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EXHIBIT 4.7
LOAN AND ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN and ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as
of March 1, 2000, by and among Viragen, Inc., a corporation incorporated under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), AMRO International, S.A.
("Investor"), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Green, P.C. (the "Escrow Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Investor will be lending the Company $1,000,000
pursuant to a convertible promissory note, and will receive as partial
consideration therefor Warrants to purchase, in the aggregate, up to 100,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock, at a purchase equal to the closing bid
price of the Company's common stock on the OTCBB on March 1, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor have requested that the
Escrow Agent hold the $1,000,000 loan disbursement in escrow until the Escrow
Agent has received the certificates representing the Warrants and the Promissory
Note for the $1,000,000 loan and a Registration Rights Agreement between the
Investor and the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and mutual
promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
TERMS OF THE ESCROW
1.1. The Investor hereby agrees to lend, and the Company hereby
agrees to borrow, the sum of $1,000,000, pursuant to the terms of that certain
Convertible Promissory Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, that certain Warrant
attached hereto as Exhibit B and that certain Registration Rights Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit C, and this Purchase and Escrow Agreement.
1.2. The parties hereby agree to establish an escrow account with
the Escrow Agent whereby the Escrow Agent shall hold the funds for the loan and
the other documents described herein.
1.3. At the Closing, once Escrow Agent has received the original
executed Convertible Promissory Note and Warrant certificate from the Company,
together with an executed Registration Rights Agreement from the Company and the
Investor, it shall (i) enter the funding date on the face of the Convertible
Promissory Note and enter the exercise price on the face of the Warrant and then
(ii) wire the sum of $1,000,000 per the written instructions of the Company net
of legal and escrow administrative costs of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Green, P.C. ("EB&G"), 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, and
seven percent (7%) of the amount of the Promissory Note ($70,000) as directed by
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AMRO as payment of the placement fees and non-accountable expenses of the
transaction.
Once the funds (as set forth above) have been sent per the Company's
instructions, the Escrow Agent shall then arrange to have the Promissory Note,
the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement delivered to the Investor.
ARTICLE 2
MISCELLANEOUS
2.1. No waiver or any breach of any covenant or provision herein
contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach
thereof, or of any other covenant or provision herein contained. No extension of
time for performance of any obligation or act shall be deemed any extension of
the time for performance of any other obligation or act.
2.2. All notices or other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sent by fax or overnight delivery
service to the last address of the party to be noticed.
2.3. This Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to
the benefit of the permitted successors and permitted assigns of the parties
hereto.
2.4. This Escrow Agreement is the final expression of, and contains
the entire agreement between, the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior understandings with respect thereto. This Escrow
Agreement may not be modified, changed, supplemented or terminated, nor may any
obligations hereunder be waived, except by written instrument signed by the
parties to be charged or by its agent duly authorized in writing or as otherwise
expressly permitted herein.
2.5. Whenever required by the context of this Escrow Agreement, the
singular shall include the plural and masculine shall include the feminine. This
Escrow Agreement shall not be construed as if it had been prepared by one of the
parties, but rather as if both parties had prepared the same. Unless otherwise
indicated, all references to Articles are to this Escrow Agreement.
2.6. The parties hereto expressly agree that this Escrow Agreement
shall be governed by, interpreted under and construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York. Any action to enforce, arising out of,
or relating in any way to, any provisions of this Escrow Agreement shall only be
brought in a state or Federal court sitting in New York City.
2.7. The Escrow Agent's duties hereunder may be altered, amended,
modified or revoked only by a writing signed by the Company, each Investor and
the Escrow Agent.
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2.8. The Escrow Agent shall be obligated only for the performance
of such duties as are specifically set forth herein and may rely and shall be
protected in relying or refraining from acting on any instrument reasonably
believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties. The Escrow Agent shall not be personally liable
for any act the Escrow Agent may do or omit to do hereunder as the Escrow Agent
while acting in good faith, and any act done or omitted by the Escrow Agent
pursuant to the advice of the Escrow Agent's attorneys-at-law shall be
conclusive evidence of such good faith.
2.9. The Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized to disregard
any and all warnings given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person
or corporation, excepting only orders or process of courts of law and is hereby
expressly authorized to comply with and obey orders, judgments or decrees of any
court. In case the Escrow Agent obeys or complies with any such order, judgment
or decree, the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or
to any other person, firm or corporation by reason of such decree being
subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside, vacated or found to have
been entered without jurisdiction.
2.10. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable in any respect on account
of the identity, authorization or rights of the parties executing or delivering
or purporting to execute or deliver the Purchase Agreement or any documents or
papers deposited or called for thereunder.
2.11. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to employ such legal
counsel and other experts as the Escrow Agent may deem necessary properly to
advise the Escrow Agent in connection with the Escrow Agent's duties hereunder,
may rely upon the advice of such counsel, and may pay such counsel reasonable
compensation therefor. THE ESCROW AGENT HAS ACTED AS LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE
INVESTOR, AND MAY CONTINUE TO ACT AS LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE INVESTOR FROM TIME TO
TIME, NOTWITHSTANDING ITS DUTIES AS THE ESCROW AGENT HEREUNDER. THE COMPANY
CONSENTS TO THE ESCROW AGENT IN SUCH CAPACITY AS LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE INVESTOR
AND WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT SUCH REPRESENTATION REPRESENTS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
ON THE PART OF THE ESCROW AGENT. THE COMPANY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE INVESTOR AND
THE ESCROW AGENT ARE RELYING EXPLICITLY ON THE FOREGOING PROVISION IN ENTERING
INTO THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT.
