SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of November 3, 2013, among FreeSeas Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the Xxxxxxxx Islands (the “Company”), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a “Buyer” and collectively, the “Buyers”).
RECITALS
A. The Company has outstanding shares of Common Stock (as defined below), which shares of Common Stock are currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In addition, the Company has authorized (i) a series of preferred stock entitled the “Series B Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), which Series B Preferred Stock shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock and (ii) a series of preferred stock entitled the “Series C Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series C Preferred Stock”, and together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”), which Series C Preferred Stock shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock.
B. The rights, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Series B Preferred Stock are set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 (the “Series B Certificate of Designation”). The rights, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Series C Preferred Stock are set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2 (the “Series C Certificate of Designation”, and together with the Series B Certificate of Designation, the “Certificates of Designation”). As used herein, (x) the term “Series B Conversion Shares” shall include all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock in accordance with the Series B Certificate of Designation, (y) the term “Series C Conversion Shares” shall include all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock in accordance with the Series C Certificate of Designation and (z) the term “Conversion Shares” shall include all Series B Conversion Shares and Series C Conversion Shares.
C. The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the 1933 Act.
D. Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) the aggregate number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, as further specified herein, set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers, (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, as further specified herein, set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers, (ii) a warrant to initially acquire up to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 (the “Series A Warrants”) (as exercised, collectively, the “Series A Warrant Shares”), and (iii) a warrant to initially acquire up to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (6) on the Schedule of Buyers, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2 (the “Series B Warrants”) (as exercised, collectively, the “Series B Warrant Shares”). The Series A Warrants and the Series B Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the “Warrants.” The Series A Warrant Shares and the Series B Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Warrant Shares.”
E. At the First Closing (as defined below), the parties hereto shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.
F. The Preferred Stock, the Conversion Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF PREFERRED STOCK AND WARRANTS.
(a) Preferred Stock and Warrants. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, shall purchase from the Company on the applicable Closing Date (as defined below), as applicable, (x) the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock on the First Closing Date as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers along with (i) Series A Warrants on the First Closing Date to initially acquire up to the aggregate number of Series A Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers and (ii) Series B Warrants on the First Closing Date to initially acquire up to the aggregate number of Series B Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (6) on the Schedule of Buyers and (y) the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock on the Second Closing Date as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers.
(b) Closing. Each closing (each a “Closing” and collectively the “Closings”) of the purchase of the Preferred Stock and the Warrants by the Buyers as contemplated by this Agreement shall occur at the offices of Xxxxxxxxx Traurig, LLP, 00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The date and time of the applicable Closing (the applicable “Closing Date”) shall be 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day on which the conditions to such Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below are satisfied or waived (or such later time or date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer). As used herein “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed. Subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the termination provisions hereof, the first closing hereunder (the “First Closing”) shall be held as soon as practicable after the date hereof, at which the Series B Preferred Stock set forth on the Schedule of Buyers shall be purchased and sold and the Warrants shall be issued without further consideration by the Buyers. Subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the termination provisions hereof, the second closing hereunder (the “Second Closing”) shall occur on the first business day following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as set forth on Annex A to the Schedule of Buyers.
(c) Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price for the shares of Preferred Stock and the Warrants to be purchased by each Buyer (the applicable “Purchase Price”) shall be paid at the applicable Closing and in the applicable amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (7) on the Schedule of Buyers.
(d) Payment of Purchase Price; Delivery of Preferred Stock and Warrants. On the applicable Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its respective Purchase Price to the Company for the shares of Preferred Stock and the Warrants to be issued and sold to such Buyer at such Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions (less, in the case of Crede (as defined below), the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) and (ii) the Company shall issue and deliver to each Buyer (A) as applicable, (x) one or more stock certificates evidencing the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock to be issued at such Closing as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) or (4), as applicable, on the Schedule of Buyers) and (B) the Warrants as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers (pursuant to which such Buyer shall have the right to initially acquire up to the aggregate number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in columns (5) and (6) on the Schedule of Buyers in respect of such Warrants), in all cases, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee, all as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers.
2. BUYER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company with respect to only itself that:
(a) Organization; Authority. Such Buyer is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (as defined below) to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(b) No Public Sale or Distribution. Such Buyer (i) is acquiring the Series B Preferred Stock being purchased at the First Closing, the Series C Preferred Stock being purchased by it at the Second Closing, and all Warrants being acquired by it, (ii) upon conversion of the Preferred Stock will acquire the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion thereof, and (iii) upon exercise of its Warrants will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise thereof, in each case, for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof in violation of applicable securities laws, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities in violation of applicable securities laws.
(c) Accredited Investor Status. Such Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
(d) Reliance on Exemptions. Such Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Buyer’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.
(e) Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by such Buyer, including a copy of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Reports of Foreign Private Issuers on Form 6-K. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Company concerning the offer and sale of the Securities and to obtain any additional information such Buyer has requested which is necessary to verify the accuracy of the information furnished to such Buyer concerning the Company and such offering. Such Buyer acknowledges that such Buyer is basing its decision to invest in the Securities on its own due diligence and, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, has not relied upon any representations made by any Person. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.
(f) No Governmental Review. Such Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(g) Transfer or Resale. Such Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 4(h) hereof: (i) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company (if requested by the Company) an opinion of counsel to such Buyer, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”); (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144, and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person (as defined below) through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 0000 Xxx) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.
(h) Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.
(i) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.
(j) Experience of Such Buyer. Such Buyer, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Buyer is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.
(k) General Solicitation. Such Buyer is not purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that:
(a) Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (as defined below) are entities duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the transactions contemplated hereby or in any of the other Transaction Documents or (iii) the authority or ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. Other than the Persons set forth on Schedule 3(a), the Company has no Subsidiaries. “Subsidiaries” means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (I) owns a majority of the outstanding capital stock or holds a majority of equity or similar interest of such Person or (II) controls or operates all or any material part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and each of the foregoing, is individually referred to herein as a “Subsidiary.”
(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Preferred Stock and the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Warrants and the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) have been duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors and (other than the filing with the SEC of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, the 6-K Filing (as defined below), a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies (collectively, the “Required Approvals”)) no further filing, consent or authorization is required by the Company, its board of directors or its stockholders or other governing body of the Company. This Agreement has been, and the other Transaction Documents will be prior to the applicable Closing, duly executed and delivered by the Company, and each constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies and except as rights to indemnification and to contribution may be limited by federal or state securities law. “Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Warrants, the Certificates of Designation, the Registration Rights Agreement and each of the other agreements and instruments entered into or delivered by any of the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, as may be amended from time to time.
