Exhibit 4.1
Dated: September 15, 2005
NEITHER THIS DEBENTURE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS DEBENTURE IS
CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON
AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A
TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
No. CCP-1 $1,150,000
STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
Secured Convertible Debenture
Due September 15, 2006
This Secured Convertible Debenture (the "Debenture") is issued by STARTECH
ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION, a Colorado corporation (the "Obligor"), to CORNELL
CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP (the "Holder"), pursuant to that certain Securities
Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") of even date herewith.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Obligor hereby promises to pay to the Holder or
its successors and assigns the principal sum of One Million One Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($1,150,000) together with accrued but unpaid interest on or
before September 15, 2006 (the "Maturity Date") in accordance with the following
terms:
Interest. Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance
hereof at an annual rate equal to ten percent (10%). Interest shall be
calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed,
to the extent permitted by applicable law. Interest hereunder will be paid to
the Holder or its assignee (as defined in Section 4) in whose name this
Debenture is registered on the records of the Obligor regarding registration and
transfers of Debentures (the "Debenture Register"). Interest shall be paid
monthly commencing one (1) month following the date hereof.
Monthly Payments. The Obligor shall make monthly scheduled payments
("Scheduled Payments") consisting of principal and accrued interest. The first
Scheduled Payment shall be due and payable on the earlier of (a) the first day
of the first month immediately following the date that the Underlying Shares
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, or (b) on
January 15, 2006. After the first Scheduled Payment, each subsequent Scheduled
Payment shall be due and payable on the same day of each subsequent calendar
month until the Maturity Date. The principal amount of each Scheduled Payment
shall be determined by
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dividing the outstanding principal amount of this Debenture as of the date of
such Scheduled Payment by the number of Scheduled Payments remaining until the
Maturity Date. For example, if on the date of the first Scheduled Payment the
outstanding principal balance of this Debenture is $150,000 and there are 7
Scheduled Payments remaining prior to the Maturity Date then the first Scheduled
Payment would consist of $21,429 of principal plus accrued interest at the
interest rate specified above. All payments in respect of the indebtedness
evidenced hereby shall be made in collected funds, and shall be applied to
principal, accrued interest and charges and expenses owing under or in
connection with this Debenture in such order as the Holder elects, except that
payments shall be applied to accrued interest before principal. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this Debenture shall become due and immediately payable,
including all accrued but unpaid interest, upon the closing of a Funding Event
(as defined in Section 4 hereof) or pursuant to an Event of Default (as defined
in Section 2 hereof).
Right of Redemption. The Obligor at its option shall have the right, with
three (3) business days advance written notice, to redeem a portion or all
amounts outstanding under this Debenture prior to the Maturity Date or any
Scheduled Payment date. In the event that the Closing Bid Price of the Common
Stock on any date that the Obligor provides advance written notice of redemption
or on the date redemption is made is greater than the Conversion Price then in
effect, the Obligor shall pay a redemption premium of twenty percent (20%)
("Redemption Premium") of the amount redeemed in addition to such redemption.
The Redemption Premium shall not be applicable if the Obligor redeems any
portion of this Debenture with Advances from the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement of even date herewith between the Obligor and the Holder.
Security Agreements. This Debenture is secured by a Security Agreement
(the "Security Agreement") of even date herewith between the Obligor and the
Holder, a Pledge and Escrow Agreement (the "Pledge Agreement") of even date
herewith among the Obligor, the Holder, and the Escrow Agent, and an Officer
Pledge and Escrow Agreement ("Officer Pledge Agreement") of even date herewith
among the Obligor, the Holder, the Pledgors and the Escrow Agent.
Consent of Holder to Sell Capital Stock or Grant Security Interests.