2.12. The Escrow Agent's responsibilities as escrow agent hereunder
shall terminate if the Escrow Agent shall resign by written notice to the
Company and the Investors. In the event of any such resignation, the Investors
and the Company shall appoint a successor Escrow Agent.
2.13. If the Escrow Agent reasonably requires other or further
instruments in connection with this Escrow Agreement or obligations in respect
hereto, the necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such instruments.
2.14. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with
respect to the delivery and/or ownership or right of possession of the documents
or the escrow funds held by the Escrow Agent hereunder, the Escrow Agent is
authorized and directed in the Escrow Agent's sole discretion (1) to retain in
the Escrow Agent's possession without liability to anyone all or any part of
said documents or the escrow funds until such disputes shall have been settled
either by mutual written agreement of the parties concerned by a final order,
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decree or judgment or a court of competent jurisdiction after the time for
appeal has expired and no appeal has been perfected, but the Escrow Agent shall
be under no duty whatsoever to institute or defend any such proceedings or (2)
to deliver the escrow funds and any other property and documents held by the
Escrow Agent hereunder to a state or Federal court having competent subject
matter jurisdiction and located in the City of New York in accordance with the
applicable procedure therefor.
The Company and Investor agree jointly and severally to
indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent and its partners, employees, agents
and representatives from any and all claims, liabilities, costs or expenses in
any way arising from or relating to the duties or performance of the Escrow
Agent hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby other than any such
claim, liability, cost or expense to the extent the same shall have been
determined by final, unappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction
to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow
Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date set forth above by their undersigned signatories, each
being duly authorized to do so.
VIRAGEN, inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
AMRO INTERNATIONAL, S.A.
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
X. X. Xxxxxxxx, Director
ESCROW AGENT:
XXXXXXX XXXXXX & GREEN, P.C.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx,
Authorized Signatory
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EXHIBIT A
CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE
$1,000,000 March 1, 2000
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, and intending to be legally bound,
Viragen, Inc., a Florida corporation with an office and principal place of
business at 000 XX 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the
"Maker"), hereby unconditionally and irrevocably promises to pay to the order of
AMRO International, S.A. (the "Payee"), at the offices of Ultra Finanz XX,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 0, Xxxxxx XX-0000, Xxxxxxxxxxx, or such other place as Payee
may designate in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America, the
sum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) plus all accrued but unpaid interest, on
March 1, 2001.
Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance of
this Promissory Note daily from the date of issuance until paid in full at the
rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, and shall be due and payable at the
maturity date, except that upon any partial payment or prepayment of the
principal balance hereof, all accrued but unpaid interest shall be paid
simultaneous with such prepayment of principal.
This Promissory Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any
time or from time to time without penalty or premium upon five (5) business
days' prior written notice to the Payee, and shall be prepaid up to the extent
of fifty percent (50%) of the net proceeds to Maker from any public or private
sale of Maker's equity or equity-derivative securities by Maker.
The Payee is entitled, at its option, to convert at any time
the principal sum outstanding of this Promissory Note or any portion thereof,
together with accrued but unpaid interest, into shares of Common Stock of the
Maker ("Conversion Shares") at a conversion price for each share of Common Stock
equal to $1.00, subject to adjustment for any subsequent stock splits, reverse
splits or similar adjustments.
Conversion shall be effectuated by surrendering this
Promissory Note to the Maker (if such conversion will convert all outstanding
principal) together with the form of conversion notice attached hereto as
EXHIBIT A (the "Notice of Conversion"), executed by the Payee evidencing Payee's
intention to convert this Promissory Note or a specified portion (as above
provided) hereof, and accompanied, if required by the Maker, by proper
assignment hereof in blank. No fraction of a share or scrip representing a
fraction of a share will be issued on conversion, but the number of shares
issuable shall be rounded to the nearest whole share. Certificates representing
Common Stock upon conversion will be delivered to the Payee within five (5)
business days from the date the Notice of Conversion is delivered to the Maker.
Delivery of shares upon conversion shall be made to the address specified by the
Payee in the Notice of Conversion.
If the Maker merges or consolidates with another corporation
or sells or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another person
and the Maker's common stockholders are entitled to receive stock, securities or
property in respect of or in exchange for common stock, then as a condition of
such merger, consolidation, sale or transfer, the Maker and any such successor,
purchaser or transferee agree that this Promissory Note may thereafter be
converted on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth above into the
kind and amount of stock, securities or property receivable upon such merger,
consolidation, sale or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of common
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stock into which this Promissory Note might have been converted immediately
before such merger, consolidation, sale or transfer, subject to adjustments
which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable. In the event of any
proposed merger, consolidation or sale or transfer of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Maker (a "Sale"), the Payee shall have the right to convert
by delivering a Notice of Conversion to the Maker within fifteen (15) days of
receipt of notice of such Sale from the Maker. In the event the Payee shall
elect not to convert, the Maker may prepay all outstanding principal and accrued
interest on this Promissory Note, upon which tender of payment following such
notice, the right of conversion shall terminate.