(c) Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Preferred Stock and the Warrants are duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof. As of the First Closing, the Company shall have reserved from its duly authorized capital stock not less than 150% of the sum of (i) the maximum number of Series B Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock (assuming for purposes hereof that the Preferred Stock is convertible at the Conversion Price (as defined in the Series B Certificate of Designation) and without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock set forth in the Series B Certificate of Designation), (ii) the maximum number of Series C Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock (assuming for purposes hereof that the Series C Preferred Stock is convertible at the Conversion Price (as defined in the Series B Certificate of Designation) and without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock set forth in the Certificate of Designation) and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein). The issuance of the Conversion Shares is duly authorized, and upon conversion of the Preferred Stock in accordance with the Certificates of Designation, the Conversion Shares, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. The issuance of the Warrant Shares is duly authorized, and upon exercise in accordance with the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders of the Warrant Shares being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Buyers in this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Securities is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Upon receipt of the applicable Securities, each Buyer will have good and marketable title to the applicable Securities. “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Preferred Stock, the Warrants, the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares and the reservation for issuance of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of Incorporation (as defined below) (including, without limitation, any certificates of designation contained therein) or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or Bylaws (as defined below), (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including, without limitation, foreign, federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Principal Market”)) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected, other than, in the case of clause (ii) above, such conflicts, defaults or rights that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Consents. The Company is not required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the filing of the Required Approvals), any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under, or contemplated by, the Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain at or prior to the applicable Closing have been obtained or effected on or prior to the applicable Closing Date, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries are aware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent the Company from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings contemplated by the Transaction Documents. There is no requirement for the Company to obtain approval of the Principal Market for listing or trading of Registrable Securities which constitute Common Stock.
(f) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) to its knowledge, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.
(g) No General Solicitation; Placement Agent’s Fees. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers’ commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged any placement agent or other agent in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(h) No Integrated Offering. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of the Company under any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated for quotation. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings of securities of the Company.
(i) Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares may increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement, the Certificates of Designation and the Warrants is absolute and unconditional (other than the conditions set forth herein, in the Certificates of Designation and in the Warrants), regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.
(j) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested stockholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or otherwise which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Buyer’s ownership of the Securities. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(k) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. During the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of (i) the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and (ii) the registration statement on Form F-1 filed on August 29, 2013 (SEC File No. 333-190882), being hereinafter referred to as the “SEC Documents”). The Company has delivered to the Buyers or their respective representatives true, correct and complete copies of each of the SEC Documents not available on the XXXXX system. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect as of the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude the footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate). No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to any of the Buyers which is not included in the SEC Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made.
(l) Absence of Certain Changes. Since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 20-F, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents filed subsequent to such Form 20-F, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in the business, assets, liabilities, properties, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 20-F, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) made any capital expenditures outside of the ordinary course of business. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up, nor does the Company or any Subsidiary have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of their respective creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the applicable Closing will not be, Insolvent (as defined below). “Insolvent” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (i) the present fair saleable value of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets is less than the amount required to pay the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ total Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are unable to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured or (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries intend to incur or believe that they will incur debts that would be beyond their ability to pay as such debts mature. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any business or in any transaction, and is not about to engage in any business or in any transaction, for which the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s remaining assets constitute unreasonably small capital.
(m) No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances. No event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is reasonably expected to occur or exist, with respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or condition (financial or otherwise) that (i) would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws on a registration statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Common Stock and which has not been publicly announced, (ii) could have a material adverse effect on any Buyer’s investment hereunder or (iii) could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Charter, any certificate of designation, preferences or rights of any other outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Bylaws or their organizational charter, certificate of formation or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except in all cases for possible violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock by the Principal Market in the foreseeable future. Since January 1, 2013, (i) the Common Stock has been listed or designated for quotation on the Principal Market, (ii) trading in the Common Stock has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (iii) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Common Stock from the Principal Market. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.
(o) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.
(p) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. The Company and each Subsidiary is in material compliance with all applicable requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
(q) Transactions With Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, none of the officers, directors, employees or affiliates of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director, employee or affiliate or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any corporation, partnership, trust or other Person in which any such officer, director, employee or affiliate has a substantial interest or is an employee, officer, director, trustee or partner.
(r) Equity Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 86,033,514 are issued and outstanding and 7,500,000 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to Convertible Securities (as defined below) (other than the Preferred Stock and the Warrants) and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which are issued and outstanding. No shares of Common Stock are held in treasury. All of such outstanding shares are duly authorized and have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. 13,843,350 shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock on the date hereof are owned by Persons who are “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act and calculated based on the assumption that only officers, directors and holders of at least 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock are “affiliates” without conceding that any such Persons are “affiliates” for purposes of federal securities laws) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3(r), to the Company’s knowledge, no Person owns 10% or more of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (calculated based on the assumption that all Convertible Securities, whether or not presently exercisable or convertible, have been fully exercised or converted (as the case may be) taking account of any limitations on exercise or conversion (including “blockers”) contained therein without conceding that such identified Person is a 10% stockholder for purposes of federal securities laws). (i) None of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s capital stock is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound; (iv) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there are no financing statements securing obligations in any amounts filed in connection with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (v) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement); (vi) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; (viii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (ix) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents which are not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished to the Buyers true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and the Company’s bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), and the terms of all Convertible Securities and the material rights of the holders thereof.
(s) Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, is in violation of any term of, or in default under, any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. (x) “Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; (y) “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto; and (z) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.
(t) Absence of Litigation. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Common Stock or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ executive officers or directors which is outside of the ordinary course of business or individually or in the aggregate material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the SEC involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any current or former director or executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The SEC has not issued any active stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, the Registration Statement.