Except for the capital stock to be issued pursuant to the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement of even date herewith between the Obligor and Cornell
Capital Partners, LP, so long as any of the principal amount or interest on this
Debenture remains unpaid and unconverted, the Obligor shall not, without the
prior consent of the Holder, (i) issue or sell any common stock or preferred
stock with or without consideration, (ii) issue or sell any preferred stock,
warrant, option, right, contract, call, or other security or instrument granting
the holder thereof the right to acquire common stock with or without
consideration, (iii) enter into any security instrument granting the holder a
security interest in any of the assets of the Obligor, or (iv) file any
registration statements on Form S-8. The foregoing restriction shall not apply
to the following: (a) any issuance by the Obligor of securities in connection
with a strategic partnership or a joint venture or other partnering arrangement
or to consultants (the primary purpose of which is not to raise equity capital),
(b) any issuance by the Obligor of securities as consideration for a merger or
consolidation or the acquisition of a business, product, license, or other
assets of another person or entity, (c) securities issued pursuant to the
conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities issued or
outstanding on or prior to the date hereof or issued pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement, (d) any warrants issued to Trendwith Securities, Inc. and
its designees for
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the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, provided,
however, that the exercise price of such warrants is not less than the Closing
Bid Price of the Common Stock on the date of issuance of such options, (e) the
Warrant Shares and any securities issued or issuable pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement, (f) options or grants of options to purchase up to 500,000
shares of Common Stock, provided (I) such options are issued after the date of
this Warrant to employees of the Obligor, and (II) the exercise price of such
options is not less than the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock on the date
of issuance of such option and (g) previously issued options prior to the date
hereof to X. Xxxxxxxx, X. Xxxxxx, X. Xxxxx and X. Xxxx.
This Debenture is subject to the following additional provisions:
Section 1. This Debenture is exchangeable for an equal aggregate principal
amount of Debentures of different authorized denominations, as requested by the
Holder surrendering the same. No service charge will be made for such
registration of transfer or exchange.
Section 2. Events of Default.
(a) An "Event of Default", wherever used herein, means any one of the
following events (whatever the reason and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree
or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):
(i) Any default in the payment of the principal of, interest on or
other charges in respect of this Debenture, free of any claim of subordination,
as and when the same shall become due and payable (whether on a Scheduled
Payment due date, a Conversion Date or the Maturity Date or by acceleration or
otherwise), which is not cured within two (2) business days of such default;
(ii) The Obligor shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant,
agreement or warranty contained in, or otherwise commit any breach or default of
any provision of this Debenture (except as may be covered by Section 2(a)(i)
hereof) or any Transaction Document (as defined in Section 4) which is not cured
within ten (10) business days of written notice of such default;
(iii) The Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor shall commence, or
there shall be commenced against the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor
under any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or hereafter in effect
or any successor thereto, or the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor
commences any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment
of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar
law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the
Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor or there is commenced against the
Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor any such bankruptcy, insolvency or
other proceeding which remains undismissed for a period of 61 days; or the
Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt;
or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is
entered; or the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor suffers any appointment
of any custodian, private or court appointed receiver or the like for it or any
substantial part of its
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property which continues undischarged or unstayed for a period of sixty one (61)
days; or the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor makes a general assignment
for the benefit of creditors; or the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor
shall fail to pay, or shall state that it is unable to pay, or shall be unable
to pay, its debts generally as they become due; or the Obligor or any subsidiary
of the Obligor shall call a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a
composition, adjustment or restructuring of its debts; or the Obligor or any
subsidiary of the Obligor shall by any act or failure to act expressly indicate
its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing; or any
corporate or other action is taken by the Obligor or any subsidiary of the
Obligor for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(iv) The Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor shall default in any
of its obligations under any other debenture or any mortgage, credit agreement
or other facility, indenture agreement, factoring agreement or other instrument
under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced
any indebtedness for borrowed money or money due under any long term leasing or
factoring arrangement of the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor in an
amount exceeding $100,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall
hereafter be created and such default shall result in such indebtedness becoming
or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise
become due and payable, which is not cured within ten (10) business days of such
default;
(v) The Common Stock shall cease to be quoted for trading or listed
for trading on either the Nasdaq OTC Bulletin Board ("OTC"), Nasdaq SmallCap
