UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT Among VENTRUS BIOSCIENCES, INC. and RODMAN & RENSHAW, LLC and NATIONAL SECURITIES CORPORATION as Representatives
Exhibit
1.1
Among
VENTRUS
BIOSCIENCES, INC.
and
XXXXXX
& XXXXXXX, LLC
and
NATIONAL
SECURITIES CORPORATION
as
Representatives
VENTRUS
BIOSCIENCES, INC.
___________
__, 2010
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx, LLC
1251
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
-and-
National
Securities Corporation
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned, Ventrus Biosciences, Inc., a company formed under the laws of
Delaware (collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, without
limitation, all entities disclosed or described in the Registration Statement
(as hereinafter defined) as being subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company, the
“Company”), hereby
confirms its agreement with Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC and National Securities
Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “you” (including its correlatives) or
the “Representatives”)
and with the other underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto for which the
Representatives are acting as representatives (the Representatives and such
other underwriters being collectively called the “Underwriters” or,
individually, an “Underwriter”) as
follows:
1.
|
Purchase
and Sale of Securities.
|
1.1 Firm
Securities.
1.1.1. Nature and Purchase of Firm
Securities.
(i) On
the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell,
severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of
_____________ ordinary shares (the “Firm Shares”) of common stock
of the Company, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”).
(ii) The
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1
attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and
commissions) of [___] per Share (___% of the per
Share offering price). The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to
the public (the “Offering”) at the offering
price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1
hereof).
1.1.2. Shares Payment and
Delivery.
(i)
Delivery and payment
for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the third
(3rd)
Business Day following the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the
Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) (or the fourth
(4th)
Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is
declared effective after 4:30 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed
upon by the Representatives and the Company at the offices of Xxxxxxx Krooks LLP
counsel to the Underwriters (“Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx”), or at such
other place (or remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall
be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company. The hour and date of
delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing
Date.”
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(ii) Payment
for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in
Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of
the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters)
representing the Firm Shares (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust
Company (“DTC”)) for the
account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or
names and in such authorized denominations as the Representatives may request in
writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The
Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon
tender of payment by the Representatives for all the Firm Shares. The term
“Business Day” means any
day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York
City.
1.2 Over-allotment
Option.
1.2.1. Option
Shares. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in
connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Underwriters
are hereby granted, an option to purchase up to [_______] Shares representing
fifteen (15%) percent of the Firm Shares sold in the Offering from the Company
(the “Over-allotment
Option”). Such additional
[ ]
Shares, the net proceeds of which will be deposited with the Company’s
account, are hereinafter referred to as “Option Shares.” The purchase
price to be paid for the Option Shares will be the same price per Option Share
as the price per Firm Shares set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof. The
Firm Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as
the “Public Securities.”
1.2.2. Exercise of
Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section
1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representatives as to all (at any time) or
any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares within 45 days after the
Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to
purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option.
The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral
notice to the Company from the Representatives, which must be confirmed in
writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting
forth the number of Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for
delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which
will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice
or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the
Representatives, at the offices of Xxxxxxx Krooks or at such other place
(including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be
agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives. If such delivery and payment
for the Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing
Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the
Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the
Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Shares
specified in such notice.
1.2.3. Payment and
Delivery. Payment for the Option Shares will be made on the
Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds as follows:
$[ ]
per Option Share [__% of the per Option Share offering price], payable to the
order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Shares (or through the
facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Shares shall
be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the
Representatives may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior
to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to
sell or deliver the Option Shares except upon tender of payment by the
Representatives for applicable Option Shares.
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1.3 Underwriters’
Warrant.
1.3.1. Underwriters’
Warrant. The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters
(and/or their designees) on the Closing Date a warrant ("Underwriters’ Warrant") for
the purchase of an aggregate of [________] Shares [6.8% of the Firm
Shares] for an aggregate purchase price of $[__________]. The Underwriters’ Warrant,
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A shall be exercisable, in whole or
in part, commencing on a date which is one year from the Applicable Time and
expiring on the five-year anniversary of the Applicable Time at an initial
exercise price per Share of $[__________], which is equal to 125% of
the initial public offering price of the Firm Shares. The Underwriters’ Warrant
and the Shares issuable upon exercise thereof are sometimes hereinafter referred
to collectively as the “Underwriters’
Securities.” The Representatives understand and agree that
there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against
transferring the Underwriters’ Warrant and the underlying Shares during the
first year after the Effective Date and by its acceptance thereof shall agree
that it will not, sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the
Underwriters’ Warrant, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging,
short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the
effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one year
following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or a
selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or
partner of the Representatives or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer;
and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up
restrictions.
1.3.2. Delivery. Delivery
for the Underwriters’ Warrant shall be made on the Closing Date and shall be
issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the
Representatives may request.
2. Representations and
Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants
to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the
Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration
Statement.
2.1.1. Pursuant to the
Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) a registration
statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-168224)
(the “Registration
Statement”), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, for the
registration of the Public Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Act”),
which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by
the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act (the “Regulations”). Except as the
context may otherwise require, such registration statement on file with the
Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including
the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other
documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information
deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to paragraph (b)
of Rule 430A of the Regulations), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” The
preliminary prospectus and the final prospectus in the form first furnished to
the Underwriters for use in the Offering, are hereinafter called the “Preliminary Prospectus” and
the “Prospectus,”
respectively. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
Commission on the date hereof. “Applicable Time” means [___
am/pm on _________________, 20__], on the Effective Date or such other time as
agreed to by the Company and the Representatives.
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2.1.2. Pursuant to the Exchange
Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A
(File Number 000-___) providing for the registration under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Firm
Shares, and the Option Shares. The registration of the Firm Shares and the
Option Shares under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the
Commission on the date hereof.
2.1.3. Registration under the
Exchange Act and Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares are
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on the
NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”), and the Company has
taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the
registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Shares
from NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission
or NASDAQ contemplating terminating such registration or listing except as
described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
2.2 No Stop Orders,
etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge,
any state regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending the
use of the Prospectus or the Registration Statement or has instituted or, to the
best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with
respect to such an order.
2.3 Disclosures in Registration
Statement.
2.3.1. 10b-5
Representation. At the respective times the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments thereto become
effective (and at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if
any):
(i) The
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments thereto
did and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated
therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and will in all material
respects conform to the requirements of the Act and the
Regulations;
(ii) Neither
the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement
thereto, do or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1(ii)
do not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the
Underwriters by the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The
parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of
any Underwriter consists solely of the following disclosure contained in the
“Underwriting and Plan of Distribution” section of the
Prospectus: the names and corresponding share amounts set forth in
the table of Underwriters and the amount of selling concession and re-allowance
or to over-allotment and related activities that may be undertaken by the
Underwriters and the paragraphs relating to stabilization by the
Underwriters; no information has been omitted from the Registration Statement in
reliance on information supplied by the Underwriters in writing (the “Underwriters’
Information”).
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2.3.2. Disclosure of
Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the
Prospectus and the Registration Statement conform to the descriptions thereof
contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the
Act and the Regulations to be described in the Prospectus, the Registration
Statement or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration
Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other
instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party
or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to
in the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been
duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect
in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the
Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms,
except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally,
(y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may
be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the
remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the
court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such
agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the
Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default
thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the
lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default
thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the
material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a
violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or
decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including,
without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and
regulations.
2.3.3. Prior Securities
Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by
the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.3.4. Regulations. The
disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of Federal,
State, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently
contemplated are correct in all material respects.