(u) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will be unable to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. The Company believes that its and its Subsidiaries’ relations with their respective employees are good. No executive officer (as defined in Rule 501(f) promulgated under the 0000 Xxx) or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has notified the Company or any such Subsidiary that such officer intends to leave the Company or any such Subsidiary or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company or any such Subsidiary. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer or other key employee (as the case may be) does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Title. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property, and have good and marketable title to all personal property, owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except as disclosed on Schedule 3(w) and such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(x) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service xxxx registrations, service names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, original works, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights and all applications and registrations therefor (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Intellectual Property Rights have expired, terminated or been abandoned, or are expected to expire, terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. The Company has no knowledge of any infringement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property Rights of others. There is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought, or to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, being threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries regarding their Intellectual Property Rights. The Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing infringements or claims, actions or proceedings. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property Rights, except where failure to take such measures would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all Environmental Laws (as defined below), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where, in each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. “Environmental Laws” means all federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.
(z) Subsidiary Rights. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.
(aa) Tax Status. Except for occurrences that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has timely made or filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has timely paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries know of no basis for any such claim. The Company is not operated in such a manner as to qualify as a passive foreign investment company, as defined in Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(bb) Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the 0000 Xxx) that is effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 0000 Xxx) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant or other Person relating to any potential material weakness or significant deficiency in any part of the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, that has not been cured or otherwise resolved prior to the date hereof. There are no material disagreements presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by the Company to arise, between the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by the Company.
(cc) Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its 1934 Act filings and is not so disclosed or that otherwise could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(dd) Investment Company Status. The Company is not, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities will not be, an “investment company,” an affiliate of an “investment company,” a company controlled by an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ee) Acknowledgement. The Company acknowledges that sales of shares of Common Stock by the Buyers prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement may reduce the price of the Common Stock, the result of which may include, without limitation, a reduction of the price at which the Preferred Stock can be converted. None of the foregoing shall constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other obligation of any Buyer.
(ff) Manipulation of Price. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities (other than the Placement Agent), or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(gg) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, and so long as any of the Securities are held by any of the Buyers, shall become, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company and each Subsidiary shall so certify upon any Buyer’s request.
(hh) Transfer Taxes. On the applicable Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the issuance, sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.
(ii) Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any equity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.
(jj) Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i).
(kk) Public Utility Holding Act. None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company,” as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Act of 2005.
(ll) Federal Power Act. None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation as a “public utility” under the Federal Power Act, as amended.
(mm) Fixtures and Equipment. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as applicable) has good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the tangible personal property, equipment, improvements, fixtures, and other personal property and appurtenances that are used by the Company or its Subsidiary in connection with the conduct of its business (the “Fixtures and Equipment”). Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Fixtures and Equipment are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, are not in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs and are sufficient for the conduct of the Company’s and/or its Subsidiaries’ businesses (as applicable) in the manner as conducted prior to the applicable Closing.
(nn) Illegal or Unauthorized Payments; Political Contributions. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge (after reasonable inquiry of its executive officers and directors), any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other business entity or enterprise with which the Company or any Subsidiary is or has been affiliated or associated, has, directly or indirectly, made or authorized any payment, contribution or gift of money, property, or services, whether or not in contravention of applicable law, (a) as a kickback or bribe to any Person or (b) to any political organization, or the holder of or any aspirant to any elective or appointive public office except for personal political contributions not involving the direct or indirect use of funds of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(oo) Money Laundering. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and all other applicable U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the laws, regulations and Executive Orders and sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, including, without limitation, (i) Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 entitled, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism” (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)); and (ii) any regulations contained in 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V.
(pp) No Disqualification Events. None of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering contemplated hereby, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 0000 Xxx) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the 1933 Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.
(qq) Disclosure. The Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company understands and confirms that each of the Buyers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is true and correct in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each press release issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement did not at the time of release contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or conditions (financial or otherwise), which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure at or before the date hereof or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly disclosed. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 2.
4. COVENANTS.
(a) Best Efforts. Each Buyer shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Section 6 of this Agreement. The Company shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Section 7 of this Agreement.
(b) Form D and Blue Sky. The Company shall file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or before each applicable Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to, qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at such Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on or prior to such Closing Date. Without limiting any other obligation of the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall timely make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, all applicable federal securities laws and all applicable “Blue Sky” laws), and the Company shall comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, foreign, state and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations and the like relating to the offering and sale of the Securities to the Buyers.
(c) Reporting Status. Until the date on which the Buyers shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities (the “Reporting Period”), the Company shall timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would no longer require or otherwise permit such termination.
(d) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for general corporate purposes.
(e) Financial Information. The Company agrees to send the following to each Investor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) during the Reporting Period (i) unless the following are filed with the SEC through XXXXX and are available to the public through the XXXXX system, within one (1) Business Day after the filing thereof with the SEC, a copy of its Annual Reports on Form 20-F, any interim reports or any consolidated balance sheets, income statements, stockholders’ equity statements and/or cash flow statements for any period other than annual, any Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and any registration statements (other than on Form S-8) or amendments filed pursuant to the 1933 Act and (ii) copies of any notices and other information made available or given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the making available or giving thereof to the stockholders.
(f) Listing. The Company shall promptly secure the listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all of the Registrable Securities consisting of Common Stock upon each trading market and national securities exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as the case may be) (so that all such Registrable Securities consisting of Common Stock may be traded on the foregoing, subject to official notice of issuance) (but in no event later than the applicable Closing Date) and shall maintain such listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all Registrable Securities from time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents on such national securities exchange or automated quotation system. The Company shall maintain the Common Stock’s listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) on the Principal Market, The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (each, an “Eligible Market”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action which could be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on an Eligible Market. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 4(f).
(g) Fees. The Company shall reimburse Xxxxx XX III, Ltd. (“Crede”) or its designee(s) in a non-accountable amount equal to $75,000 for all legal fees, costs and expenses incurred by it or its affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, which amount shall be withheld by Crede from its applicable Purchase Price at the First Closing or paid by the Company on demand by Crede if Crede terminates its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with Section 8 (as the case may be), less $25,000 which was previously advanced by the Company to Crede. In addition, the Company shall pay to Crede additional non-refundable amounts equal to (i) $75,000 upon occurrence of the First Closing and (ii) $425,000 upon occurrence of the Second Closing, in each case, as an unallocated expense reimbursement (the “Expense Fee”) hereunder, which shall be paid by the Company to Crede by Crede withholding such amount from the Purchase Price to be paid by it at the applicable Closing. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or broker’s commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents, each party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Buyers.