Market, New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market (each, a "Subsequent Market") and shall not again be quoted or listed for
trading thereon within five (5) Trading Days of such delisting; (vi) The Obligor
or any subsidiary of the Obligor shall be a party to any Change of Control
Transaction (as defined in Section 4);
(vii) The Obligor shall fail to file the Underlying Shares
Registration Statement (as defined in Section 4) with the Commission (as defined
in Section 4), or the Underlying Shares Registration Statement shall not have
been declared effective by the Commission, in each case within the time periods
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement of even date herewith between the
Obligor and the Holder;
(viii) If the effectiveness of the Underlying Shares Registration
Statement lapses for any reason or the Holder shall not be permitted to resell
the shares of Common Stock underlying this Debenture under the Underlying Shares
Registration Statement, in either case, for more than five (5) consecutive
Trading Days or an aggregate of eight (8) Trading Days (which need not be
consecutive Trading Days);
(ix) The Obligor shall fail for any reason to deliver Common Stock
certificates to a Holder prior to the fifth (5th) Trading Day after a Conversion
Date or the Obligor shall provide notice to the Holder, including by way of
public announcement, at any time, of its intention not to comply with requests
for conversions of this Debenture in accordance with the terms hereof;
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(x) The Obligor shall fail for any reason to deliver the payment in
cash pursuant to a Buy-In (as defined herein) within three (3) business days
after notice is claimed delivered hereunder;
(b) During the time that any portion of this Debenture is outstanding, if
any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the full principal amount
of this Debenture, together with interest and other amounts owing in respect
thereof, to the date of acceleration shall become at the Holder's election,
immediately due and payable in cash, provided however, the Holder may request
(but shall have no obligation to request) payment of such amounts in Common
Stock of the Obligor. If an Event of Default occurs and remains uncured, the
Conversion Price shall be reduced to $0.46. In addition to any other remedies,
the Holder shall have the right (but not the obligation) to convert this
Debenture at any time after (x) an Event of Default or (y) the Maturity Date at
the Conversion Price then in-effect. The Holder need not provide and the Obligor
hereby waives any presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, and
the Holder may immediately and without expiration of any grace period enforce
any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies
available to it under applicable law. Such declaration may be rescinded and
annulled by Xxxxxx at any time prior to payment hereunder. No such rescission or
annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right
consequent thereon. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Debenture or any Transaction
Document, the Holder shall have no obligation to comply with or adhere to any
limitations, if any, on the conversion of this Debenture or the sale of the
Underlying Shares.
Section 3. Conversion.
(a) (i) Conversion at Option of Holder.
(A) This Debenture shall be convertible into shares of Common
Stock at the option of the Holder, in whole or in part at any time and from time
to time, after the Original Issue Date (as defined in Section 4) (subject to the
limitations on conversion set forth in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof). The number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon a conversion hereunder equals the quotient
obtained by dividing (x) the outstanding amount of this Debenture to be
converted by (y) the Conversion Price (as defined in Section 3(c)(i)). The
Obligor shall deliver Common Stock certificates to the Holder prior to the Fifth
(5th) Trading Day after a Conversion Date.
(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if
on any Conversion Date: (1) the number of shares of Common Stock at the time
authorized, unissued and unreserved for all purposes, or held as treasury stock,
is insufficient to pay principal and interest hereunder in shares of Common
Stock; (2) the Common Stock is not listed or quoted for trading on the OTC or on
a Subsequent Market; (3) the Obligor has failed to timely satisfy its
conversion; or (4) the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would result in a
violation of Section 3(a)(ii), then, at the option of the Holder, the Obligor,
in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(a)(i)(A),
shall deliver, within three (3) Trading Days of each applicable Conversion Date,
an amount in cash equal to the product of the outstanding principal amount to be
converted plus any interest due therein divided by the Conversion Price
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and multiplied by the highest closing price of the stock from date of the
conversion notice till the date that such cash payment is made.
Further, if the Obligor shall not have delivered any cash due in respect
of conversion of this Debenture or as payment of interest thereon by the fifth
(5th) Trading Day after the Conversion Date, the Holder may, by notice to the
Obligor, require the Obligor to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section
3(c), except that for such purpose the Conversion Price applicable thereto shall
be the lesser of the Conversion Price on the Conversion Date and the Conversion
Price on the date of such Holder demand. Any such shares will be subject to the
provisions of this Section.
(C) The Holder shall effect conversions by delivering to the
Obligor a completed notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (a
"Conversion Notice"). The date on which a Conversion Notice is delivered is the
"Conversion Date." Unless the Holder is converting the entire principal amount
outstanding under this Debenture, the Holder is not required to physically
surrender this Debenture to the Obligor in order to effect conversions.
Conversions hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding
principal amount of this Debenture plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon
in an amount equal to the applicable conversion. The Holder and the Obligor
shall maintain records showing the principal amount converted and the date of
such conversions. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, the records of the
Holder shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error.
(ii) Certain Conversion Restrictions.