2.4 Changes After Dates in
Registration Statement.
2.4.1. No Material Adverse
Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise
specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change
in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company (
a “Material Adverse
Effect”); (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into
by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and
(iii) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position
with the Company.
2.4.2. Recent Securities
Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued
any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent,
for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other
distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
2.5 [INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED]
2.6 Independent
Accountants. To the knowledge of the Company, X.X. Xxxx
LLP (“X.X. Xxxx”), whose report is
filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, are independent
registered public accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations. X.X.
Xxxx has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in
the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is
used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
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2.7 Financial Statements,
etc. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the
Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”),
consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
required to be stated therein. The Registration Statement discloses all material
off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent
obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated
entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on
the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of
operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant
components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) the Company has not incurred any
material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any
material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the
Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any
kind with respect to its capital stock, (c) there has not been any change in the
capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any grants under any
stock compensation plan, and (d) there has not been any material adverse change
in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
2.8 Authorized Capital; Options,
etc. The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the
Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set
forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Based on the
assumptions stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company
will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth
therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be
no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any
authorized, but unissued Shares of the Company or any security convertible into
Shares of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Shares
or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.9 Valid Issuance of
Securities, etc.
2.9.1. Outstanding
Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the
Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are
not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of
such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders
of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the
Company. The authorized Shares conform in all material respects to all
statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Shares were at all relevant
times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the
purchasers of such Shares, exempt from such registration
requirements.
2.9.2. Securities Sold Pursuant to
this Agreement. The Public Securities and
Underwriters’ Securities have been duly
authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not
be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public
Securities and Underwriters’ Securities are not and will not be subject to the
preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar
contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to
be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities and
Underwriter’s Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities
and Underwriters’ Securities conform in all material respects to all statements
with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement. When
paid for and issued in accordance with the Underwriters’ Warrant Agreement, the
underlying Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the
holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason
of being such holders; the underlying Shares are not and will not be subject to
the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar
contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to
be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Underwriters’ Warrant
Agreement has been duly and validly taken.
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2.10 Registration Rights of Third
Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights
exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company
have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the
Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration
statement to be filed by the Company.
2.11 Validity and Binding Effect
of Agreements. This Agreement and the Underwriters’ Warrant
Agreement have been
duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered,
will constitute, the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their respective terms,
except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution
provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and
(iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other
forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be
brought.
2.12 No Conflicts,
etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company
of this Agreement, the Underwriters’ Warrant Agreement and all ancillary
documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and
therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and
thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse
of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any
of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or
result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the
terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party;
(ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, or the By-laws of the Company, each as currently
in effect (the “Charter
Documents”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule,
regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
properties or business constituted as of the date hereof.
2.13 No Defaults;
Violations. No default exists in the due performance and
observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other
agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any
other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by
which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of
the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of (i) any term or
provision of its Charter Documents, (ii) any franchise, license, permit,
applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency
or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
its properties or businesses except, with respect to clause (ii), for such
violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
2.14 Corporate Power; Licenses;
Consents.
2.14.1. Conduct of
Business. Except as described in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority,
and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates
and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it
needs to conduct its business purpose as described in the Prospectus. The
disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of federal,
state, local and foreign regulation on this Offering and the Company’s business
purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material
respects.
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2.14.2. Transactions Contemplated
Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof,
and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection
therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no
filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the
valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and the consummation of the
transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and the Underwriters’
Warrant Agreement and as contemplated by
the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities
laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
2.15 D&O
Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information
contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by
each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering
(the “Insiders”) as well
as in the Lock-Up Agreements provided by the Insiders to the Underwriters
pursuant to Section 2.22.1 hereof is true and correct in all respects and the
Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the
information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become
inaccurate and incorrect.
2.16 Litigation; Governmental
Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry,
arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to
the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the
Company’s knowledge, any executive officer or director which has not been
disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in connection with
the Company’s listing application for the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ
Capital Market.
2.17 Good
Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property
or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure
to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.18 Stop
Orders. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part
thereof.
2.19 Transactions Affecting
Disclosure to FINRA.
2.19.1. Finder’s
Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or
understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination
fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Public
Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of
the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may
affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.19.2. Payments Within Twelve
Months. Except as described in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in
cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee,
consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for
the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital
to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or
entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA
member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date, other than the
prior payment of $50,000 to National Securities Corporation, payments made to
National Securities Corporation for services rendered in connection with the
Company’s private placements consummated in 2010 and payment to the Underwriters
as provided hereunder in connection with the Offering.
2.19.3. Use of
Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be
paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except
as specifically authorized herein.
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2.19.4. FINRA
Affiliation. Other than Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, no officer,
director or any beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding
Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) has any direct or indirect
affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance
with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the
Representatives and Xxxxxxx Krooks if it learns that any officer, director or
owner of at least 5% of the Company’s outstanding Shares (or securities
convertible into Shares) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a
FINRA member participating in the Offering.
2.20 Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any
of the directors, employees or officers of the Company or any other person
acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to
give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to
customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier,
employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any
governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign)
or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other
person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of
the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction)
that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil,
criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the
past, might have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or
operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial statements
contained in the Prospectus or (iii) if not continued in the future, might
adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company.
The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls
and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material
respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as
amended.
2.21 Officers’
Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized
officer of the Company and delivered to you or to [NAME OF COUNSEL TO
XXXXXX] shall be deemed
a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the
matters covered thereby.
2.22 Lock-Up
Period.
2.22.1. Each of the
Company’s officers and directors, each individual or entity who currently holds
5% or more on a fully-diluted basis of the Company’s outstanding shares of
Common Stock, and certain holders of the Company’s convertible promissory notes
issued in 2007, 2008 and 2010 (the “Lock-Up Parties”) have agreed,
pursuant to executed Lock-Up Agreements in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B
that for a period of 180 days from the Effective Date, that such persons and
their affiliated parties shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant,
lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares, or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares,
without the consent of the Representatives. The Representatives may consent to
an early release from the applicable Lock-Up period if, in their opinion, the
market for the Shares would not be adversely impacted by sales and in cases of
financial emergency of an officer, director or other stockholder. The Company
has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Representatives the
Lock-Up Agreements of each of the Lock-Up Parties to the foregoing effect prior
to the date that the Company requests that the Commission declare the
Registration Statement effective under the Act.
2.22.2. The Company, on
behalf of itself and any successor entity, has agreed that, without the prior
written consent of the Representatives, it will not, for a period of 180 days
from the Effective Date, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any
option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant
any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose
of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital
stock of the Company, (ii) file or caused to be filed any registration statement
with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of
the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for shares of capital stock of the Company, or (iii) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any
such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled
by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities,
in cash or otherwise.
9
The
restrictions contained in this paragraph 2.22.2 shall not apply to (i) the
Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of shares of
common stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a
security outstanding on the date hereof of which the Representatives have been
advised in writing or (iii) the issuance by the Company of options or shares of
capital stock of the Company under any stock compensation plan of the
Company.
2.22.3. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if (i) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a
material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the
Lock-Up Period, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the
Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period
beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by
paragraph 2.22 shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period
beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the
material news or material event, unless the Representatives waive such
extension.
2.23 Subsidiaries. The Company does not own
an interest, directly or indirectly, in any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust or other business
entity.