(h) Pledge of Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Securities may be pledged by a Buyer in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. At the appropriate Buyer’s expense, the Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by a Buyer.
(i) Disclosure
of Transactions and Other Material Information. The Company shall,
on or before 8:30 a.m., New York time, on the first (1st) Business Day after the date of this Agreement, (x)
issue a press release (the “Press Release”) reasonably acceptable to the Buyers
disclosing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and (y) file a Report of
Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K describing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents
in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching all the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this
Agreement, the Certificates of Designation and the form of each of the Warrants) (including all attachments, the “6-K
Filing”). The Company (i) acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is not in possession of any material, non-public information
regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and
each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, not to, provide any Buyer with any material, non-public
information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the execution of this Agreement without the express
prior written consent of such Buyer (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion). In the event of
a breach of any of the foregoing covenants or any of the covenants contained in Section 4(o) by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries,
or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (as determined in the reasonable good faith judgment
of such Buyer), in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in the Transaction Documents, such Buyer shall have the right
to make a public disclosure, in the form of a press release, public advertisement or otherwise, of such material, non-public information
without the prior approval by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees
or agents. No Buyer shall have any liability to the Company or any of its or its officers, directors, employees, stockholders
or agents, for any such disclosure. Subject to the foregoing, neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any Buyer shall issue
any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the
Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any Buyer, to make the Press Release and any other press release or other
public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 6-K Filing and contemporaneously therewith
and (ii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided that in the case of clause (i) each Buyer shall be consulted
by the Company in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure prior to its release). Without the prior written
consent of the applicable Buyer (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion), the Company shall not
(and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and affiliates to not) disclose the name of such Buyer in any filing (other than the
6-K Filing), announcement, release or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary and without
implication that the contrary would otherwise be true, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer has had, and
no Buyer shall have (unless expressly agreed to by a particular Buyer after the date hereof in a written definitive and binding
agreement executed by the Company and such particular Buyer (it being understood and agreed that no Buyer may bind any other Buyer
with respect thereto)), any duty of confidentiality with respect to, or a duty not to trade on the basis of, any information regarding
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that such Buyer receives from the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
officers, directors, employees, stockholders or agents.
(j) Additional Registration Statements. Until the Applicable Date (as defined below), the Company shall not file a registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to securities (including, without limitation, Excluded Securities as defined below) that are not the Registrable Securities. “Applicable Date” means the first date on which the resale by the Buyers of all Registrable Securities is covered by one or more effective Registration Statements (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) (and each prospectus contained therein is available for use on such date).
(k) Additional Issuance of Securities. The Company agrees that for the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date immediately following the 150th day after the later to occur of (x) the date hereof and (y) the Second Closing, provided that if the Second Closing shall not have occurred due to a termination of the parties’ obligations to consummate the Second Closing in accordance with Section 8, then the foregoing provision shall apply only for (I) 150 days after the date hereof if the Company is not then in material breach of its obligations under the Transaction Documents at the time of such termination or (II) 365 days after the date hereof if the Company is then in material breach of its obligations under the Transaction Documents at the time of such termination (the “Restricted Period”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly issue, offer, sell, grant any option or right to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any issuance, offer, sale, grant of any option or right to purchase or other disposition of) any equity security or any equity-linked or related security (including, without limitation, any “equity security” (as that term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act), any Convertible Securities, any debt, any preferred stock or any purchase rights (any such issuance, offer, sale, grant, disposition or announcement (whether occurring during the Restricted Period or at any time thereafter) is referred to as a “Subsequent Placement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4(k) shall not apply in respect of the issuance of (A) shares of Common Stock or standard options to purchase Common Stock to directors, officers or employees of the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Share Plan (as defined below), provided that (1) all such issuances (taking into account the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such options) after the date hereof pursuant to this clause (A) do not, in the aggregate, exceed more than 4,301,675 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for stock splits, stock combinations and other similar transactions occurring after the date of this Agreement) and (2) the exercise price of any such options is not lowered, none of such options are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such options are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (B) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Convertible Securities (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Share Plan that are covered by clause (A) above) issued prior to the date hereof, provided that the conversion or exercise (as the case may be) of any such Convertible Security is made solely pursuant to the conversion or exercise (as the case may be) provisions of such Convertible Security that were in effect on the date immediately prior to the date of this Agreement, the conversion or exercise price of any such Convertible Securities (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Share Plan that are covered by clause (A) above) is not lowered, none of such Convertible Securities are (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Share Plan that are covered by clause (A) above) (nor is any provision of any such Convertible Securities) amended or waived in any manner (whether by the Company or the holder thereof) to increase, or which results in an increase in, the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Convertible Securities (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Share Plan that are covered by clause (A) above) are otherwise materially changed or waived (whether by the Company or the holder thereof) in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (C) shares of preferred stock or Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the shareholders’ rights plan of the Company that are in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (D) shares of Common Stock to Free Bulkers S.A., the manager of the Company’s fleet, in lieu of cash compensation; (E) the Preferred Stock; (F) the Conversion Shares; (G) the Warrants; (H) the Warrant Shares; (I) shares of Common Stock pursuant to that certain Exchange Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2013, by and between the Company and Crede (the “Exchange Agreement”) and (J) shares of Common Stock issued solely in exchange for the contribution of a nautical vessel by an independent third party to the Company, provided that (1) the primary purpose of such issuance is not to raise capital, (2) the shares of Common Stock are issued by the Company solely to such independent third party contributing such nautical vessel and (3) all such issuances of Common Stock after the date hereof pursuant to this clause (J) do not exceed the greater of (x) 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate (adjusted for stock splits, stock combinations and other similar transactions occurring after the date of this Agreement) and (y) a number of shares of Common Stock in the aggregate having a value exceeding $3,000,000 in the aggregate (with the value of each such share issued pursuant to this clause (J) being determined using the VWAP (as defined in the Warrants) of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period immediately preceding the issuance thereof pursuant to this clause (J)) (each of the foregoing in clauses (A) through (J), collectively the “Excluded Securities”). “Approved Share Plan” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to the date hereof pursuant to which shares of Common Stock and standard options to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such. “Convertible Securities” means any capital stock, note, debenture or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is, or may become, at any time and under any circumstances directly or indirectly convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any capital stock, note, debenture or other security of the Company (including, without limitation, Common Stock) or any of its Subsidiaries.