(A) A Holder may not convert this Debenture or receive shares of
Common Stock as payment of interest hereunder to the extent such conversion or
receipt of such interest payment would result in the Holder, together with any
affiliate thereof, beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in excess of
4.9% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, including shares
issuable upon conversion of, and payment of interest on, this Debenture held by
such Holder after application of this Section. Since the Holder will not be
obligated to report to the Obligor the number of shares of Common Stock it may
hold at the time of a conversion hereunder, unless the conversion at issue would
result in the issuance of shares of Common Stock in excess of 4.9% of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock without regard to any other shares which may
be beneficially owned by the Holder or an affiliate thereof, the Holder shall
have the authority and obligation to determine whether the restriction contained
in this Section will limit any particular conversion hereunder and to the extent
that the Holder determines that the limitation contained in this Section
applies, the determination of which portion of the principal amount of this
Debenture is convertible shall be the responsibility and obligation of the
Holder. If the Holder has delivered a Conversion Notice for a principal amount
of this Debenture that, without regard to any other shares that the Holder or
its affiliates may beneficially own, would result in the issuance in excess of
the permitted amount hereunder, the Obligor shall notify the Holder of this fact
and shall honor the conversion for the maximum principal amount permitted to be
converted on such Conversion Date in accordance with the periods described in
Section 3(a)(i)(A) and, at the option of the Holder, either retain any principal
amount tendered for conversion in excess of the permitted amount hereunder for
future conversions or return such excess principal amount to the Holder. The
provisions of this Section
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may be waived by a Holder (but only as to itself and not to any other Holder)
upon not less than 65 days prior written notice to the Obligor. Other Holders
shall be unaffected by any such waiver.
(b) (i) Nothing herein shall limit a Holder's right to pursue actual
damages or declare an Event of Default pursuant to Section 2 herein for the
Obligor 's failure to deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock
upon conversion within the period specified herein and such Holder shall have
the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including,
without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief,
in each case without the need to post a bond or provide other security. The
exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit the Holder from seeking to
enforce damages pursuant to any other Section hereof or under applicable law.
(ii) In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the
Obligor fails to deliver to the Holder such certificate or certificates pursuant
to Section 3(a)(i)(A) by the fifth (5th) Trading Day after the Conversion Date,
and if after such fifth (5th) Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open
market transaction or otherwise) Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a
sale by such Holder of the Underlying Shares which the Holder anticipated
receiving upon such conversion (a "Buy-In"), then the Obligor shall (A) pay in
cash to the Holder (in addition to any remedies available to or elected by the
Holder) the amount by which (x) the Holder's total purchase price (including
brokerage commissions, if any) for the Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the
product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder
anticipated receiving from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the market
price of the Common Stock at the time of the sale giving rise to such purchase
obligation and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reissue a Debenture in
the principal amount equal to the principal amount of the attempted conversion
or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have
been issued had the Obligor timely complied with its delivery requirements under
Section 3(a)(i)(A). For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a
total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted
conversion of Debentures with respect to which the market price of the
Underlying Shares on the date of conversion was a total of $10,000 under clause
(A) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Obligor shall be required to pay
the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Obligor written notice
indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In.
(c) (i) The conversion price (the "Conversion Price") in effect on any
Conversion Date shall be equal to $1.84, which may be adjusted pursuant to the
other terms of this Debenture.
(ii) If the Obligor, at any time while this Debenture is outstanding,
shall (a) pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions
on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent
securities payable in shares of Common Stock, (b) subdivide outstanding shares
of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (c) combine (including by way of
reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, or (d) issue by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any
shares of capital stock of the Obligor, then the Conversion Price shall be
multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding before such event
and of which the denominator shall be the number
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of shares of Common Stock outstanding after such event. Any adjustment made
pursuant to this Section shall become effective immediately after the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or
distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in
the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
(iii) Except for the following: (a) any issuance by the Obligor of
securities in connection with a strategic partnership or a joint venture or
other partnering arrangement or to consultants (the primary purpose of which is
not to raise equity capital), (b) any issuance by the Obligor of securities as
consideration for a merger or consolidation or the acquisition of a business,
product, license, or other assets of another person or entity, (c) securities
issued pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable
securities issued or outstanding on or prior to the date hereof or issued
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, (d) any warrants issued to
Trendwith Securities, Inc. and its designees for the transactions contemplated
by the Securities Purchase Agreement, provided, however, that the exercise price
of such warrants is not less than the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock on
the date of issuance of such options, (e) the Warrant Shares and any securities
issued or issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, (f) options or
grants of options to purchase up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock, provided (I)
such options are issued after the date of this Warrant to employees of the
Company, and (II) the exercise price of such options is not less than the
Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock on the date of issuance of such option and
(g) previously issued options prior to the date hereof to X. Xxxxxxxx, X.