For purposes of this Promissory Note, an "Event of Default"
shall occur if the Maker shall: (i) fail to pay the entire principal amount of
this Promissory Note plus all accrued but unpaid interest when due and payable
after five (5) days' written notice to Maker of such default by Payee, (ii) fail
to honor any conversion notice within five (5) business days, (iii) admit in
writing its inability to pay any of its monetary obligations under this
Promissory Note, (iv) make a general assignment of its assets for the benefit of
creditors, or (v) allow any proceeding to be instituted by or against it seeking
relief from or by creditors, including, without limitation, any bankruptcy
proceedings, which, if not a voluntary proceeding, is not dismissed within
ninety (90) days.
In the event that an Event of Default has occurred, the Payee
or any other Payee of this Promissory Note may, by notice to the Maker, declare
this entire Promissory Note to be forthwith immediately due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by the Maker. In the event that an Event of Default
consisting of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy filing has occurred, then
this entire Promissory Note shall automatically become due and payable without
any notice or other action by Payee.
The nonexercise or delay by the Payee or any other Payee of
this Promissory Note of any of its rights hereunder in any particular instance
shall not constitute a waiver thereof in that or any subsequent instance. No
waiver of any right shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Payee,
and no waiver on one (1) or more occasions shall be conclusive as a bar to or
waiver of any right on any other occasion.
Should any part of the indebtedness evidenced hereby be
collected by law or through an attorney-at-law, the Payee or any other Payee of
this Promissory Note shall, if permitted by applicable law, be entitled to
collect from the Maker all reasonable costs of collection, including, without
limitation, attorneys' fees.
All notices and other communications must be in writing to the
address of the party set forth in the first paragraph hereof and shall be deemed
to have been received when delivered personally (which shall include via fax or
an overnight courier service) or, if mailed, five (5) business days after having
been mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid. The parties may designate by notice to each other any new address for
the purpose of this Promissory Note.
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Maker hereby forever waives presentment, demand, presentment
for payment, protest, notice of protest, and notice of dishonor of this
Promissory Note and all other demands and notices in connection with the
delivery, acceptance, performance and enforcement of this Promissory Note.
This Promissory Note shall be binding upon the successors and
assigns of the Maker, and shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
the successors and assigns of the Payee.
This Promissory Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. All disputes between
the Maker and the Payee relating in any way to this Promissory Note shall be
resolved only by state and federal courts located in New York County, New York,
and the courts to which an appeal therefrom may be taken.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Maker has executed this
Promissory Note as of March 1, 2000.
MAKER:
Viragen, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF CONVERSION
(To be Executed by the Registered Payee in order to Convert the Promissory Note)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert
$________________ of the principal amount of the above Promissory Note No. _____
into Shares of Common Stock of Medisys Technologies, Inc. (the "Maker")
according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below.
Date of Conversion* ____________________________________________________________
Applicable Conversion Price * __________________________________________________
Accrued Interest________________________________________________________________
Signature_______________________________________________________________________
[Name]
Address:________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
* This original Notice of Conversion must be received by the Maker by the third
Trading Day following the Date of Conversion, and, if such conversion represents
the remaining principal balance of the Promissory Note, the original Promissory
Note.
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EXHIBIT B
NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT")
OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT PURSUANT TO REGULATION D AND
SUCH OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON
EXERCISE HEREOF MAY BE SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR IN A TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS.
STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
To Purchase 100,000 Shares of Common Stock of
Viragen, Inc.
THIS CERTIFIES that, for value received, AMRO International, S.A. (the
"Holder"), is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on
exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after March
1, 2000 (the "Initial Exercise Date") and on or prior to the close of business
on March 1, 2004 (the "Termination Date") but not thereafter, to subscribe for
and purchase from Viragen, Inc., a corporation incorporated in Delaware (the
"Company"), up to One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares (the "Warrant Shares")
of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The purchase
price of one share of Common Stock (the "Exercise Price") under this Warrant
shall be $1.71875 (100% of the closing bid price on March 1, 2000). The Exercise
Price and the number of shares for which the Warrant is exercisable shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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1. TITLE TO WARRANT. Prior to the Termination Date and subject to
compliance with applicable laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are
transferable, in whole or in part, at the office or agency of the Company by the
holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
Warrant together with the Assignment Form annexed hereto properly endorsed.
2. AUTHORIZATION OF SHARES. The Company covenants that all shares
of Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of rights represented by
this Warrant will, upon exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all
taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in
respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
3. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4 herein, exercise of
the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made at any time or times
on or after the Initial Exercise Date, and before the close of business on the
Termination Date by the surrender of this Warrant and the Notice of Exercise
Form annexed hereto duly executed, at the office of the Company (or such other
office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the
registered holder hereof at the address of such holder appearing on the books of
the Company) and upon payment of the Exercise Price of the shares thereby
purchased by wire transfer or cashier's check drawn on a United States bank, the
holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the number
of shares of Common Stock so purchased. Certificates for shares purchased
hereunder shall be delivered to the holder hereof within three (3) Trading Days
after the date on which this Warrant shall have been exercised as aforesaid.