(l) Reservation of Shares. So long as any of the shares of Preferred Stock or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall take all action necessary to at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no less than 100% of (i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon conversion of all the shares of Preferred Stock and without regard to any limitations on the conversion of any of the Preferred Stock set forth in the Certificates of Designation) and (ii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise or exchange of all the Warrants (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein).
(m) Conduct of Business. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, except where such violations would not result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Special Restrictions on Transactions. Until the one (1) year anniversary of the Second Closing (or, if the obligations of the Buyers and Company to consummate the Second Closing are terminated pursuant to Section 8 then this Section 4(n) shall apply only until (I) the one (1) year anniversary of the First Closing if the Company is not then in material breach of its obligations under the Transaction Documents at the time of such termination or (II) the two (2) year anniversary of the First Closing if the Company is then in material breach of its obligations under the Transaction Documents at the time of such termination), the Company and each Subsidiary shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any Subsequent Placement involving a Variable Rate Transaction without the approval of Crede. “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company or any Subsidiary (i) issues or sells any Convertible Securities either (A) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of, or quotations for, the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock, other than pursuant to a customary “weighted average” anti-dilution provision or (ii) enters into any agreement (including, without limitation, an “equity line of credit” or an “at the market offering”) whereby the Company or any Subsidiary may sell securities at a future determined price (other than standard and customary “preemptive” or “participation” rights). Each Buyer shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company and its Subsidiaries (as applicable) to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.
(p) Participation Right. Without limiting the Company’s obligations or restrictions under Section 4(k) above, or any other obligations or restrictions of the Company under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, from the date hereof through the one (1) year anniversary of the Second Closing (or, if the obligations of the Buyers and Company to consummate the Second Closing are terminated pursuant to Section 8 then this Section 4(o) shall apply only until (I) the one (1) year anniversary of the First Closing if the Company is not then in material breach of its obligations under the Transaction Documents at the time of such termination or (II) the two (2) year anniversary of the First Closing if the Company is then in material breach of its obligations under the Transaction Documents at the time of such termination), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, effect any Subsequent Placement unless the Company shall have first complied with this Section 4(o). The Company acknowledges and agrees that the right set forth in this Section 4(o) is a right granted by the Company, separately, to each Buyer and not any other Person.
(i) At least three (3) Trading Days prior to any proposed or intended Subsequent Placement, the Company shall deliver to each Buyer a written notice of its proposal or intention to effect a Subsequent Placement (each such notice, a “Pre-Notice”), which Pre-Notice shall not contain any information (including, without limitation, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) other than: (i) a statement that the Company proposes or intends to effect a Subsequent Placement, (ii) a statement that the statement in clause (i) above does not constitute material, non-public information and (iii) a statement informing such Buyer that it is entitled to receive an Offer Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Subsequent Placement upon its written request. Upon the written request of a Buyer within two (2) Trading Days after the Company’s delivery to such Buyer of such Pre-Notice, and only upon a written request by such Buyer, the Company shall promptly, but no later than one (1) Trading Day after such request, deliver to such Buyer an irrevocable written notice (the “Offer Notice”) of any proposed or intended issuance or sale or exchange (the “Offer”) of the securities being offered (the “Offered Securities”) in a Subsequent Placement, which Offer Notice shall (w) identify and describe the Offered Securities, (x) describe the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (y) identify the Persons (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (z) offer to issue and sell to or exchange with such Buyer in accordance with the terms of the Offer 25% of the Offered Securities, provided that the number of Offered Securities which such Buyer shall have the right to subscribe for under this Section 4(o) shall be (a) based on such Buyer’s pro rata portion of the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock purchased hereunder by all Buyers (the “Basic Amount”), and (b) with respect to each Buyer that elects to purchase its Basic Amount, any additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts of other Buyers as such Buyer shall indicate it will purchase or acquire should the other Buyers subscribe for less than their Basic Amounts (the “Undersubscription Amount”).
(ii) To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, such Buyer must deliver a written notice to the Company prior to the end of the third (3rd) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of the Offer Notice (the “Offer Period”), setting forth the portion of such Buyer’s Basic Amount that such Buyer elects to purchase and, if such Buyer shall elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount, if any, that such Buyer elects to purchase (in either case, the “Notice of Acceptance”). If the Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Buyers are less than the total of all of the Basic Amounts, then such Buyer who has set forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, if the Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total of all the Basic Amounts and the Basic Amounts subscribed for (the “Available Undersubscription Amount”), such Buyer who has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the Basic Amount of such Buyer bears to the total Basic Amounts of all Buyers that have subscribed for Undersubscription Amounts, subject to rounding by the Company to the extent it deems reasonably necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company desires to modify or amend the terms and conditions of the Offer prior to the expiration of the Offer Period, the Company may deliver to each Buyer a new Offer Notice and the Offer Period shall expire on the third (3rd) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of such new Offer Notice.
(iii) The Company shall have five (5) Business Days from the expiration of the Offer Period above (i) to offer, issue, sell or exchange all or any part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been given by a Buyer (the “Refused Securities”) pursuant to a definitive agreement(s) (the “Subsequent Placement Agreement”), but only to the offerees described in the Offer Notice (if so described therein) and only upon terms and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates) that are not more favorable to the acquiring Person or Persons or less favorable to the Company than those set forth in the Offer Notice and (ii) to publicly announce (a) the execution of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, and (b) either (x) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Subsequent Placement Agreement or (y) the termination of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, which shall be filed with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K with such Subsequent Placement Agreement and any documents contemplated therein filed as exhibits thereto.
(iv) In the event the Company shall propose to sell less than all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms specified in Section 4(o)(iii) above), then such Buyer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, reduce the number or amount of the Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that such Buyer elected to purchase pursuant to Section 4(o)(ii) above multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities the Company actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered Securities to be issued or sold to Buyers pursuant to this Section 4(o) prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that any Buyer so elects to reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, the Company may not issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have again been offered to the Buyers in accordance with Section 4(o)(i) above.
(v) Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, such Buyer shall acquire from the Company, and the Company shall issue to such Buyer, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance. The purchase by such Buyer of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and delivery by the Company and such Buyer of a separate purchase agreement relating to such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Buyer and its counsel.