Xxxxxx, X. Xxxxx and X. Xxxx, if the Obligor, at any time while this Debenture
is outstanding, shall issue rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common
Stock (and not to the Holder) entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares
of Common Stock at a price per share less than the Closing Bid Price at the
record date mentioned below, then the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a
fraction, of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of the Common
Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding on the date of issuance of
such rights or warrants (plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock
offered for subscription or purchase), and of which the numerator shall be the
number of shares of the Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any)
outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights or warrants, plus the number
of shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares so
offered would purchase at such Closing Bid Price. Such adjustment shall be made
whenever such rights or warrants are issued, and shall become effective
immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled
to receive such rights, options or warrants. However, upon the expiration of any
such right, option or warrant to purchase shares of the Common Stock the
issuance of which resulted in an adjustment in the Conversion Price pursuant to
this Section, if any such right, option or warrant shall expire and shall not
have been exercised, the Conversion Price shall immediately upon such expiration
be recomputed and effective immediately upon such expiration be increased to the
price which it would have been (but reflecting any other adjustments in the
Conversion Price made pursuant to the provisions of this Section after the
issuance of such rights or warrants) had the adjustment of the Conversion Price
made upon the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the
basis of offering for subscription or purchase only that number of shares of the
Common Stock actually purchased upon the exercise of such rights, options or
warrants actually exercised.
(iv) Except for the following: (a) any issuance by the Obligor of
securities in connection with a strategic partnership or a joint venture or
other partnering arrangement or to
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consultants (the primary purpose of which is not to raise equity capital), (b)
any issuance by the Obligor of securities as consideration for a merger or
consolidation or the acquisition of a business, product, license, or other
assets of another person or entity, (c) securities issued pursuant to the
conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities issued or
outstanding on or prior to the date hereof or issued pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement, (d) any warrants issued to Trendwith Securities, Inc. and
its designees for the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase
Agreement, provided, however, that the exercise price of such warrants is not
less than the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock on the date of issuance of
such options, (e) the Warrant Shares and any securities issued or issuable
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, (f) options or grants of options
to purchase up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock, provided (I) such options are
issued after the date of this Warrant to employees of the Company, and (II) the
exercise price of such options is not less than the Closing Bid Price of the
Common Stock on the date of issuance of such option and (g) previously issued
options prior to the date hereof to X. Xxxxxxxx, X. Xxxxxx, X. Xxxxx and X.
Xxxx, if the Obligor or any subsidiary thereof, as applicable, with respect to
Common Stock Equivalents (as defined below), at any time while this Debenture is
outstanding, shall issue shares of Common Stock or rights, warrants, options or
other securities or debt that are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of
Common Stock ("Common Stock Equivalents") entitling any Person to acquire shares
of Common Stock, at a price per share less than the Conversion Price (if the
holder of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent so issued shall at any
time, whether by operation of purchase price adjustments, reset provisions,
floating conversion, exercise or exchange prices or otherwise, or due to
warrants, options or rights per share which is issued in connection with such
issuance, be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock at a price per share
which is less than the Conversion Price, such issuance shall be deemed to have
occurred for less than the Conversion Price), then, at the sole option of the
Holder, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted to mirror the conversion,
exchange or purchase price for such Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents
(including any reset provisions thereof) at issue. Such adjustment shall be made
whenever such Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents are issued. The Obligor
shall notify the Holder in writing, no later than one (1) business day following
the issuance of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalent subject to this
Section, indicating therein the applicable issuance price, or of applicable
reset price, exchange price, conversion price and other pricing terms. No
adjustment under this Section shall be made as a result of issuances and
exercises of options to purchase shares of Common Stock issued for compensatory
purposes pursuant to any of the Obligor's stock option or stock purchase plans.
(v) If the Obligor, at any time while this Debenture is outstanding,
shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to the Holder)
evidences of its indebtedness or assets or rights or warrants to subscribe for
or purchase any security, then in each such case the Conversion Price at which
this Debenture shall thereafter be convertible shall be determined by
multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the record date
fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by
a fraction of which the denominator shall be the Closing Bid Price determined as
of the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator shall be such
Closing Bid Price on such record date less the then fair market value at such
record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness so
distributed applicable to one outstanding share of the Common Stock as
determined by the Board of Directors in good faith. In either case the
adjustments shall be described in a statement provided to the Holder of the
portion of assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or
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such subscription rights applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such
adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made and shall become
effective immediately after the record date mentioned above.