This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or
certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person
so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of
record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been
exercised by payment to the Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required
to be paid by Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 5 prior to the issuance of
such shares, have been paid.
(b) If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part,
the Company shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates
representing Warrant Shares, deliver to Holder a new Warrant evidencing the
rights of Holder to purchase the unpurchased shares of Common Stock called for
by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with
this Warrant.
(c) If no registration statement is effective permitting
the resale of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of this Warrant at
any time commencing one year after the issuance date hereof, then this Warrant
shall also be exercisable by means of a "cashless exercise" in which the holder
shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the number of shares equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
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(A) = the average of the high and low trading prices per share of Common Stock
on the Trading Day preceding the date of such election on the Nasdaq Stock
Market, or if the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, then
the principal market in terms of volume, and converted into US Dollars;
(B) = the Exercise Price of the Warrants; and
(X) = the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance
with the terms of this Warrant.
4. NO FRACTIONAL SHARES OR SCRIP. No fractional shares or scrip
representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this
Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise be entitled
to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in
respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to the Exercise Price.
5. CHARGES, TAXES AND EXPENSES. Issuance of certificates for
shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without
charge to the holder hereof for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental
expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and
expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in
the name of the holder of this Warrant or in such name or names as may be
directed by the holder of this Warrant; provided, however, that in the event
certificates for shares of Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than
the name of the older of this Warrant, this Warrant when surrendered for
exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly
executed by the holder hereof; and the Company may require, as a condition
thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax
incidental thereto.
6. CLOSING OF BOOKS. The Company will not close its shareholder
books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this
Warrant.
7. TRANSFER, DIVISION AND COMBINATION. (a) Subject to compliance
with any applicable securities laws, transfer of this Warrant and all rights
hereunder, in whole or in part, shall be registered on the books of the Company
to be maintained for such purpose, upon surrender of this Warrant at the
principal office of the Company, together with a written assignment of this
Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by Holder or its
agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon
the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment,
the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of
the assignee or assignees and in the denomination or denominations specified in
such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant
evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall
promptly be cancelled. A Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a
new holder for the purchase of shares of Common Stock without having a new
Warrant issued.
(b) This Warrant may be divided or combined with other
Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company,
together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which
new Warrants are to be issued, signed by Holder or its agent or attorney.
Subject to compliance with Section 7(a), as to any transfer which may be
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involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver
a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided
or combined in accordance with such notice.
(c) The Company shall prepare, issue and deliver at its
own expense (other than transfer taxes) the new Warrant or Warrants under this
Section 7.
(d) The Company agrees to maintain, at its aforesaid
office, books for the registration and the registration of transfer of the
Warrants.
8. NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER UNTIL EXERCISE. This Warrant does not
entitle the holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder
of the Company prior to the exercise hereof. Upon the surrender of this Warrant
and the payment of the aggregate Exercise Price, the Warrant Shares so purchased
shall be and be deemed to be issued to such holder as the record owner of such
shares as of the close of business on the later of the date of such surrender or
payment.
9. LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT. The Company
covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant certificate
or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss,
theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it
(which shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and
cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated
as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
10. SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYS, ETC. If the last or appointed
day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or
granted herein shall be a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then such action
may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day not a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.
11. ADJUSTMENTS OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES.
(a) STOCK SPLITS, ETC. The number and kind of securities purchasable upon the
exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time upon the happening of any of the following. In case the
Company shall (i) pay a dividend in shares of Common Stock or make a
distribution in shares of Common Stock to holders of its outstanding Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares of Common Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock or (iv) issue any shares
of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock, then the number
of Warrant Shares purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior
thereto shall be adjusted so that the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled
to receive the kind and number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the
Company which he would have owned or have been entitled to receive had such
Warrant been exercised in advance thereof. Upon each such adjustment of the kind
and number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company which are
purchasable hereunder, the holder of this Warrant shall thereafter be entitled
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to purchase the number of Warrant Shares or other securities resulting from such
adjustment at an Exercise Price per Warrant Share or other security obtained by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by
the number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant hereto immediately prior to
such adjustment and dividing by the number of Warrant Shares or other securities
of the Company resulting from such adjustment. An adjustment made pursuant to
this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of
such event retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.
(b) REORGANIZATION, RECLASSIFICATION, MERGER,
CONSOLIDATION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. In case the Company shall reorganize its
capital, reclassify its capital stock, consolidate or merge with or into another
corporation (where the Company is not the surviving corporation or where there
is a change in or distribution with respect to the Common Stock of the Company),
or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its property,
assets or business to another corporation and, pursuant to the terms of such
reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of
assets, shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation, or any
cash, shares of stock or other securities or property of any nature whatsoever
(including warrants or other subscription or purchase rights) in addition to or
in lieu of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation ("Other
Property"), are to be received by or distributed to the holders of Common Stock
of the Company, then Holder shall have the right thereafter to receive, upon
exercise of this Warrant, the number of shares of common stock of the successor
or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation,
and Other Property receivable upon or as a result of such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets by a holder of
the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable
immediately prior to such event. In case of any such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets, the successor
or acquiring corporation (if other than the Company) shall expressly assume the
due and punctual observance and performance of each and every covenant and
condition of this Warrant to be performed and observed by the Company and all
the obligations and liabilities hereunder, subject to such modifications as may
be deemed appropriate (as determined in good faith by resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Company) in order to provide for adjustments of shares of
Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable which shall be as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 11.