(vi) Any Offered Securities not acquired by a Buyer or other Persons in accordance with this Section 4(o) may not be issued, sold or exchanged until they are again offered to such Buyer under the procedures specified in this Agreement.
(vii) The Company and each Buyer agree that if any Buyer elects to participate in the Offer, neither the Subsequent Placement Agreement with respect to such Offer nor any other transaction documents related thereto (collectively, the “Subsequent Placement Documents”) shall include any term or provision whereby such Buyer shall be required to agree to any restrictions on trading as to any securities of the Company or be required to consent to any amendment to or termination of, or grant any waiver or release or the like under or in connection with, any agreement previously entered into with the Company or any instrument received from the Company.
(viii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(o) and unless otherwise agreed to by such Buyer, the Company shall either confirm in writing to such Buyer that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Placement has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the Offered Securities, in either case in such a manner such that such Buyer will not be in possession of any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, by the expiration of the Offer Period. If by such fifth (5th) Business Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Offered Securities has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Buyer, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Buyer shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Should the Company decide to pursue such transaction with respect to the Offered Securities, the Company shall provide such Buyer with another Offer Notice in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of this Section 4(o) and such Buyer will again have the right of participation set forth in this Section 4(o). The Company shall not be permitted to deliver more than one Offer Notice to such Buyer in any sixty (60) day period, except as expressly contemplated by the last sentence of Section 4(o)(ii).
(ix) The restrictions contained in this Section 4(o) shall not apply in connection with the issuance of any Excluded Securities. The Company shall not circumvent the provisions of this Section 4(o) by providing terms or conditions to one Buyer that are not provided to all.
(q) Passive Foreign Investment Company. The Company shall conduct its business in such a manner as will ensure that the Company will not be deemed to constitute a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(r) Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends. So long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, redeem, or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on, any securities of the Company without the prior express written consent of the Buyers.
(s) Corporate Existence. So long as any Buyer owns any shares of Preferred Stock or Warrants, the Company shall not be party to any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Certificates of Designation) unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Certificates of Designation and the Warrants.
5. REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS; LEGENDS.
(a) Register. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Preferred Stock and the Warrants in which the Company shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Preferred Stock and the Warrants have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee), the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by such Person, the number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock held by such Person and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by such Person. The Company shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.
(b) Transfer Agent Instructions. The Company shall instruct its transfer agent and any subsequent transfer agent to issue certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registered in the name of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s), for the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares in such amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon conversion of the Preferred Stock or the exercise of the Warrants (as the case may be). The Company represents and warrants that no instruction other than the instructions referred to in this Section 5(b), and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(g) hereof, will be given by the Company to its transfer agent with respect to the Securities, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company, as applicable, to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2(g), the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or in compliance with Rule 144 or another exemption from registration, the transfer agent shall issue such shares to such Buyer, assignee or transferee (as the case may be) without any restrictive legend in accordance with Section 5(d) below. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Buyer. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 5(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 5(b), that each Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall cause its counsel to issue the legal opinion referred to in the Registration Rights Agreement to the Company’s transfer agent on each Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). Any fees (with respect to the transfer agent, counsel to the Company or otherwise) associated with the issuance of such opinion or the removal of any legends on any of the Securities shall be borne by the Company.
(c) Legends. Each Buyer understands that the Securities have been issued (or will be issued in the case of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares) pursuant to an exemption from registration or qualification under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, and except as set forth below, the Securities shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates):
[NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE [CONVERTIBLE] [EXERCISABLE] HAVE BEEN][THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN] REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO (I) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY) TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY OR (II) RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
(d) Removal of Legends. Certificates evidencing Securities shall not be required to contain the legend set forth in Section 5(c) above or any other legend (i) while a registration statement (including a Registration Statement) covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the 1933 Act, (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an affiliate of the Company), (iii) if such Securities are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred under Rule 144 (provided that a Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurances that such Securities are eligible for sale, assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of counsel), (iv) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer (other than under Rule 144), provided that such Buyer provides the Company with an opinion of counsel to such Buyer, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act or (v) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the 1933 Act (including, without limitation, controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the SEC). If a legend is not required pursuant to the foregoing, the Company shall no later than five (5) Business Days following the delivery by a Buyer to the Company or the transfer agent (with notice to the Company) of a legended certificate representing such Securities (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer, if applicable), together with any other deliveries from such Buyer as may be required above in this Section 5(d), as directed by such Buyer, either: (A) provided that the Company’s transfer agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and such Securities are Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares, credit the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which such Buyer shall be entitled to such Buyer’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (B) if the Company’s transfer agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to such Buyer, a certificate representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends, registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee (the date by which such credit is so required to be made to the balance account of such Buyer’s or such Buyer’s nominee with DTC or such certificate is required to be delivered to such Buyer pursuant to the foregoing is referred to herein as the “Required Delivery Date”).
(e) Failure to Timely Deliver; Buy-In. If the Company fails to (i) issue and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to a Buyer by the Required Delivery Date a certificate representing the Securities so delivered to the Company by such Buyer that is free from all restrictive and other legends or (ii) credit the balance account of such Buyer’s or such Buyer’s nominee with DTC for such number of Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares so delivered to the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, the Company shall pay in cash to such Buyer on each Trading Day (as defined in the Warrant) after the Required Delivery Date that the issuance or credit of such shares is not timely effected an amount equal to 1% of the product of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock not so delivered or credited (as the case may be) to such Buyer or such Buyer’s nominee multiplied by (B) the Closing Sale Price (as defined in the Warrants) of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Required Delivery Date. In addition to the foregoing, if the Company fails to so properly deliver such unlegended certificates or so properly credit the balance account of such Buyer’s or such Buyer’s nominee with DTC by the Required Delivery Date, and if on or after the Required Delivery Date such Buyer (or any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of such Buyer) purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Buyer of all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock, or a sale of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock, that such Buyer so anticipated receiving from the Company without any restrictive legend, then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, the Company shall, within five (5) Trading Days after such Buyer’s request and in such Buyer’s sole discretion, either (i) pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to such Buyer’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so deliver such certificate or credit such Buyer’s balance account shall terminate and such shares shall be cancelled, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to so deliver to such Buyer a certificate or certificates or credit such Buyer’s DTC account representing such number of shares of Common Stock that would have been so delivered if the Company timely complied with its obligations hereunder and pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares (as the case may be) that the Company was required to deliver to such Buyer by the Required Delivery Date multiplied by (B) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the delivery by such Buyer to the Company of the applicable Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares (as the case may be) and ending on the date of such delivery and payment under this clause (ii).