2.24 Related Party
Transactions. Except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, there are no business relationships or related
party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be
described in the Prospectus that have not been described as
required.
2.25 Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised
of the persons set forth under the heading of the Prospectus captioned
“Management.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board
members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and
the rules of NASDAQ. At least one member of the Board of Directors of
the Company qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of
NASDAQ. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on
the Board of Directors qualify as “independent” as defined under the rules of
NASDAQ.
2.26 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Compliance.
2.26.1. Disclosure
Controls. The Company has developed and currently maintains
disclosure controls and procedures that will comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15
of the Exchange Act, and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure
that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a
timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s
Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.
2.26.2. Compliance. The
Company is, or on the Effective Date will be, in material compliance with the
provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 applicable to it, and has
implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure
the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and
regulatory deadlines therefore) with all the material provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
2.27 No Investment Company
Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
Offering and sale of the Firm Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof
as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be, an
“investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
10
2.28 No Labor
Disputes No labor dispute with the employees of the Company
exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.
2.29 Intellectual
Property. The Company owns or possesses or has valid rights to
use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses,
inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property”)
necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company as currently carried on
and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by
the Company will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or
similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others. The Company
has not received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.
2.30 Taxes The
Company has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with
taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of
time for the filing thereof. The Company has paid all taxes (as
hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid
all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company, except, in all cases, for
any such amounts, if any, that the Company is contesting in good
faith. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the
financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are
sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for
all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial
statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters, (i)
no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority
in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company,
and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or
collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the
Company. The term “taxes” mean all
federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross
receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease,
service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance,
stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other
taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any
interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect
thereto, imposed by any government or governmental, regulatory or administrative
authority, agency or commission. The term “returns” means all
returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be
filed in respect to taxes.
3.
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Covenants of the
Company. The Company covenants and agrees as
follows:
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3.1 Amendments to Registration
Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representatives,
prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such
amendment or supplement to which the Representatives shall reasonably object in
writing.
3.2 Federal Securities
Laws.
3.2.1. Compliance. During
the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the
Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon
it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under
the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit
the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance
with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a
Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under
the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus
to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representatives promptly and
prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an
appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the
Act.
11
3.2.2. Filing of Final
Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives) with the Commission pursuant to
the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3. Exchange Act
Registration. For a period of three years from the Effective
Date, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the
Shares. The Company will not deregister the Shares under the Exchange Act
without the prior written consent of the Representatives.
3.2.4. Free Writing
Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that it has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an
issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act, without
the prior consent of the Representatives. Any such free writing prospectus
consented to by the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus.” The Company represents that it will treat each
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus” as
defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the applicable
requirements of Rule 433 of the Act, including timely Commission filing where
required, legending and record keeping.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters
of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each of the
Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act such
number of copies of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as such
Underwriters may reasonably request.
3.4 Effectiveness and Events
Requiring Notice to the Representatives. The Company will use
its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a
current prospectus for at least nine (9) months from the Applicable Time and
will notify the Representatives immediately and confirm the notice in writing:
(i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the
initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose;
(iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings
for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale
in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding
for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for
filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any
additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of
any event during the period described in this Section 3.4 hereof that, in the
judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of
any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter
a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make
every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such
order.
3.5 Review of Financial
Statements. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective
Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent
certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial
statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement
of quarterly financial information.
3.6 Reserved.
12
3.7 Reserved.
3.8 Reports to the
Representatives.
3.8.1 Periodic Reports,
etc. For a period of three (3) years from the Effective Date,
the Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of such financial
statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to
time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also
promptly furnish to the Representatives: (i) a copy of each periodic report the
Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every
press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its
affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K
prepared and filed by the Company; (iv) five copies of each registration
statement filed by the Company under the Act; (v) such additional documents and
information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future
subsidiaries of the Company as the Representatives may from time to time
reasonably request; provided each Representative shall sign, if requested by the
Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably
acceptable to the Representatives and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx in connection with the
Representatives’ receipt of such information. Documents filed with the
Commission pursuant to its XXXXX system shall be deemed to have been delivered
to the Representatives pursuant to this Section.
3.8.2. Reserved.
3.8.3. Reserved.
3.9 Payment of
Expenses.
3.9.1. General Expenses Related to
the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the
Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the
Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees
and communication expenses relating to the registration of the Shares to be sold
in the Offering (including the Option Shares) with the Commission; (b) all
COBRADesk filing fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (c)
all fees and expenses relating to the listing of such Shares on NASDAQ and such
other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representatives together determine;
(d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background
checks of the Company’s officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,900
in the aggregate, (e) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriters’
counsel up to a maximum of $107,000 (but will not exceed on the actual fees and
disbursements of such counsel in connection with the Offering), (f) all fees,
expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of such
Shares under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other
jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably designate (including, without
limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of the Underwriter’s counsel; (g) the costs of all mailing and
printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the
Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate, any Agreement
Among Underwriters, Selected Dealers’ Agreement, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and
Power of Attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectuses and all amendments,
supplements and exhibits thereto and as many Preliminary Prospectuses and
Prospectuses as the Representatives may reasonably deem necessary, (h) the costs
of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Shares; (i)
fees and expenses of the transfer agent for the Shares; (j) stock transfer
and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the
Company to the Underwriters; (k) the fees and expenses of the Company’s
accountants; (l) the costs associated with bound volumes of the public offering
materials as well as commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones, each of which
the Company or its designee will provide within a reasonable time after the
Closing in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably
request, (m) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and
other agents and representatives; (m) the Underwriters’ actual “road show”
expenses for the Offering up to a maximum of $17,100; and (n) the costs
associated with advertising the Offering in the national editions of the Wall
Street Journal and New York Times after the Closing Date; the remaining balance
will be borne by the Underwriter. The Underwriter may also deduct from the net
proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the
Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the
Company to the Underwriter.
13
3.9.2. Non-accountable
Expenses. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the
expenses payable pursuant to Section 3.9.1, on the Closing Date it will pay to
the Representatives a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one
and one-half percent (1.5%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company
from the sale of the Firm Shares less the $50,000 that already has been advanced
to National Securities Corporation, by deduction from the proceeds of the
Offering contemplated herein.
3.10 Application of Net
Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the
Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described
under the caption “Use Of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.11 Delivery of Earnings
Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make
generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not
later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the
Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by
independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required
by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule
158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve
consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.12 Stabilization. Neither
the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or
shareholders (without the consent of the Representatives) has taken or will
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or
that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act,
or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
3.13 Internal
Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that:
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in
order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and
to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and
(iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to
any differences.
3.14 Accountants. As
of the Effective Date, the Company shall retain an independent public accountant
firm reasonably acceptable to the Representatives, and the Company shall
continue to retain a nationally recognized independent certified public
accounting firm for a period of at least three years after the Effective
Date. The Representatives acknowledge that X.X. Xxxx is acceptable to
the Representatives.
3.15 FINRA. The
Company shall advise the Representatives (who shall make an appropriate filing
with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company
(other than Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx) becomes an affiliate or associated person of
an FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Company’s Public
Securities.
3.16 No Fiduciary
Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the
Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and
that none of the Underwriters or their affiliates or any selling agent shall be
deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary
duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
14
4. Conditions of Underwriters’
Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase
and pay for the Shares, as provided herein, shall be subject to: (i) the
continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of
the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date,
if any, (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made
pursuant to the provisions hereof, (iii) the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder; and (iv) the following conditions.