For purposes of this Section 11, "common stock of the successor or acquiring
corporation" shall include stock of such corporation of any class which is not
preferred as to dividends or assets over any other class of stock of such
corporation and which is not subject to redemption and shall also include any
evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock or other securities which are
convertible into or exchangeable for any such stock, either immediately or upon
the arrival of a specified date or the happening of a specified event and any
warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any such stock. The
foregoing provisions of this Section 11 shall similarly apply to successive
reorganizations, reclassifications, mergers, consolidations or disposition of
assets.
12. VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENT BY THE COMPANY. The Company may at any
time during the term of this Warrant, reduce the then current Exercise Price to
any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
13. NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT. Whenever the number of Warrant Shares or
number or kind of securities or other property purchasable upon the exercise of
this Warrant or the Exercise Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the Company
shall promptly mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
to the holder of this Warrant notice of such adjustment or adjustments setting
forth the number of Warrant Shares (and other securities or property)
purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price of such
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Warrant Shares (and other securities or property) after such adjustment, setting
forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment and setting forth
the computation by which such adjustment was made. Such notice, in the absence
of manifest error, shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such
adjustment.
14. NOTICE OF CORPORATE ACTION. If at any time:
(a) the Company shall take a record of the holders of its
Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other
distribution, or any right to subscribe for or purchase any evidences of its
indebtedness, any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or
property, or to receive any other right, or
(b) there shall be any capital reorganization of the
Company, any reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the
Company or any consolidation or merger of the Company with, or any sale,
transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all the property, assets
or business of the Company to, another corporation or,
(c) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;
then, in any one or more of such cases, the Company shall give to Holder (i) at
least 30 days' prior written notice of the date on which a record date shall be
selected for such dividend, distribution or right or for determining rights to
vote in respect of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger,
consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, liquidation or winding up, and (ii)
in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation,
sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, at least 30
days' prior written notice of the date when the same shall take place. Such
notice in accordance with the foregoing clause also shall specify (i) the date
on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to any such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and
character thereof, and (ii) the date on which any such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up is to take place and the time, if any
such time is to be fixed, as of which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities or other
property deliverable upon such disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding
up. Each such written notice shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Holder
at the last address of Holder appearing on the books of the Company and
delivered in accordance with Section 16(d).
15. AUTHORIZED SHARES. The Company covenants that during the
period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and
unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance
of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this
Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall
constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of
executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for
the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant.
The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure
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that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of
any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Principal Market
upon which the Common Stock may be listed.
The Company shall not by any action, including, without
limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any
reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or
sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the
observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all
times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the
taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the
rights of Holder against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company will (a) not increase the par value of any shares of
Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the amount
payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par
value, (b) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that
the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (c) use its best efforts to
obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public
regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof as may be necessary to enable the
Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment
in the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable or
in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or
exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public
regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
16. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) JURISDICTION. This Warrant shall be binding upon any
successors or assigns of the Company. This Warrant shall constitute a contract
under the laws of New York, without regard to its conflict of law, principles or
rules, and be subject to arbitration pursuant to the terms set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
(b) RESTRICTIONS. The holder hereof acknowledges that the Warrant
Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have
restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
(c) NONWAIVER AND EXPENSES. No course of dealing or any delay or
failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a
waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder's rights, powers or remedies,
notwithstanding all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date. If the
Company fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, the Company shall
pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and
expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, including
those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due
pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies
hereunder.
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(d) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. No provision hereof, in the absence
of affirmative action by Holder to purchase shares of Common Stock, and no
enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder hereof, shall give rise
to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a
stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or
by creditors of the Company.
(e) REMEDIES. Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise
all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to
waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law
would be adequate.
(f) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Subject to applicable securities laws,
this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors
and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to
be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall be
enforceable by any such Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
(g) INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless Holder from and against any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses
and disbursements of any kind which may be imposed upon, incurred by or asserted
against Holder in any manner relating to or arising out of any failure by the
Company to perform or observe in any material respect any of its covenants,
agreements, undertakings or obligations set forth in this Warrant; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Company will not be liable hereunder to the extent that any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
claims, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses or disbursements are found in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court to have resulted from Holder's negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct in its capacity as a stockholder or
warrantholder of the Company.
(h) AMENDMENT. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the
provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
(i) SEVERABILITY. Wherever possible, each provision of this
Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent
of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such
provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
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(j) HEADINGS. The headings used in this Warrant are for the
convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part
of this Warrant.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed
by its officer thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 1, 2000
Viragen, Inc
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: Viragen, Inc.