(vi) In case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any
compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is converted into
other securities, cash or property, the Holder shall have the right thereafter
to, at its option, (A) convert the then outstanding principal amount, together
with all accrued but unpaid interest and any other amounts then owing hereunder
in respect of this Debenture into the shares of stock and other securities, cash
and property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of the Common Stock
following such reclassification or share exchange, and the Holder of this
Debenture shall be entitled upon such event to receive such amount of
securities, cash or property as the shares of the Common Stock of the Obligor
into which the then outstanding principal amount, together with all accrued but
unpaid interest and any other amounts then owing hereunder in respect of this
Debenture could have been converted immediately prior to such reclassification
or share exchange would have been entitled, or (B) require the Obligor to prepay
the outstanding principal amount of this Debenture, plus all interest and other
amounts due and payable thereon. The entire prepayment price shall be paid in
cash. This provision shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications or
share exchanges.
(vii) The Obligor shall maintain a share reserve of not less than 100%
of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Debenture; and
within three (3) Business Days following the receipt by the Obligor of a
Holder's notice that such minimum number of Underlying Shares is not so
reserved, the Obligor shall promptly reserve a sufficient number of shares of
Common Stock to comply with such requirement.
(viii) All calculations under this Section 3 shall be rounded up to
the nearest $0.001 of a share.
(ix) Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 3
hereof, the Obligor shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the
Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of
the facts requiring such adjustment.
(x) If (A) the Obligor shall declare a dividend (or any other
distribution) on the Common Stock; (B) the Obligor shall declare a special
nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock; (C) the
Obligor shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any
class or of any rights; (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Obligor
shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock,
any consolidation or merger to which the Obligor is a party, any sale or
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Obligor, of any
compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other
securities, cash or property; or (E) the Obligor shall authorize the voluntary
or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the
Obligor; then, in each case, the Obligor shall cause to be filed at each office
or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of this Debenture, and shall
cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the
stock books of the Obligor, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the
applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x)
the date on which a record is to
10
be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or
warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of
the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions,
redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which
such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange
is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is
expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to
exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property
deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or
share exchange, provided, that the failure to mail such notice or any defect
therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate
action required to be specified in such notice. The Holder is entitled to
convert this Debenture during the 20-day calendar period commencing the date of
such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.
(xi) In case of any (1) merger or consolidation of the Obligor or any
subsidiary of the Obligor with or into another Person, or (2) sale by the
Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor of more than one-half of the assets of
the Obligor in one or a series of related transactions, a Holder shall have the
right to (A) exercise any rights under Section 2(b), (B) convert the aggregate
amount of this Debenture then outstanding into the shares of stock and other
securities, cash and property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of
Common Stock following such merger, consolidation or sale, and such Holder shall
be entitled upon such event or series of related events to receive such amount
of securities, cash and property as the shares of Common Stock into which such
aggregate principal amount of this Debenture could have been converted
immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sales would have been
entitled, or (C) in the case of a merger or consolidation, require the surviving
entity to issue to the Holder a convertible Debenture with a principal amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of this Debenture then held by such
Holder, plus all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts owing thereon,
which such newly issued convertible Debenture shall have terms identical
(including with respect to conversion) to the terms of this Debenture, and shall
be entitled to all of the rights and privileges of the Holder of this Debenture
set forth herein and the agreements pursuant to which this Debentures were
issued. In the case of clause (C), the conversion price applicable for the newly
issued shares of convertible preferred stock or convertible Debentures shall be
based upon the amount of securities, cash and property that each share of Common
Stock would receive in such transaction and the Conversion Price in effect
immediately prior to the effectiveness or closing date for such transaction. The
terms of any such merger, sale or consolidation shall include such terms so as
to continue to give the Holder the right to receive the securities, cash and
property set forth in this Section upon any conversion or redemption following
such event. This provision shall similarly apply to successive such events.
(d) The Obligor covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock solely for
the purpose of issuance upon conversion of this Debenture and payment of
interest on this Debenture, each as herein provided, free from preemptive rights
or any other actual contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder,
not less than such number of shares of the Common Stock as shall (subject to any
additional requirements of the Obligor as to reservation of such shares set
forth in this Debenture) be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and
restrictions of Sections 2(b) and 3(c)) upon the conversion of the outstanding
principal amount of this Debenture and payment of interest hereunder. The
Obligor covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so
11
issuable shall, upon issue, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully
paid, nonassessable and, if the Underlying Shares Registration Statement has
been declared effective under the Securities Act, registered for public sale in
accordance with such Underlying Shares Registration Statement.