4.1 Regulatory
Matters.
4.1.1. Effectiveness of
Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have
become effective not later than 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the date of this
Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by
you, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall
be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx.
4.1.2. FINRA
Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Representatives shall
have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or
payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration
Statement.
4.1.3. NASDAQ Stock Market
Clearance. On the Closing Date, the Company’s Shares,
including the Firm Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ
Capital Market.
4.1.4. Free Writing
Prospectuses. The Representatives covenant with the Company
that the Underwriters will not use, authorize the use of, refer to, or
participate in the planning for the use of a “free writing prospectus” as
defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, which term includes use of any written
information furnished by the Commission to the Company and not incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement, without the prior written consent of
the Company. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the
Company is hereinafter referred to as an “Underwriter Free Writing
Prospectus.”
4.2 Company Counsel
Matters.
4.2.1. Closing Date Opinion of
Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP (“Xxxxxx”), counsel to the
Company, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Representatives covering the
following:
(i)
The Company has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of Delaware
with the requisite corporate power to own or lease, as the case may be, and
operate its respective properties, and to conduct its business, as described in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company is duly
registered or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing under the laws of New York.
(ii) All
issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and none of such securities
were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any stockholder of the
Company under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or, to the
extent of Xxxxxx'x knowledge, contractual preemptive rights. The offers and
sales of the outstanding securities were at all relevant times either registered
under the Act or exempt from such registration requirements. The authorized, and
to the extent of Xxxxxx’x knowledge, outstanding Shares of the Company is as set
forth in the Prospectus.
15
(iii) The
Public Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for, will
be validly issued and, to our knowledge, fully paid and non-assessable; the
holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability solely by
reason of being such holders. The Public Securities are not and will
not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the
Company under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or, to the
extent of Xxxxxx'x knowledge, contractual preemptive rights. The
Over-allotment Option and Underwriters’ Warrant constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment
therefor, the number of Shares called for thereby, and the Over-allotment Option
and the Underwriters’ Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their respective terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally, (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution
provision may be limited under the Federal and state securities laws, and (c)
that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of
equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion
of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought.
(iv) This
Agreement and the Underwriters’ Warrant Agreement have been duly and
validly authorized and executed by the Company and constitute the valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their respective terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or
contribution provisions may be limited under the Federal and state securities
laws, and (c) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other
forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be
brought.
(v) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Lock-Up
Agreements, and the
Lock-Up Period restrictions on the Company and the Underwriters’ Warrant
Agreement, and compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions thereof
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, and the issuance
and sale of the Public Securities, do not and will not, with or without the
giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, (a) conflict with, or
result in a breach of, any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, or result in the creation or modification of any lien, security
interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the
Company pursuant to the terms of, any mortgage, deed of trust, note, indenture,
loan, contract, commitment or other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement, (b) result in any violation of the
provisions of the Charter Documents, or (c) violate any statute or any
judgment, order or decree, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any
court, domestic or foreign, or of any federal, state or other regulatory
authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, its
properties or assets.
(vi) The
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or
supplements thereto (other than the financial statements included therein, as to
which no opinion need be rendered) each as of their respective dates complied as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and
Regulations. The Shares offered pursuant to the Prospectus conform in
all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus. No United States or state statute or regulation
required to be described in the Prospectus is not described as required (except
as to the Blue Sky laws of the various states, as to which such counsel
expresses no opinions), nor, to the extent of Xxxxxx'x knowledge, any contracts
or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement not so described or filed as required.
16
(vii) The
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
Commission. We have been orally advised by the Staff of the
Commission that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued, and to our knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose
have been instituted or overtly threatened by the Commission. Any
required filing of the Prospectus, and any required supplement thereto, pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, has been made in the manner and within
the time period required by Rule 424(b).
(viii) The
Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and sale of the Public
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company”
as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ix) No
consent, approval, authorization or filing with or order of the NASDAQ, any U.S.
Federal, State of New York or State of Delaware court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company is required, under the laws, rules and
regulations of the United States of America and the States of Delaware and New
York for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the
Agreement, except (i) such as have been made with or obtained by
NASDAQ, (ii) such as have been made or obtained under the Securities
Act, and (iii) such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
you in the manner contemplated in the Agreement and in the Prospectus, as to
which we express no opinion.
(x) The
Shares have been approved for listing on NASDAQ Capital Market upon official
notice of issuance.
(xi) Except
as described in the Prospectus, to our knowledge, the Company is not a party to
any written agreement granting any holders of securities of the Company rights
to require the registration under the Securities Act of resales of such
securities.
4.2.2. The opinion of
Xxxxxx shall further include a statement to the effect that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
Company, the Underwriters and the independent registered public accounting firm
of the Company, at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus contained therein and related matters were discussed and,
although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility
for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein, solely on the basis
of the foregoing without independent check and verification, no facts have come
to the attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that (a) the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, at the time the Registration
Statement or amendment became effective, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (b) the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time they were filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) or at the date of such counsel’s opinion, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that such
counsel need express no view and shall not be deemed to have rendered an
opinion with respect to the financial information, statistical data and
information and matters regarding any non-United States laws, rules and
regulations included in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus). The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
post-effective amendments or supplements thereto (other than the financial
statements including notes and schedules, financial data, statistical data and
any non-United States laws, rules and regulations included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, included therein, as to which no opinion need be
rendered) each as of their respective dates complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Act and Regulations.
4.2.3. Closing Date Opinions of IP
Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received an opinion from Xxxxx & Xxx Xxxxx, counsel to the Company for
intellectual property matters, addressed to the Representatives or Xxxxxxx
Krooks dated the Closing Date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Representatives.
17
4.2.4. Option Closing Date Opinions
of Counsel. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinions of each counsel
listed in Sections 4.2.1 through 4.2.3, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed
to the Representatives and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Representatives, confirming as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made
by such counsels in their respective opinions delivered on the Closing
Date.
4.2.5. Reliance. In
rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely: (i) as to matters involving
the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and
jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems
proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion
or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Representatives) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representatives,
familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the
extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers
of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdiction having
custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the
Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be
delivered to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx if requested. The opinions of Xxxxxx and any opinion
relied upon by Xxxxxx shall include a statement to the effect that it may be
relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the
Underwriters.
4.3 Cold Comfort
Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of
the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, you shall have received a
cold comfort letter, addressed to the Representatives and in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory in all respects to you and to Xxxxxxx Krooks from X.X.
Xxxx dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, if any.
4.4 Officers’
Certificates.
4.4.1. Officers’
Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option
Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received a certificate of
the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and
complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section
4.5 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of the Closing Date
and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In
addition, the Representatives will have received such other and further
certificates of officers of the Company as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
4.4.2. Secretary’s
Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option
Closing Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received a certificate of
the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated
the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively,
certifying: (i) that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and By-laws are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force
and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors
relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force
and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness
of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; and
(iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents
referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such
certificate.
18
4.5 No Material
Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the
Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse
change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of
the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding,
at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company
or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or
other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding
may have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been
issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or
threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material
statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act
and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration
Statement nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
4.6 Delivery of
Agreements.
4.6.1. Effective Date
Deliveries. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have
delivered to the Representatives executed copies of this Agreement and the
Lock-Up Agreements.
4.6.2. Closing Date
Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Company shall have
delivered to the Representatives executed copies of the Underwriters’ Warrant
Agreement.