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ shares of Common
Stock (the "Common Stock"), of Viragen, Inc. pursuant to the terms of the
attached Warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full,
together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares of
Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is
specified below:
----------------------------------------
(Name)
----------------------------------------
(Address)
----------------------------------------
Dated:
------------------------------
Signature
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing warrant, execute
this form and supply required information.
Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced
thereby are hereby assigned to
whose address is
-----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Dated:
--------------, -------
Holder's Signature:
---------------------------------
Holder's Address:
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Signature Guaranteed:
------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it
appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers
of corporations and those acting in an fiduciary or other representative
capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing
Warrant.
20
EXHIBIT C
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 1, 2000
between AMRO International, S.A. (the "Investor"), and Viragen, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Investor is lending the Company $1,000,000 pursuant to a
Loan and Escrow Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Loan Agreement") in
exchange for a Convertible Promissory Note which is convertible into up to
1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, and is receiving from the
Company Warrants to purchase up to 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock
(terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan
Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Investor the
registration rights set forth herein with respect to the Shares issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Promissory Note and shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (hereinafter referred to as the "Stock"
or "Securities" of the Company).
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
Section 1. REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. As used herein the term
"Registrable Security" means the Securities until (i) the Registration Statement
has been declared effective by the Commission, and all Securities have been
disposed of pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Securities have
been sold under circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of
Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act
("Rule 144") are met, (iii) all Securities have been otherwise transferred to
holders who may trade such Securities without restriction under the Securities
Act, and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of
ownership for such Securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such time
as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, all Securities may be sold without
any time, volume or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar
provision then in effect) under the Securities Act. The term "Registrable
Securities" means any and/or all of the securities falling within the foregoing
definition of a "Registrable Security." In the event of any merger,
reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization or other change in corporate
structure affecting the Common Stock, such adjustment shall be deemed to be made
in the definition of "Registrable Security" as is appropriate in order to
prevent any dilution or enlargement of the rights granted pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 2. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Investor acknowledges and
understands that prior to the registration of the Securities as provided herein,
the Securities are "restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144 promulgated
under the Act. Investor understands that no disposition or transfer of the
Securities may be made by Investor in the absence of (i) an opinion of counsel
21
to the Investor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company,
that such transfer may be made without registration under the Securities Act,
pursuant to Regulation D or another exemption, or (ii) such registration.
With a view to making available to the Investor the
benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or
regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit the Investor to sell
securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the
Company agrees to:
(a) comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of
Rule 144; and
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all
reports and other documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) under the Exchange Act by companies subject to either of
such sections, irrespective of whether the Company is then subject to such
reporting requirements.
Section 3. REGISTRATION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES.
(a) The Company agrees that it will prepare and file
with the Securities and Conversion Commission ("Commission"), at the sole
expense of the Company (except as provided in Section 3(c) hereof), in respect
of the Investor a Registration Statement, so as to permit a public offering and
resale of all of the Securities under the Act by the Investor as selling
stockholders and not as underwriters. Such Registration Statement shall be filed
by the Company within thirty (30) days of demand therefor from the Investor,
provided, that the Investor shall not make any such demand prior to the
effective date of the Company's contemplated registration statement on Form S-3
for a Rule 415 shelf offering, provided, that the Investor may make a demand for
registration if such Form S-3 shall not have been declared effective by August
31, 2000.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective within ninety (90) days from the
filing date, or, if earlier, within five (5) days of SEC clearance to request
acceleration of effectiveness. The Company will notify the Investor of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement within one Trading Day of such
event.
(b) The Company will maintain the Registration
Statement or post-effective amendment filed under this Section 3 effective under
the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date that none of the Securities
covered by such Registration Statement are or may become issued and outstanding,
(ii) the date that all of the Securities have been sold pursuant to such
Registration Statement, (iii) the date the Investor receives an opinion of
counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Investor, that the Securities may be sold under the provisions of Rule 144
without limitation as to volume, (iv) all Securities have been otherwise
transferred to persons who may trade such shares without restriction under the
Securities Act, and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other
evidence of ownership for such securities not bearing a restrictive legend, or
(v) all Securities may be sold without any time, volume or manner limitations
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pursuant to Rule 144(k) or any similar provision then in effect under the
Securities Act in the opinion of counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Investor (the "Effectiveness Period").
(c) All fees, disbursements and out-of-pocket
expenses and costs incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation
and filing of the Registration Statement under subparagraph 3(a) and in
complying with applicable securities and Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, all attorneys' fees of the Company) shall be borne by the Company.
The Investor shall bear the cost of underwriting and/or brokerage discounts,
fees and commissions, if any, applicable to the Securities being registered and
the fees and expenses of their counsel. The Investor and its counsel shall have
a reasonable period, not to exceed five (5) Trading Days, to review the proposed
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, prior to filing with the
Commission, and the Company shall provide Investor with copies of any comment
letters received from the Commission with respect thereto within two (2) Trading
Days of receipt thereof. The Company shall qualify any of the securities for
sale in such states as any Investor reasonably designates and shall furnish
indemnification in the manner provided in Section 6 hereof. However, the Company
shall not be required to qualify in any state which will require an escrow or
other restriction relating to the Company and/or the sellers, or which will
require the Company to qualify to do business in such state or require the
Company to file therein any general consent to service of process. The Company
at its expense will supply the Investor with copies of the applicable
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and other related
documents in such quantities as may be reasonably requested by the Investor.
