securities issued pursuant to the Consulting Agreement. Upon request by the Company, Xxxxxx shall certify to the Company upon exercise of this Warrant how many shares of Common Stock are beneficially owned by Holder for determining compliance with Section 1(f).
(g) Insufficient Authorized Shares. The Company shall at all times keep reserved for issuance under this Warrant a number of shares of Common Stock as shall be necessary to satisfy the Company’s obligation to issue shares of Common Stock hereunder (without regard to any limitation otherwise contained herein with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant). If, notwithstanding the foregoing, and not in limitation thereof, at any time while any of the Consulting Warrants remain outstanding, the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise or exchange of the Consulting Warrants at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise or exchange of all of the Consulting Warrants then outstanding (the “Required Reserve Amount”) (an “Authorized Share Failure”), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for all the Consulting Warrants then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its shareholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each shareholder with a proxy statement and shall use its reasonable efforts to solicit its shareholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock.
| 5 |
(h) Activity Restrictions. (i) For so long as Holder or any of its Affiliates holds any Warrants or any Warrant Shares, neither Holder nor any Affiliate will: (i) vote any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by it, solicit any proxies, or seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to any voting securities of the Company; (ii) engage or participate in any actions, plans or proposals which relate to or would result in (A) acquiring additional securities of the Company, alone or together with any other Person, which would result in Holder or its Affiliates beneficially owning (within the meaning of Section 13(d) under the 1934 Act) more than 9.9% of the Common Stock, (B) an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) a sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (D) any change in the present board of directors or management of the Company, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board, (E) any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the Company, (F) any other material change in the Company’s business or corporate structure, including but not limited to, if the Company is a registered closed-end investment company, any plans or proposals to make any changes in its investment policy for which a vote is required by Section 13 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (G) changes in the Company’s charter, bylaws or instruments corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Company by any Person, (H) causing a class of securities of the Company to be delisted from a national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association, (I) a class of equity securities of the Company becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Act, or (J) any action, intention, plan or arrangement similar to any of those enumerated above; or (iii) request the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives to amend or waive any provision of this paragraph. The restrictions contained in this paragraph (h) shall not limit Holder’s rights to enforce its rights or exercise its rights as to the Securities or under this Warrant or the Consulting Agreement.
(i) Provided that no Equity Conditions Failure then exists with respect to clause (ii) of the definition of Equity Conditions, if the trading price on the Principal Market at the time of an exercise of this Warrant is greater than the then applicable Exercise Price then in effect, then in respect of such particular exercise Holder may only exercise this Warrant for a cash exercise price (and not by means of a Cashless Exercise under Section 1(d) above) or on a cashless basis under Section 5 below).
| 6 |
2. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES. The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 2.
(a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time on or after the Issuance Date, (i) pays a stock dividend on one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares or (iii) combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this paragraph occurs during the period that an Exercise Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Exercise Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.
(b) Number of Warrant Shares. Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 2, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein).
(c) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 2 shall be made by rounding to the nearest 1/10000th of cent and the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.
3. [Intentionally Omitted].
4. EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTIONS. If, (i) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer by the Company is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, or (iv) 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 (in any such case, an “Extraordinary Transaction”), then this Warrant will become the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Extraordinary Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Extraordinary Transaction, the holder of the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise in full of the relevant Warrant (the “Alternate Consideration”) in lieu of Common Stock. The aggregate Exercise Price for each Warrant will not be affected by any such Extraordinary Transaction, but the Company shall apportion such aggregate Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in an Extraordinary Transaction, then the Holder, to the extent practicable, shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of its Warrant following such Extraordinary Transaction. In addition, at the request of the Holder, upon surrender of this Warrant, any successor to the Company or surviving entity in such Extraordinary Transaction shall issue to such Holder a new warrant consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to purchase the Alternate Consideration for the aggregate Exercise Price upon exercise thereof. Each such new warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to an Extraordinary Transaction.
| 7 |
5. [Intentionally omitted].
6. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, for the purpose of avoiding or seeking to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant (or such other securities, cash, assets or other property then deliverable on exercise of this Warrant), and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Consulting Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Consulting Warrants, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Consulting Warrants then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercise).
7. WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in its capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 7, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to provide such information if it is filed with the SEC through XXXXX and available to the public through the XXXXX system.
| 8 |
8. REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.
(a) Transfer of Warrant. If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 8(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 8(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred. Prior to transferring this Warrant, the Holder shall inform the transferee of the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.
(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 8(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.
(c) Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 8(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, no warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be given.
(d) Issuance of New Warrants. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 8(a) or Section 8(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.
| 9 |
9. NOTICES. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 10 of the Consulting Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) as soon as practicable upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment(s). If the Company (i) declares a dividend or any other distribution of cash, securities or other property in respect of its Common Stock (other than a dividend payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or (ii) authorizes the voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder a notice describing the material terms and conditions of such dividend, distribution or transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9, the failure to deliver any notice under this Section 9 or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be described in such notice. Until the exercise of its, his or her Warrant or any portion of such Warrant, a Holder shall not have nor exercise any rights by virtue of ownership of a Warrant as a shareholder of the Company (including without limitation the right to notification of shareholder meetings or the right to receive any notice or other communication concerning the business and affairs of the Company other than as provided in this Section 9.
10. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant (other than Section 1(f)) may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. The Holder shall be entitled, at its option, to the benefit of any amendment of any other similar warrant issued under the Consulting Agreement.
11. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
| 10 |
12. GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each of the Holder and the Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, 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 brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude either the Holder or the Company from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Holder or the Company in any other jurisdiction to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder or the Company. EACH OF THE HOLDER AND THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
13. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the Consulting Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Consulting Agreement unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price, the Closing Sale Price, the fair market value or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) may submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder or the Company (as the case may be) learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Exercise Price, the Closing Sale Price, the fair market value or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the disputed determination of the Exercise Price, the Closing Sale Price, the fair market value (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank of nationally recognized standing selected by the Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Company or (b) if acceptable to the Holder, the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. The party whose determination or calculation is furthest from that determined or calculation by the investment bank or accountant shall pay the costs of such determination or calculation.
| 11 |
15. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the Consulting Agreement, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant; provided, however, that Holder’s remedies, including any right of damages, shall be subject to Section 9(k) of the Securities Purchase Agreement dated September 17, 2014 between Holder and the Company. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is reasonably requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 2 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance or stamp tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.
16. TRANSFER. This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company.
17. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.
(b) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
| 12 |
(c) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
(d) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
(e) “Equity Conditions” means: (i) the Company shall be in compliance in all material respects with all of its obligations under the Consulting Agreement, (ii) all Common Shares and Warrant Shares (including any Warrant Shares to be received upon exercise of this Warrant and including any Warrant Shares to be issued in a cash exercise) shall be then, or upon such issuance shall be (as the case may be), freely tradable by Holder without restriction of any kind or nature (including, without limitation, under applicable securities laws) (and the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact which would reasonably be expected to negate the foregoing in the foreseeable future) other than restrictions that may result from the Holder being an “affiliate” of the Company as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or under Rule 144(i), and (iii) no limitation shall be applicable with respect to the issuance of any Warrant Shares for cash hereunder (other than under Section 1(f)).
(f) “Equity Conditions Failure” means that on any applicable date of determination, any of the Equity Conditions are not then satisfied.
(g) “Expiration Date” means the date that is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Issuance Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.
(h) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
(i) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(j) “Principal Market” means the NYSE MKT.
(k) “Trading Day” means, as applicable, (x) with respect to all price determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) or (y) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which The New York Stock Exchange (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.
| 13 |
(l) “Vesting Condition” means either (i) the China JV (as defined in the Consulting Agreement) has achieved revenues calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis in an amount equal to at least Fifteen Million United States Dollars (US$15,000,000.00) during either (A) the 12 month period commencing on the earlier of (x) January 1, 2016 if the tobacco provided to China Tobacco has been evaluated and approved for sale no later than December 31, 2014; (y) the date that tobacco purchases are first made by China Tobacco from the China JV or (z) January 1, 2017 (the “Commencement Date”) or (B) the 12 month period beginning on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date from sales by the China JV for the market in China of the proprietary tobacco of the Company (the “Tranche 2 Minimum Triggering Revenue”) and the Company thereafter receives a cash distribution from the China JV so that the Company is “cash flow positive for the Company’s investment in the China JV,” which means the positive difference between all United States Dollars that the Company has received in relation to the China JV, including any licensing revenue, minus all United States Dollars that the Company has paid out in relation to the China JV, including the money paid by the Company for the first major tobacco planting by the Company for sale to the China JV, all to be described in greater detail in the China JV agreements to be entered into between the Company and the China JV; or (ii) the China JV has achieved revenues calculated in accordance with GAAP in an aggregate amount equal to at least Ninety Million United States Dollars (US$90,000,000.00) during any of the 12 month periods beginning on the first and second anniversaries of the Commencement Date from sales by the China JV for the market in China of the proprietary tobacco of the Company (the “Tranche 2 Alternative Triggering Revenue”) and the Company thereafter receives a cash distribution from the China JV so that the Company is “cash flow positive for the Company’s investment in the China JV,” which means the positive difference between all United States Dollars that the Company has received in relation to the China JV, including any licensing revenue and an appropriate distribution to the Company from the China JV for first major tobacco planting by the Company for sale to the China JV as described above, minus all United States Dollars that the Company has paid out in relation to the China JV for the second major tobacco planting, all to be described in greater detail in the China JV agreements to be entered into between the Company and the China JV.
(m) “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
18. REDEMPTION.
(a) Redemption of Warrant. So long as there is no Equity Conditions Failure, this Warrant may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at any time after it becomes exercisable and prior to its expiration, at the office of the Company upon the notice referred to in Section 9 hereof, at the price equal to 130% of the Exercise Price (the “Redemption Price”).
| 14 |
(b) Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event the Company shall elect to redeem the Warrant, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption. Notice of redemption shall be mailed by overnight mail next day delivery, by the Company not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holder of the Warrant to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books.
(c) Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrant may be exercised in accordance with this Warrant at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company and prior to the time and date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, the Registered Holder shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.
[signature page follows]
| 15 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
EXHIBIT A
EXERCISE NOTICE
TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase of the shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of 22nd Century Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock No. (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.
1. Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:
| a “Cash Exercise” with respect to ______________ Warrant Shares; and/or | ||
| a “Cashless Exercise” with respect to ___________ Warrant Shares. |
In the event that the Holder has elected a Cashless Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder hereby represents and warrants that this Exercise Notice was executed by the Holder at [a.m.][p.m.] on the date set forth below.
2. The undersigned represents and warrants that the Holder is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
3. Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares, the Holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
4. Delivery of Warrant Shares and Net Number of shares of Common Stock. The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below, shares of Common Stock in respect of the exercise contemplated hereby. Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, to the following address:
| Date: | ||
| Name of Registered Holder | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
| Account | |
| Number: | |
| (if electronic book entry transfer) |
| Transaction Code | |
| Number: | |
| (if electronic book entry transfer) | |