5.
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Indemnification.
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5.1 Indemnification of the
Underwriters.
5.1.1. General. Subject
to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each of the Underwriters, and each dealer selected by the
Representatives that participates in the offer and sale of the Public Securities
(each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and
employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter
(“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether
arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or
between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they
or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other
statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries,
insofar as any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or
is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii)
any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of,
the Company in connection with the Offering of the Securities, including any
“road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether
in person or electronically); or (iii) any application or other document or
written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”)
executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the
Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities and
Underwriters’ Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed
with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency,
NASDAQ or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter
expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as
the case may be. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5.1.1 shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the
Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss,
liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of
the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if
the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless
such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the
Company with its obligations under Section 3.3 hereof. The Company agrees
promptly to notify the Representatives of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling
Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Public Securities or in
connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
19
5.1.2. Procedure. If
any action is brought against an Underwriter, a Selected Dealer or a Controlling
Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant
to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person,
as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such
action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable
approval of the Represenatives (in all cases), such Underwriter or such Selected
Dealer, as the case may be) and payment of actual expenses. Such Representaives,
Underwriter, Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall have the right to
employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer
or Controlling Person unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense
of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in
connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have
employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action, or (iii) such
indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be
defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those
available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to
direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or
parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more
than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Representatives,
Underwriter (in addition to local counsel), Selected Dealer and/or Controlling
Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, if any Representative, Underwriter, Selected Dealer or
Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above,
the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such
action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
5.2 Indemnification of the
Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and
employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company
to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue
statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in
strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with
respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use
in such Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application. In case any action
shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which
indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the
rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so
indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters
by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.
20
5.3 Contribution.
5.3.1. Contribution
Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to
indemnification under this Section 5 makes claim for indemnification pursuant
hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or
decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal
or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for
indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange
Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances
for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each
such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by
said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as
incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that
portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing
on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price
appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided,
that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise
been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of
an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who
controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Underwriter or the Company, as applicable.
5.3.2. Contribution
Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party
to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any
action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in
respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”),
notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so
notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any
such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party
notifies a contributing party or its representative of the commencement thereof
within the aforesaid fifteen days, the contributing party will be entitled to
participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party
similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party
seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or
proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution on account of any
settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking
contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The
contribution provisions contained in this Section 5.3.2 are intended to
supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. Each Underwriter’s
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not
joint.
6.
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Default by an
Underwriter.
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6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of
Firm Shares or Option Shares. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm
Shares or the Option Shares, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised,
hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Shares or Option Shares with respect to
which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of
Firm Shares or Option Shares that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase
hereunder, then such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates
shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their
respective commitments hereunder.
21
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of
Firm Shares or Option Shares. In the event that the default
addressed in Section 6.1 relates to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares, you may in your discretion arrange for yourself or for another party or
parties to purchase such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which such default
relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after
such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, you
do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Option Shares, then the
Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within
which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to you to purchase said
Firm Shares or Option Shares on such terms. In the event that neither you nor
the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Option Shares to
which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement will
automatically be terminated by you or the Company without liability on the part
of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.9 and 5 hereof) or the several
Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that
if such default occurs with respect to the Option Shares, this Agreement will
not terminate as to the Firm Shares; and provided further that nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other
Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default
hereunder.
6.3 Postponement of Closing
Date. In the event that the Firm Shares or Option Shares to
which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid,
you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option
Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5)
Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and
arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriter may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as
used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6
with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with
respect to such Securities.
7.
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Additional
Covenants.
|
7.1 Board Composition and Board
Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) the
qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall
composition of the board comply with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the
rules promulgated thereunder and with the listing requirements of, NASDAQ or any
other national securities exchange or national securities association, as the
case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have its Public Securities listed
on another exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system, and (ii) if
applicable, at least one member of the board of directors qualifies as a
“financial expert” as such term is defined under the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002
and the rules promulgated thereunder.
7.2 Prohibition on Press
Releases and Public Announcements. The Company will not issue
press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representatives’
prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the
first Business Day following the 40th day following the Closing Date, other than
normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s
business.
8.
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Effective Date of this
Agreement and Termination
Thereof.
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8.1 Effective
Date. This Agreement shall become effective when both the
Company and the Representatives have executed the same and delivered
counterparts of such signatures to the other party.
22
8.2 Termination. You
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any
Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or
occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your reasonable opinion will in the
immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United
States; or (ii) if trading on the NYSE Amex, the NASDAQ Global Select
Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market shall have been
suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall
have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been
required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government
authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have
become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities, or
(iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or
federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has
been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities
markets, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by
fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity
or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will,
in your reasonable opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of
the Firm Shares or Option Shares, or (vii) if the Company is in material
breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or
(viii) if the Representatives shall have become aware after the date hereof
of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company,
or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the
Representatives’ judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the
Offering, sale and/or delivery of the Public Securities or to enforce contracts
made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Securities.
8.3 Expenses. Except
in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 6.2 above, in
the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason
whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant
to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriters
their actual and accountable out of pocket expenses related to the transactions
contemplated herein then due and payable (including the fees and disbursements
of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx) up to a maximum of $125,000 ($75,000 after taking into
account $50,000 previously paid to the Representatives); provided, however, that
such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and
contribution provisions of this Agreement). To the extent the
Representatives’ actual expenses do not exceed $50,000 at such time, such
unearned amounts shall be reimbursed by National Securities Corporation to the
Company.
8.4 Indemnification. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or
any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is
otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way
effected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of
this Agreement or any part hereof.
9.
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Miscellaneous.
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9.1 Notices. All
communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided,
shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission and
confirmed and shall be deemed given when so delivered or faxed and confirmed or
if mailed, two days after such mailing.
23
If to the
Representatives:
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx, LLC
0000
Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
General Counsel
Fax No.:
000-000-0000
and
National Securities
Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx
Fax No.:
000.000.0000
Copy
to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Esq.
Fax: 000.000.0000
If to the
Company:
Ventrus Biosciences, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: CEO
Fax: (212)
___-_____
Copy
to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attention:
W. Xxxxx Mannheim, Esq.
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
9.2 Headings. The
headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference,
and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of
the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
9.3 Amendment. This
Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the
parties hereto.
24
9.4 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements
and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement)
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject
matter hereof.
9.5 Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of
and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and
the Controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof,
and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other
person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions
herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a
purchaser, in its capacity as such, of Public Securities or Underwriters’
Securities from any of the Underwriters.
9.6 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving
effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that
any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any
way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme
Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction,
which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any
objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an
inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the
Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address
set forth in Section 9.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed
personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action,
proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing
party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other
party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such
action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation
therefore.
9.7 Execution in
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one
or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered
to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart
of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid
and sufficient delivery thereof.
9.8 Waiver,
etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time
enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed
to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of
this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto
to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No
waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument
executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such
waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or
non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or
subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
25
If the
foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and
the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between
us.