(d) The Company shall not be required by this Section
3 to include an Investor's Securities in any Registration Statement which is to
be filed if, in the opinion of counsel for both the Investor and the Company
(or, should they not agree, in the opinion of another counsel experienced in
securities law matters acceptable to counsel for the Investor and the Company)
the proposed offering or other transfer as to which such registration is
requested is exempt from applicable federal and state securities laws and would
result in all purchasers or transferees obtaining securities which are not
"restricted securities", as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
(e) In the event that (i) the Registration Statement
to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 3(a) above is not filed with the
Commission within thirty (30) days from the demand by Investor, (ii) such
Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission within the
earlier of ninety (90) days from the filing date or five (5) days of clearance
by the Commission to request effectiveness, or (iii) such Registration Statement
is not maintained as effective by the Company for the period set forth in
Section 3(b) above (each a "Registration Default") then the Company will pay
Investor (pro rated on a daily basis), as liquidated damages for such failure
and not as a penalty the sum of $25,000 for each month until such Registration
Statement has been filed, or in the event of late effectiveness (in case of
clause (ii) above) or lapsed effectiveness (in the case of clause (iii) above)
until such Registration Statement has been declared effective. Such payment of
the liquidated damages shall be made to the Investor in cash, within five (5)
calendar days of demand, provided, however, that the payment of such liquidated
damages shall not relieve the Company from its obligations to register the
Securities pursuant to this Section.
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If the Company does not remit the payment to the
Investor as set forth above, the Company will pay the Investor's reasonable
costs of collection, including attorneys' fees, in addition to the liquidated
damages. The registration of the Securities pursuant to this provision shall not
affect or limit the Investor's other rights or remedies as set forth in this
Agreement.
(f) No provision contained herein shall preclude the
Company from selling securities pursuant to any Registration Statement in which
it is required to include Securities pursuant to this Section 3.
(g) If at any time or from time to time after the
effective date of any Registration Statement, the Company notifies the Investor
in writing of the existence of a Potential Material Event (as defined in Section
3(h) below), the Investor shall not offer or sell any Securities or engage in
any other transaction involving or relating to Securities, from the time of the
giving of notice with respect to a Potential Material Event until the Investor
receives written notice from the Company that such Potential Material Event
either has been disclosed to the public or no longer constitutes a Potential
Material Event; provided, however, that the Company may not so suspend the right
to such holders of Securities for more than twenty (20) days in the aggregate
during any twelve month period, during the period the Registration Statement is
required to be in effect, and if such period is exceeded, such event shall be a
Registration Default. If a Potential Material Event shall occur prior to the
date a Registration Statement is required to be filed, then the Company's
obligation to file such Registration Statement shall be delayed without penalty
for not more than twenty (20) days, and such delay or delays shall not
constitute a Registration Default. The Company must, if lawful, give the
Investor notice in writing at least two (2) Trading Days prior to the first day
of the blackout period.
(h) "Potential Material Event" means any of the
following: (a) the possession by the Company of material information not ripe
for disclosure in a registration statement, as determined in good faith by the
Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that disclosure
of such information in a Registration Statement would be detrimental to the
business and affairs of the Company; or (b) any material engagement or activity
by the Company which would, in the good faith determination of the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, be adversely
affected by disclosure in a registration statement at such time, which
determination shall be accompanied by a good faith determination by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that the applicable
Registration Statement would be materially misleading absent the inclusion of
such information.
Section 4. COOPERATION WITH COMPANY. The Investor will
cooperate with the Company in all respects in connection with this Agreement,
including timely supplying all information reasonably requested by the Company
(which shall include all information regarding the Investor and proposed manner
of sale of the Registrable Securities required to be disclosed in any
Registration Statement) and executing and returning all documents reasonably
requested in connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable
Securities and entering into and performing their obligations under any
underwriting agreement, if the offering is an underwritten offering, in usual
and customary form, with the managing underwriter or underwriters of such
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underwritten offering. Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate Investor to
consent to be named as an underwriter in any Registration Statement. The
obligation of the Company to register the Registrable Securities shall be
absolute and unconditional as to those Securities which the Commission will
permit to be registered without naming the Investor as an underwriter. Any delay
or delays caused by the Investor by failure to cooperate as required hereunder
shall not constitute a Registration Default.