(e) Upon a conversion hereunder the Obligor shall not be required to issue
stock certificates representing fractions of shares of the Common Stock, but may
if otherwise permitted, make a cash payment in respect of any final fraction of
a share based on the Closing Bid Price at such time. If the Obligor elects not,
or is unable, to make such a cash payment, the Holder shall be entitled to
receive, in lieu of the final fraction of a share, one whole share of Common
Stock.
(f) The issuance of certificates for shares of the Common Stock on
conversion of this Debenture shall be made without charge to the Holder thereof
for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the
issue or delivery of such certificate, provided that the Obligor shall not be
required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved
in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate upon conversion in a name
other than that of the Holder of such Debenture so converted and the Obligor
shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificates unless or until the
person or persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Obligor
the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the
Obligor that such tax has been paid.
(g) Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or
permitted to be given under the terms hereof must be in writing and will be
deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii)
upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is
mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party);
or (iii) one (1) trading day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to
receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications
shall be:
If to the Company, to: Startech Environmental Corporation
00 Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx - Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Holder: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
12
With a copy to: Xxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
or at such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such
other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to
each other party three (3) business days prior to the effectiveness of such
change. Written confirmation of receipt (i) given by the recipient of such
notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (ii) mechanically or
electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine containing the time,
date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such
transmission or (iii) provided by a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service, shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile
or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance
with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
Section 4. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or a day on which banking
institutions are authorized or required by law or other government action to
close.
"Change of Control Transaction" means the occurrence of (a) an acquisition
after the date hereof by an individual or legal entity or "group" (as described
in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act) of effective control
(whether through legal or beneficial ownership of capital stock of the Obligor,
by contract or otherwise) of in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the voting
securities of the Obligor (except that the acquisition of voting securities by
the Holder shall not constitute a Change of Control Transaction for purposes
hereof), (b) a replacement at one time or over time of more than one-half of the
members of the board of directors of the Obligor which is not approved by a
majority of those individuals who are members of the board of directors on the
date hereof (or by those individuals who are serving as members of the board of
directors on any date whose nomination to the board of directors was approved by
a majority of the members of the board of directors who are members on the date
hereof), (c) the merger, consolidation or sale of fifty percent (50%) or more of
the assets of the Obligor or any subsidiary of the Obligor in one or a series of
related transactions with or into another entity, or (d) the execution by the
Obligor of an agreement to which the Obligor is a party or by which it is bound,
providing for any of the events set forth above in (a), (b) or (c).
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
13
"Common Stock" means the common stock, no par value, of the Obligor and
stock of any other class into which such shares may hereafter be changed or
reclassified.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Funding Event" means any transaction or series of transactions closed
after the Original Issue Date in which the Obligor raises $3,500,000 or more
through the sale of their equity securities or securities exercisable or
convertible into equity securities.
"Original Issue Date" shall mean the date of the first issuance of this
Debenture regardless of the number of transfers and regardless of the number of
instruments, which may be issued to evidence such Debenture.
"Closing Bid Price" means the price per share in the last reported trade
of the Common Stock on the OTC or on the exchange which the Common Stock is then
listed as quoted by Bloomberg, LP.
"Person" means a corporation, an association, a partnership, organization,
a business, an individual, a government or political subdivision thereof or a
governmental agency.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Trading Day" means a day on which the shares of Common Stock are quoted
on the OTC or quoted or traded on such Subsequent Market on which the shares of
Common Stock are then quoted or listed; provided, that in the event that the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or quoted, then Trading Day shall mean a
Business Day.
"Transaction Documents" means the Securities Purchase Agreement or any
other agreement delivered in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement,
including, without limitation, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the
Officer Pledge Agreement, and the Investor Registration Rights Agreement.
"Underlying Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of this Debenture or as payment of interest in accordance with the
terms hereof.
"Underlying Shares Registration Statement" means a registration statement
meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement,
covering among other things the resale of the Underlying Shares and naming the
Holder as a "selling stockholder" thereunder.
Section 5. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this
Debenture shall alter or impair the obligations of the Obligor, which are
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, interest and other charges
(if any) on, this Debenture at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed. This Debenture is a direct obligation of the
Obligor. This Debenture ranks pari passu with all other Debentures now or
hereafter issued under the terms set forth herein. As long as this Debenture is
outstanding, the Obligor shall not and shall cause its subsidiary not to,
without the consent of the Holder, (i) amend its certificate of incorporation,
bylaws or other charter documents so as to adversely affect any rights of the
14
Holder; (ii) repay, repurchase or offer to repay, repurchase or otherwise
acquire shares of its Common Stock or other equity securities other than as to
the Underlying Shares to the extent permitted or required under the Transaction
Documents; or (iii) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the
foregoing.