Very
truly yours,
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|
VENTRUS
BIOSCIENCES, INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Accepted
on the date first above written.
|
|
XXXXXX
& XXXXXXX, LLC
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
NATIONAL
SECURITIES CORPORATION
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
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26
SCHEDULE
I
Underwriters
|
Total Number of
Firm Shares
to be Purchased
|
Total Number of
Optional Shares
to be Purchased
|
||||
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx, LLC
|
||||||
National
Securities Corporation
|
||||||
27
EXHIBIT
A
Form
of Underwriters’ Warrant Agreement
THE
REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS WARRANT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL
NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS WARRANT EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE
REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS WARRANT AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER,
ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS WARRANT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY
DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (DEFINED BELOW) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I)
XXXXXX & XXXXXXX, LLC, NATIONAL SECURITIES CORPORATION OR AN
UNDERWRITER OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA
FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF XXXXXX & XXXXXXX, LLC, NATIONAL SECURITIES
CORPORATION OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER.
THIS
WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO ________________ [DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF
PROSPECTUS]. VOID
AFTER 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, ___________________ [DATE THAT IS FIVE YEARS THE
FROM DATE OF THE PROSPECTUS].
COMMON
STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
For the
Purchase of Shares of Common Stock
Of
VENTRUS
BIOSCIENCES, INC.
1. Warrant. THIS
CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of funds duly paid by or on behalf of
[ ]("Holder"), as registered
owner of this Warrant, to Ventrus Biosciences, Inc. (the "Company"), Holder is
entitled, at any time or from time to time from ________________ [DATE THAT IS
ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PROSPECTUS] (the "Commencement Date"), and at or before
5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, ___________________ [DATE THAT IS FIVE YEARS THE FROM
DATE OF THE PROSPECTUS] (the "Expiration Date"), but not thereafter,
to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to [____] shares
of common stock of the Company, par value $.001 per share (the "Shares"),
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is
a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this
Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in
accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on the
Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate
the Warrant. This Warrant is initially exercisable at $[________] per
Share (125% of the price of the Shares sold in the Offering); provided, however,
that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the
rights granted by this Warrant, including the exercise price per Share and the
number of Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein
specified. The term "Exercise Price" shall mean the initial exercise price
or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context.
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2. Exercise.
2.1 Exercise Form.
In order to exercise this Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto must
be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this
Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased payable
in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated
by the Company or by certified check or official bank check. If the
subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00
p.m., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this Warrant shall become and be
void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall
cease and expire.
2.2 Cashless
Exercise. In
lieu of exercising this Warrant by payment of cash or certified check
or official bank check payable to the order of the Company pursuant to Section
2.1 above, Holder may elect to receive the number of Shares equal to the value
of this Warrant (or the portion thereof being
exercised), by surrender of this Warrant to the Company, together with the
exercise form attached hereto, in which event the issue to Holder, Shares
in accordance with the following formula:
Y(A-B)
|
||
X
|
=
|
A
|
Where,
|
X
|
=
|
The
number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
|
Y
|
=
|
The
number of Shares for which the Warrant is being
exercised;
|
|
A
|
=
|
The
fair market value of one Share; and
|
|
B
|
=
|
The
Exercise Price.
|
For purposes of this Section 2.2, the
fair market value of a Share is defined as follows:
(i)
if the Company’s common stock is traded on a securities
exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices on
such exchange or market over the thirty (30) day period ending three (3) days
prior to the date of the exercise form being submitted in connection with the
exercise of the Warrant; or
(ii) if
the Company’s common stock is actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall
be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices over the thirty (30) day
period ending three (3) days prior to the date of the exercise form being
submitted in connection with the exercise of the Warrant; if there is no active
public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined
in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.
2.3 Legend. Each
certificate for the securities purchased under this Warrant shall bear a legend
as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"):
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"The
securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") or applicable state law.
Neither the securities nor any interest therein may be offered for sale,
sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
Act and applicable state law which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is
available."
3. Transfer.
3.1 General Restrictions.
The registered Holder of this Warrant agrees by his, her or its acceptance
hereof, that such Holder will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge
or hypothecate this Warrant for a period of one hundred eighty (180)
days following the effective date (“the Effective Date”) of the Company’s
registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-168224) (the “Registration
Statement”) to anyone other than: (i) Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC ("Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxxx"), National Securities Corporation (“National Securities”) or an
underwriter or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona
fide officer or partner of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx or National Securities or of any
such underwriter or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA
Conduct Rule 5110(g)(1), or (b) cause this Warrant or the securities issuable
hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call
transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this
Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule
5110(g)(2). On and after 180 days from the Effective Date, transfers to others
may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities
laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver
to the Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed,
together with the Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in
connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) business days
transfer this Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver
a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly
evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Shares purchasable
hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such
assignment.
3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the
Act. The securities evidenced by this Warrant shall not be
transferred unless and until: (i) the Company has received the opinion of
counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws,
the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Company (the Company hereby agreeing that the opinion of Xxxxxxx Krooks LLP
(“Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx”) shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the availability of
an exemption), or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to
the registration statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities has
been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") and compliance with applicable state
securities law has been established.
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4. Registration
Rights.
4.1 Demand
Registration.
4.1.1 Grant of Right.
The Company, upon written demand (a "Demand Notice") of the Holder(s) of
at least 51% of the Warrants and/or the underlying Shares ("Majority Holders"),
agrees to register, on one occasion, all or any portion of the Shares underlying
the Warrants (collectively the "Registrable Securities"). On such occasion, the
Company will file a registration statement with the SEC covering the Registrable
Securities within sixty (60) days after receipt of a Demand Notice and use its
reasonable best efforts to have the registration statement declared effective
promptly thereafter, subject to compliance with review by the SEC; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to comply with a Demand Notice
if the Company has filed a registration statement with respect to which the
Holder is entitled to piggyback registration rights pursuant to Section 4.2
hereof and either: (i) the Holder has elected to participate in the offering
covered by such registration statement or (ii) if such registration statement
relates to an underwritten primary offering of securities of the Company, until
the offering covered by such registration statement has been withdrawn or until
thirty (30) days after such offering is consummated. The demand for registration
may be made at any time during a period of four (4) years beginning one (1) year
from the Closing Date. The Company covenants and agrees to give written notice
of its receipt of any Demand Notice by any Holder(s) to all other registered
Holders of the Warrants and/or the Registrable Securities within ten (10) days
from the date of the receipt of any such Demand Notice.
4.1.2 Terms. The
Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to the registration of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.1.1, but the Holders shall pay any
and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected
by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable
Securities. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
filing required herein to become effective promptly and to qualify or register
the Registrable Securities in such states as are reasonably requested by the
Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to
register the Registrable Securities in a state in which such registration would
cause: (i) the Company to be obligated to register or license to do business in
such state or submit to general service of process in such state, or (ii) the
principal shareholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their shares of
capital stock of the Company. The Company shall cause any registration statement
filed pursuant to the demand right granted under Section 4.1.1 to remain
effective for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months from the date
that the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement are first given the opportunity to sell all of such securities.
The Holders shall only use the prospectuses provided by the Company to
sell the shares covered by such registration statement, and will immediately
cease to use any prospectus furnished by the Company if the Company advises the
Holder that such prospectus may no longer be used due to a material misstatement
or omission.
4.2 "Piggy-Back"
Registration.
4.2.1 Grant of Right.
In addition to the demand right of registration, described in Section 4.1
hereof the Holder shall have the right, for a period of four (4) years
commencing one (1) year from the Closing Date, to include the Registrable
Securities as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company
(other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145(a)
promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or any equivalent form);
provided, however, that if, solely in connection with any primary underwritten
public offering for the account of the Company, the managing underwriter(s)
thereof shall, in its reasonable discretion, impose a limitation on the number
of shares of Common Stock which may be included in such registration statement
because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or other factors dictate
such limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company
shall be obligated to include in such registration statement only such limited
portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which the Holder requested
inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall reasonably permit. Any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Holders seeking to
include Registrable Securities in proportion to the number of Registrable
Securities sought to be included by such Holders; provided, however, that the
Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has
first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled
to inclusion of such securities in such registration statement or are not
entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities.