6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO SELL.
(a) The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the applicable Preferred Stock and Warrants to each Buyer at the applicable Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:
(i) Such Buyer shall have executed each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party (are which are required to be executed by such Buyer at the applicable Closing) and delivered the same to the Company.
(ii) Such Buyer and each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Purchase Price (less, in the case of Crede, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) for the Preferred Stock and Warrants being purchased by such Buyer at the applicable Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.
(iii) The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the applicable Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the applicable Closing Date.
7. CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.
(a) The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase its applicable shares of Preferred Stock and the related Warrants at the applicable Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before each applicable Closing Date and in respect of each such Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
(i) The Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer such aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as set forth across from such Buyer’s name in column (3) or (4), as applicable, of the Schedule of Buyers and the related Warrants (for such aggregate number of Warrant Shares as is set forth across from such Buyer’s name in column (5) and (6) of the Schedule of Buyers) being purchased by such Buyer at the applicable Closing pursuant to this Agreement and the Company shall have complied in all respects with all obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the Preferred Stock and the Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to delivery executed copies of the Preferred Stock certificates and Warrants at Closing, with an obligation to deliver the originals to Buyer within five (5) Business Days after the applicable Closing.
(ii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction of formation as of a date within ten (10) days of the applicable Closing Date.
(iii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the Company’s qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of each jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business and is required to so qualify, as of a date within ten (10) days of the applicable Closing Date.
(iv) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation, including, without limitation, the Certificates of Designation, as certified by the Secretary of State of the Company’s jurisdiction of formation within ten (10) days of the applicable Closing Date.
(v) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, in the form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, executed by the Secretary of the Company and dated as of the applicable Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s board of directors in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) Articles of Incorporation, including, without limitation, the Certificates of Designation, and (iii) the Bylaws of the Company, in each case, as in effect at the applicable Closing.
(vi) Each and every representation and warranty of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the applicable Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except that (1) representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date and (2) representations and warranties that are qualified by material, Material Adverse Effect or other similar materiality qualifiers shall be true and correct in all respects) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the applicable Closing Date, including, without limitation the issuance of all Securities prior to the date of such Closing as required by the Transaction Documents and the Company has a sufficient number of duly authorized shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance as may be required to fulfill its obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the applicable Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer.
(vii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a report from the Company’s transfer agent identifying the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the applicable Closing Date immediately prior to the applicable Closing.
(viii) The Common Stock (I) shall be designated for quotation or listed on the Principal Market and (II) shall not have been suspended, as of the applicable Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor, except as disclosed in that certain letter, dated June 17, 2013, received by the Company from The NASDAQ Stock Market, shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of the applicable Closing Date, either (A) in writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (B) by falling below the minimum maintenance requirements of the Principal Market.
(ix) The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities, including without limitation, those required by the Principal Market.
(x) No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and no actions, suits or proceedings shall be in progress or pending by any Person that seeks to enjoin, prohibit or otherwise adversely affect any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
(xi) Since the date of execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall have occurred that reasonably would have or result in a Material Adverse Effect and the Company has not filed for nor is it subject to any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy law or any law for the relief of debtors instituted by or against the Company.
(xii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents, instruments or certificates relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement reasonably required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(xiii) The Company shall have filed the Certificates of Designation for the Preferred Stock being issued at the applicable Closing with the Secretary of State of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation and such applicable Certificate of Designation shall be in full force and effect.
(xiv) Such Buyer shall have received the opinions of Sichenzia Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP, the Company’s U.S. counsel, and Redder & Xxxxxxx PC, Xxxxxxxx Islands counsel, in the form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer.
(xv) Such other conditions which are set forth on Annex A to the Schedule of Buyers.
8. TERMINATION.
In the event that the First Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer within ten (10) days after the date hereof, then such Buyer shall have the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement with respect to itself at any time on or after the close of business on such date without liability of such Buyer to any other party; provided, however, (i) the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8 shall not be available to such Buyer if the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been consummated by such date is the result of such Buyer’s breach of this Agreement and (ii) the abandonment of the sale and purchase of the Preferred Stock and the Warrants shall be applicable only to such Buyer providing such written notice, provided further that no such termination shall affect any obligation of the Company under this Agreement to reimburse such Buyer for the expenses described in Section 4(g) above. In the event that the Second Closing shall not have occurred by March 1, 2014, then at the close of business on such date the parties’ obligations hereunder to consummate the Second Closing shall automatically terminate without further liability of the parties to one another solely in respect thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, nothing contained in this Section 8 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or under any of the other Transaction Documents or in connection herewith or therewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby or discussed herein or therein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall (i) limit, or be deemed to limit, in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law, (ii) operate, or shall be deemed to operate, to preclude any Buyer from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to such Buyer or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of such Buyer or (iii) limit, or be deemed to limit, any provision of Section 13 of the Warrants. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(b) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
(c) Headings; Gender. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
(d) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the Company, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf solely with respect to the matters contained herein and therein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties solely with respect to the matters covered herein and therein; provided, however, nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements any Buyer has entered into with, or any instruments any Buyer has received from, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by such Buyer in the Company or (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any rights of or benefits to any Buyer or any other Person, in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and any Buyer, or any instruments any Buyer received from the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof, and all such agreements and instruments shall continue in full force and effect. Except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. For clarification purposes, the Recitals are part of this Agreement. Provisions of this Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of the Company and each Buyer. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents, all holders of shares of Preferred Stock or all holders of the Warrants (as the case may be). The Company has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company confirms that, except as set forth in this Agreement, no Buyer has made any commitment or promise or has any other obligation to provide any financing to the Company, any Subsidiary or otherwise. As a material inducement for each Buyer to enter into this Agreement, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) no due diligence or other investigation or inquiry conducted by a Buyer, any of its advisors or any of its representatives shall affect such Buyer’s right to rely on, or shall modify or qualify in any manner or be an exception to any of, the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document and (ii) unless a provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document is expressly preceded by the phrase “except as disclosed in the SEC Documents,” nothing contained in any of the SEC Documents shall affect such Buyer’s right to rely on, or shall modify or qualify in any manner or be an exception to any of, the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
(f) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, if delivered personally; (ii) when sent, if sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); (iii) when sent, if sent by e-mail (provided that such sent e-mail is kept on file (whether electronically or otherwise) by the sending party and the sending party does not receive an automatically generated message from the recipient’s e-mail server that such e-mail could not be delivered to such recipient) and (iv) if sent by overnight courier service, one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses, facsimile numbers and/or e-mail addresses for such notices, consents, waivers or other communications are as follows:
If to the Company:
00, Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx (Panepistimiou Ave.)