Section 6. This Debenture shall not entitle the Holder to any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Obligor, including without limitation, the right
to vote, to receive dividends and other distributions, or to receive any notice
of, or to attend, meetings of stockholders or any other proceedings of the
Obligor, unless and to the extent converted into shares of Common Stock in
accordance with the terms hereof.
Section 7. If this Debenture is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the
Obligor shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon
cancellation of the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of or in substitution for a
lost, stolen or destroyed Debenture, a new Debenture for the principal amount of
this Debenture so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed but only upon receipt of
evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such Debenture, and of the
ownership hereof, and indemnity, if requested, all reasonably satisfactory to
the Obligor.
Section 8. No indebtedness of the Obligor is senior to this Debenture in
right of payment, whether with respect to interest, damages or upon liquidation
or dissolution or otherwise. Without the Holder's consent, the Obligor will not
and will not permit any of its subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter
into, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness of any kind, on
or with respect to any of its property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired
or any interest therein or any income or profits there from that is senior in
any respect to the obligations of the Obligor under this Debenture.
Section 9. This Debenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to conflicts of
laws thereof. Each of the parties consents to the jurisdiction of the Superior
Courts of the State of New Jersey sitting in Xxxxxx County, New Jersey and the
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey sitting in Newark, New Jersey
in connection with any dispute arising under this Debenture and hereby waives,
to the maximum extent permitted by law, any objection, including any objection
based on forum non conveniens to the bringing of any such proceeding in such
jurisdictions.
Section 10. If the Obligor fails to strictly comply with the terms of this
Debenture, then the Obligor shall reimburse the Holder promptly for all fees,
costs and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses
incurred by the Holder in any action in connection with this Debenture,
including, without limitation, those incurred: (i) during any workout, attempted
workout, and/or in connection with the rendering of legal advice as to the
Holder's rights, remedies and obligations, (ii) collecting any sums which become
due to the Holder, (iii) defending or prosecuting any proceeding or any
counterclaim to any proceeding or appeal; or (iv) the protection, preservation
or enforcement of any rights or remedies of the Holder.
Section 11. Any waiver by the Holder of a breach of any provision of this
Debenture shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other
breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this
Debenture. The failure of the Holder to insist upon
15
strict adherence to any term of this Debenture on one or more occasions shall
not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to
insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Debenture.
Any waiver must be in writing.
Section 12. If any provision of this Debenture is invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the balance of this Debenture shall remain in effect, and if any
provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless
remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances. If it shall be found
that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder shall violate
applicable laws governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder
shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum permitted rate of interest.
The Obligor covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall
not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take
the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law which
would prohibit or forgive the Obligor from paying all or any portion of the
principal of or interest on this Debenture as contemplated herein, wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the
covenants or the performance of this indenture, and the Obligor (to the extent
it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefits or advantage of any
such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder,
delay or impeded the execution of any power herein granted to the Holder, but
will suffer and permit the execution of every such as though no such law has
been enacted.
Section 13. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be
due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next
succeeding Business Day.
Section 14. THE PARTIES HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY
WAIVE THE RIGHT ANY OF THEM MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY
LITIGATION BASED HEREON OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION DOCUMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF
DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY. THIS
PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES' ACCEPTANCE OF THIS
AGREEMENT.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONLLY LEFT BLANK]
16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Obligor has caused this Secured Convertible
Debenture to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date set
forth above.
STARTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CORPORATION
By:_________________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: CFO
17
EXHIBIT "A"
-----------
NOTICE OF CONVERSION
--------------------
(To be executed by the Holder in order to convert the Debenture)
TO:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert $__________ of the
principal amount of the above Debenture into Shares of Common Stock of Startech
Environmental Corporation, according to the conditions stated therein, as of the
Conversion Date written below.
Conversion Date: __________________________________________________
Applicable Conversion Price: __________________________________________________
Signature: __________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
Amount to be converted: $__________________________________________________
Amount of Debenture
unconverted: $__________________________________________________
Conversion Price per share: $__________________________________________________
Number of shares of Common
Stock to be issued: __________________________________________________
Please issue the shares of
Common Stock in the following
name and to the following
address: __________________________________________________
Issue to: __________________________________________________
Authorized Signature: __________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________
Title: __________________________________________________
Phone Number: __________________________________________________
Broker DTC Participant Code: __________________________________________________
Account Number: __________________________________________________