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4.2.2 Terms. The Company
shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable
Securities pursuant to Section 4.2.1 hereof, but the Holders shall pay any and
all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by
the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable
Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall
furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less
than thirty (30) days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of
such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to
be given for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as
all of the Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holder. The
holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the "piggy-back" rights
provided for herein by giving written notice within ten (10) days of the receipt
of the Company's notice of its intention to file a registration
statement.
4.3 General
Terms.
4.3.1 Indemnification. The
Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold
pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who
controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20
(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), against
all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable
attorneys' fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating,
preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which any of them may
become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such
registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as
the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters contained in Section 5.1 of the Underwriting Agreement between the
Underwriters and the Company, dated as of [_________________]. The Holder(s) of
the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement,
and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify
the Company, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including
all reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which
they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising
from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors
or assigns, in writing, for specific inclusion in such registration statement to
the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in Section
5.2 of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed
to indemnify the Company.
4.3.2 Exercise of Warrants. Nothing
contained in this Warrant shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to
exercise their Warrants prior to or after the initial filing of any registration
statement or the effectiveness thereof.
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4.3.3 Documents Delivered to
Holders. The Company shall furnish to each Holder participating in
any of the foregoing offerings and to each underwriter of any such offering, if
any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such Holder or underwriter, of (i) an
opinion of counsel to the Company, dated the effective date of such registration
statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering,
an opinion dated the date of the closing under any underwriting agreement
related thereto), and (ii) a "cold comfort" letter dated the effective date of
such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten
public offering, a letter dated the date of the closing under the underwriting
agreement) signed by the independent public accountants who have issued a report
on the Company's financial statements included in such registration statement,
in each case covering substantially the same matters with respect to such
registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of
such accountants' letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such
financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer's counsel
and in accountants' letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public
offerings of securities. The Company shall also deliver promptly to each Holder
participating in the offering requesting the correspondence and memoranda
described below and to the managing underwriter, if any, copies of all
correspondence between the SEC and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all
memoranda relating to discussions with the SEC or its staff with respect to the
registration statement and permit each Holder and underwriter to do such
investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information
contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably
necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such
investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and
opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and
independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times
as any such Holder shall reasonably request.
4.3.4 Underwriting
Agreement. The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement
with the managing underwriter(s), if any, selected by any Holders whose
Registrable Securities are being registered pursuant to this Section 4, which
managing underwriter shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. Such
agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company,
each Holder and such managing underwriters, and shall contain such
representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and such other terms as
are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing
underwriter. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement
relating to an underwritten sale of their Registrable Securities and may, at
their option, require that any or all the representations, warranties and
covenants of the Company to or for the benefit of such underwriters shall also
be made to and for the benefit of such Holders. Such Holders shall not be
required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the
Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders, their
Shares and their intended methods of distribution.
4.3.5 Documents to be Delivered by
Holder(s). Each of the Holder(s) participating in any of the
foregoing offerings shall furnish to the Company a completed and executed
questionnaire provided by the Company requesting information customarily sought
of selling security holders.
4.3.6 Damages. Should
the registration or the effectiveness thereof required by Sections 4.1 and 4.2
hereof be delayed by the Company or the Company otherwise fails to comply with
such provisions, the Holder(s) shall, in addition to any other legal or other
relief available to the Holder(s), be entitled to obtain specific performance or
other equitable (including injunctive) relief against the threatened breach of
such provisions or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of
proving actual damages and without the necessity of posting bond or other
security.
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5. New Warrants to be
Issued.
5.1 Partial Exercise or
Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this
Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of
the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Warrant
for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form
and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised
pursuant to Section 2.1 hereto, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the
Holder without charge a new Warrant of like tenor to this Warrant in the name of
the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Shares
purchasable hereunder as to which this Warrant has not been exercised or
assigned.
5.2 Lost
Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant
and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the
Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant of like tenor and date.
Any such new Warrant executed and delivered as a result of such loss,
theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual
obligation on the part of the Company.
6. Adjustments.
6.1 Adjustments to Exercise
Price and Number of Securities. The Exercise Price and the number
of Shares underlying the Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time as hereinafter set forth:
6.1.1 Share Dividends; Split
Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of
Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is increased by a stock
dividend payable in Shares or by a split up of Shares or other similar event,
then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder
shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares, and the
Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.
6.1.2 Aggregation of
Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of
Section 6.3, the number of outstanding Shares is decreased by a consolidation,
combination or reclassification of Shares or other similar event, then, on the
effective date thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be
decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares, and the Exercise
Price shall be proportionately increased.
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6.1.3 Replacement of Securities
upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or
reorganization of the outstanding Shares other than a change covered by Section
6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Shares, or in
the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation of the
Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share
reconstruction or amalgamation in which the Company is the continuing
corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization
of the outstanding Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another
corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved,
the Holder of this Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration
of the right of exercise of this Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof,
for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to
such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or
property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization,
share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution
following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Shares of the
Company obtainable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such
event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Shares covered by
Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections
6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall
similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share
reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other
transfers.
6.1.4 Issuance or Sale of
Additional Securities . If and whenever the Company issues or
sells any shares of Common Stock for a consideration per share of less than the
then-Exercise Price or for no consideration, or issues or grants any warrants,
rights or options (other than pursuant to board approved equity incentive plans
or pursuant to other options or warrants issued as of the date of this
Agreement), whether or not immediately exercisable, to subscribe for or to
purchase Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (such warrants, rights and
options to purchase Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents are hereinafter
referred to as “Options”) and the effective
price per share for which Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of such
Options is less than the Exercise Price (such issuances are collectively, a
“Dilutive Issuance”),
then the Exercise Price shall be reduced to a price determined by dividing (i)
an amount equal to the sum of (a) the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (excluding treasury
shares, if any) plus (b) the number of shares of Common Stock which the
consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such issuance or sale would
purchase at the Exercise Price by (ii) the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale and multiplying the
Exercise Price by such fraction; provided that, for purposes hereof, all shares
of Common Stock that are issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of
Common Stock Equivalents shall be deemed outstanding immediately after the
issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents. Such adjustment shall be made
whenever such shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents are
issued.
6.1.5 Changes in Form
of Warrant. This
form of Warrant need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this
Section 6.1, and Warrants issued after such change may state the same Exercise
Price and the same number of Shares as are stated in the Warrants initially
issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance
of new Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed
to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Commencement Date or
the computation thereof.
6.2 Substitute Warrant. In
case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or
amalgamation of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a
consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation which does not result in
any reclassification or change of the outstanding Shares), the corporation
formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall
execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Warrant providing that the
holder of each Warrant then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the
right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Warrant) to receive, upon
exercise of such Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other
securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share
reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Shares of the
Company for which such Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to
such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation, sale or transfer. Such
supplemental Warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to
the adjustments provided for in this Section 6. The above provision of this
Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share
reconstructions or amalgamations.