106 71, Athens, Greece
E-mail address: xxx@xxxxxxxx.xx
Facsimile: 011-30 210 4291 010
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Sichenzia Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
00 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
E-mail addresses: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx
xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number or e-mail address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers,
with a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Xxxxxxxxx Traurig, LLP
00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
E-mail: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
or to such other address, facsimile number or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change, provided that Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP shall only be provided copies of notices sent to Crede. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date and recipient facsimile number or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iv) above, respectively. A copy of the e-mail transmission containing the time, date and recipient e-mail address shall be rebuttable evidence of receipt by e-mail in accordance with clause (iii) above.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including, as contemplated below, any assignee or transferee of any of the Securities. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each of the Buyers (which may be granted or withheld in such Buyer’s sole discretion), including, without limitation, by way of a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Warrants) (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Warrants) or a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Certificates of Designation) (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Certificates of Designation). A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder in connection with any permitted assignment or transfer of any of its Securities without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee or transferee (as the case may be) shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights.
(h) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, other than the Indemnitees referred to in Section 9(k).
(i) Survival. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants shall survive each Closing. Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.
(j) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(k) Indemnification.
In consideration of each Buyer’s execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each holder of any Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons’ agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the “Indemnified Liabilities”), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in any of the Transaction Documents, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company contained in any of the Transaction Documents or (c) any cause of action, suit, proceeding or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary) or which otherwise involves such Indemnitee that arises out of or results from (i) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents, (ii) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, (iii) any disclosure properly made by such Buyer pursuant to Section 4(j), or (iv) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities either as an investor in the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or as a party to this Agreement (including, without limitation, as a party in interest or otherwise in any action or proceeding for injunctive or other equitable relief). To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.
(ii) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnitee under this Section 9(k) of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving an Indemnified Liability, such Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Section 9(k), deliver to the Company a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the Company shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the Company so desires, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the Company and the Indemnitee; provided, however, that an Indemnitee shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the Company if: (i) the Company has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the Company shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Indemnified Liability and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee in any such Indemnified Liability; or (iii) the named parties to any such Indemnified Liability (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnitee and the Company, and such Indemnitee shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnitee and the Company (in which case, if such Indemnitee notifies the Company in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Company, then the Company shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company), provided further, that in the case of clause (iii) above the Company shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one (1) separate legal counsel for such Indemnitee. The Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Indemnified Liability by the Company and shall furnish to the Company all information reasonably available to the Indemnitee which relates to such action or Indemnified Liability. The Company shall keep the Indemnitee reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that the Company shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnitee of a release from all liability in respect to such Indemnified Liability or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnitee. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the Company shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnitee with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the Company within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve the Company of any liability to the Indemnitee under this Section 9(k), except to the extent that the Company is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
(iii) The indemnification required by this Section 9(k) shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Liabilities are incurred.
(iv) The indemnity agreement contained herein shall be in addition to (A) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnitee against the Company or others, and (B) any liabilities the Company may be subject to pursuant to the law.
(l) Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. No specific representation or warranty shall limit the generality or applicability of a more general representation or warranty. Each and every reference to share prices, shares of Common Stock and any other numbers in this Agreement that relate to the Common Stock shall be automatically adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions that occur with respect to the Common Stock after the date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, or any references to “Buyers” herein, Crede and the Company acknowledge and agree that Crede is the only Buyer party to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The parties hereto expressly acknowledge and agree that nothing contained in Section 12 of the Exchange Agreement was intended to preclude or otherwise prohibit Crede from entering into this Agreement or consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or from entering into any other agreement with the Company with respect to a financing transaction or consummating any other transaction contemplated thereby.
(m) Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of any Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which such holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security, to the extent permitted by law), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, the Company recognizes that in the event that it fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Buyers. The Company therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to seek specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The remedies provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief).
(n) Exercise of Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.
(o) Payment Set Aside; Currency. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Buyer hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or any of the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”), and all amounts owing under this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted into the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “Exchange Rate” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Agreement, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation.
[signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company has caused its signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| FREESEAS iNC. | ||
| By: | /s/ ION X. XXXXXXXXXX | |
| Name: Ion X. Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company has caused its signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| XXXXX XX III, LTD. | ||
| By: | /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX | |
| Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | (6) | |||||||||||||||||
| Buyer | Address,
E-mail and/or Facsimile Number | Series
A Preferred Stock (First Closing) | Series
B Preferred Stock (Second Closing) | Series
A Warrant Shares (First Closing) | Series
B Warrant Shares (First Closing) | Purchase
Price | Legal
Representative’s Address and Facsimile Number | |||||||||||||||||
| Xxxxx XX III, | 11150 Santa Xxxxxx | 15,000 | 85,000 | 25,000,000 | 12,500,000 | $ | 1,500,000 | Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, XXX | ||||||||||||||||
| Xxx. | Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 | (Xxxxx Closing) | 00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 | 3100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telephone: (000) 000-0000 | $ | 8,500,000 | Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | (Second Closing) | Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attention: Administrator | Xxxx Xxxxx | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ANNEX A TO SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
Effectiveness of Registration Statement Condition to Second Closing
Each Buyer’s obligation to consummate the Second Closing is subject to the fulfillment of the following condition (subject to Section 8 of this Agreement):
| 1. | The Initial Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) on Form F-1 has been declared effective by the SEC and covers the sale by such Buyer (in accordance with the plan of distribution called for by the Registration Rights Agreement) of the Common Stock contemplated by, and in the amount of, the Initial Required Registration Amount (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) (solely for clarification purposes and without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true, disregarding all reductions, if any, as a result of Section 2(f) of the Registration Rights Agreement), the prospectus part thereof is available for use and there has been no Equity Conditions Failure (as defined in the Warrants). |