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6.3 Elimination of Fractional
Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates
representing fractions of Shares upon the exercise of the Warrant, nor shall it
be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it
being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be
eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the
nearest whole number of Shares or other securities, properties or
rights.
7. Reservation and
Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available
out of its authorized Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise
of the Warrants, such number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights
as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and
agrees that, upon exercise of the Warrants and payment of the Exercise Price
therefor, in accordance with the terms hereby, all Shares and other securities
issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder.
The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of the
Warrants and payment of the exercise price therefor, all Shares and other
securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder.
As long as the Warrants shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Shares issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all
securities exchanges (or, if applicable on the NASDAQ Global Select Market,
NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ Capital Market, NYSE Amex, OTC Bulletin Board or
any successor trading market) on which the shares of the Company’s common stock
may then be listed and/or quoted.
8. Certain Notice
Requirements.
8.1 Holder's Right to Receive
Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders
the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a shareholder for the
election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as
a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the
expiration of the Warrants and their exercise, any of the events described in
Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall
give written notice of such event at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date
fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books for the
determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution,
conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote
on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall
specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver
to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the
Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the
shareholders.
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8.2 Events Requiring
Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in
this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company
shall take a record of the holders of its Shares for the purpose of entitling
them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a
cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings,
as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the
books of the Company; (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its
Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or
any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor; or (iii) a dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a
consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation) or a sale of all or
substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be
proposed.
8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise
Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in
the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of
such event and change ("Price Notice"). The Price Notice shall describe the
event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be
certified as being true and accurate by the Company's Chief Financial
Officer.
8.4 Transmittal of
Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under
this Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when
hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service (i) if to
the registered Holder of the Warrant, to the address of such Holder as shown on
the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to following address or to
such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the
Holders:
Ventrus Biosciences, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: President
Fax: (212)
___-_____
Copy
to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attention:
W. Xxxxx Mannheim, Esq.
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Amendments. The
Company and Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx/National Securities may from time to time
supplement or amend this Warrant without the approval of any of the Holders in
order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising
hereunder that the Company and Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx/National Securities may deem
necessary or desirable and that the Company and Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx/National
Securities deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All
other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be
signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is
sought.
A-10
9.2 Headings. The
headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference,
and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of
the terms or provisions of this Warrant.
9.3. Entire Agreement.
This Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered
pursuant to or in connection with this Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement
of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.4 Binding Effect. This
Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the
Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors,
legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed
to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or
by virtue of this Warrant or any provisions herein contained.
9.5 Governing Law; Submission to
Jurisdiction. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving
effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees
that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in
any way to, this Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme
Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction,
which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection
to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient
forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by
transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section
8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal
and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and
the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be
entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys'
fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in
connection with the preparation therefor.
9.6 Waiver, etc. The
failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the
provisions of this Warrant shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of
any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Warrant or any
provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce
each and every provision of this Warrant. No waiver of any breach,
non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Warrant shall
be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or
parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no
waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed
or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or
non-fulfillment.
9.7 Execution in
Counterparts. This Warrant may be executed in one or more
counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one
or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered
to each of the other parties hereto. Such counterparts may be delivered by
facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission.
A-11
9.8 Exchange Agreement.
As a condition of the Holder's receipt and acceptance of this Warrant,
Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Warrant
by Holder, if the Company, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx and National Securities enter
into an agreement ("Exchange Agreement") pursuant to which they agree that all
outstanding Warrants will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination
of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the
Exchange Agreement.
[Remainder
of page deliberately left blank.]
A-12
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by its duly
authorized officer as of the ____ day of _______, 20___.
VENTRUS
BIOSCIENCES, INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
A-13
[Form to be used to exercise
Warrant:
Date: , 20___
The
undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Warrant for [___] Shares
of VENTRUS BIOSCIENCES, INC. and hereby makes payment of $[_________] (at
the rate of $[___________] per Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant
thereto. Please issue the Shares as to which this Warrant is exercised in
accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Warrant
representing the number of Shares for which this Warrant has not been
exercised.
or
The
undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase [___]
Shares under the Warrant for [___] Shares, as determined in accordance with the
following formula:
Y(A-B)
|
||
X
|
=
|
A
|
Where,
|
X
|
=
|
The
number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
|
Y
|
=
|
The
number of Shares for which the Warrant is being
exercised;
|
|
A
|
=
|
The
fair market value of one Share which is equal to $[____];
and
|
|
B
|
=
|
The
Exercise Price which is equal to $[_____] per
share
|
The
undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is
subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the
calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole
discretion.
Please
issue the Shares as to which this Warrant is exercised in accordance with the
instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Warrant representing the
number of Shares for which this Warrant has not been converted.
Signature
Signature
Guaranteed
A-14
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
Name:
(Print in
Block Letters)
Address:
NOTICE:
The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the
face of the Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever,
and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust
company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities
exchange.
A-15
Form to
be used to assign Warrant:
ASSIGNMENT
(To be
executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within
Warrant):
FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, does hereby sell, assign and
transfer unto ______ the right to pruchaase Shares of VENTRUS BIOSCIENCES,
INC. ("Company") evidenced by the Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company
to transfer such right on the books of the Company.
Dated: ,
20__
Signature
Signature
Guaranteed
NOTICE:
The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the
face of the within Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a
trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities
exchange.
A-16
EXHIBIT
B
[date]
XXXXXX
& XXXXXXX, LLC
1251
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
And
NATIONAL
SECURITIES CORPORATION
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that
National Securities Corporation (“National Securities”)
and Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC (“Xxxxxx”) propose to
enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting
Agreement”) with Ventrus Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Company ”)
providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of
shares of the Company’s common stock, $.001 par value per share (the “Common
Stock”).
To induce
National Securities and Xxxxxx to continue their efforts in
connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without
the prior written consent of National Securities and Xxxxxx, it will not, during
the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of
the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (the
“Lock-Up
Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of,
directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or (2) enter into any
swap, option (including, without limitation, put or call options), short sale,
future, forward or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in
part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any
securities of the Company which are substantially similar to the Common Stock,
whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be
settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise.
The
foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) transactions relating to shares of
Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”)
shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent
sales of Common Stock or other securities acquired in such open market
transactions, or (b) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security
convertible into Common Stock as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a
family member or trust for the benefit of a family member; provided that in the case of
any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (b), (i) each donee or
distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of
this letter and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act,
reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall
be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-up
Period. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior
written consent of National Securities and Xxxxxx, it will not, during the
period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the
Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the
registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The undersigned also
agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the
Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s
shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing
restrictions.
If (i)
the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event
relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period,
or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces
that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the
last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall
continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the
issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or
material event, unless National Securities and Xxxxxx waive such
extension.
B-1
No
provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the
exercise, conversion or exchange by the undersigned of any option, warrant or
other convertible security to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities
exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock, provided that the undersigned
does not transfer the Common Stock acquired on such exercise or exchange during
the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this
agreement.
The
undersigned understands that the Company and National Securities and Xxxxxx are
relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public
Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is
irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.
The
undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by
December 31, 2010, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions
thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to
payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the
undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this letter
agreement.
Whether
or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors,
including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
negotiation between the Company and National Securities and Xxxxxx.
(Signature
page follow.)
B-2
Very
truly yours,
|
|||
[5%
Stockholder, Noteholder, Officer or Director Name]
|
|||
By:
|
|
||
Name:
|
|||
Title:
|
|||
Address:
|
B-3