Section 5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. If and whenever the
Company is required by any of the provisions of this Agreement to effect the
registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Act, the Company
shall (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement), as expeditiously as
possible, subject to the Investor's assistance and cooperation as reasonably
required with respect to each Registration Statement:
(a) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
effective and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the sale
or other disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement
whenever the Investor shall desire to sell or otherwise dispose of the same
(including prospectus supplements with respect to the sales of securities from
time to time in connection with a registration statement pursuant to Rule 415
promulgated under the Act) and (ii) take all lawful action such that each of (A)
the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes
effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading and (B) the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement,
and any amendment or supplement thereto, does not at any time during the
Registration Period include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(b) (i) prior to the filing with the Commission of
any Registration Statement (including any amendments thereto) and the
distribution or delivery of any prospectus (including any supplements thereto),
provide draft copies thereof to the Investor as required by Section 3(c) and
reflect in such documents all such comments as the Investor (and their counsel)
reasonably may propose and (ii) furnish to Investor such numbers of copies of a
prospectus including a preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any prospectus, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Act,
and such other documents, as the Investor may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the securities owned by
Investor;
(c) register and qualify the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as the Investor shall reasonably request (subject to
the limitations set forth in Section 3(c) above), and do any and all other acts
and things which may be necessary or advisable to enable the Investor to
consummate the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdiction of the
securities owned by Investor;
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(d) list such Registrable Securities on the Principal
Market, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under
the rules of such Principal Market;
(e) notify Investor at any time when a prospectus
relating thereto covered by the Registration Statement is required to be
delivered under the Act, of the happening of any event of which it has knowledge
as a result of which the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as
then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing, and the Company shall prepare and file a curative amendment under
Section 5(a) as quickly as commercially possible;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware
of such event, notify Investor (or, in the event of an underwritten offering,
the managing underwriters) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
or other suspension of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the
earliest possible time and take all lawful action to effect the withdrawal,
recession or removal of such stop order or other suspension;
(g) cooperate with the Investor to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates for the Registrable Securities
to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such
certificates for the Registrable Securities to be in such denominations or
amounts, as the case may be, as the Investor reasonably may request and
registered in such names as the Investor may request; and, within three (3)
Trading Days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable
Securities is declared effective by the Commission, deliver and cause legal
counsel selected by the Company to deliver to the transfer agent for the
Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investor) an appropriate instruction
and, to the extent necessary, an opinion of such counsel;
(h) take all such other lawful actions reasonably
necessary to expedite and facilitate the disposition by the Investor of their
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods therefor provided
in the prospectus which are customary for issuers to perform under the
circumstances;
(i) in the event of an underwritten offering,
promptly include or incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the managers
reasonably agree should be included therein and to which the Company does not
reasonably object and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after it is notified of the
matters to be included or incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment; and
(j) maintain a transfer agent and registrar for its
Common Stock.
Section 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the maximum extent permitted by law, the
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor and each person, if
any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act (each a
"Distributing Investor") against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several (which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but
not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all
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26
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), to which the Distributing Investor may
become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any Registration Statement, or any related final prospectus or
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent, and
only to the extent, that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus,
final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the
Distributing Investor, its counsel, affiliates or any underwriter, specifically
for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each
Distributing Investor agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, and each officer and director of the Company or person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (which shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) to which the
Company or any such officer, director or controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, or any related final prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case
only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in such Registration Statement, final
prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by such
Distributing Investor, its counsel, affiliates or any underwriter, specifically
for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Distributing Investor may otherwise have.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liability of the Distributing Investor
hereunder shall not exceed the proceeds to the Distributing Investor from the
sale of the Securities.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action against such
indemnified party, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is
to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the
indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent
the failure of the indemnified party to provide such written notification
actually prejudices the ability of the indemnifying party to defend such action.
In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
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notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish,
jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, assume the defense
thereof, subject to the provisions herein stated and after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified
party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying party shall not
pursue the action to its final conclusion. The indemnified parties as a group
shall have the right to employ one separate counsel in any such action and to
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall not be at the expense of the indemnifying party if the indemnifying party
has assumed the defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, or (ii) the named
parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to the indemnifying party different from or in conflict with any legal
defenses which may be available to the indemnified party or any other
indemnified party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right
to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party, it
being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall, in connection with
any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable only for the reasonable fees and expenses of one
separate firm of attorneys for the indemnified party, which firm shall be
designated in writing by the indemnified party). No settlement of any action
against an indemnified party shall be made without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld so long
as such settlement includes a full release of claims against the indemnified
party.
Section 7. CONTRIBUTION. In order to provide for just and
equitable contribution under the Securities Act in any case in which (i) the
indemnified party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 6 hereof
but is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a
court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the
denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that the express provisions of
Section 6 hereof provide for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution
under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any indemnified party,
then the Company and the applicable Distributing Investor shall contribute to
the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be
subject (which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be
limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses), in either such case (after contribution from
others) on the basis of relative fault as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the applicable
Distributing Investor on the other hand, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Company and the Distributing Investor agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were
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determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this
Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred
to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7, in no event shall any (i)
Investor be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 7
for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such
Investor from the sale of such Investor's Registrable Securities (after
deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) pursuant to
any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities are
registered under the Securities Act and (ii) underwriter be required to
undertake liability to any person hereunder for any amounts in excess of the
aggregate discount, commission or other compensation payable to such underwriter
with respect to the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
Section 8. NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests, consents,
approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered as set forth in the Loan Agreement.
Section 9. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement is binding upon and
inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns. The rights granted the Investor under this
Agreement may be assigned to any purchaser of substantially all of the
Registrable Securities (or the rights thereto) from Investor.
Section 10. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company
agrees that at such time as it otherwise meets the requirements for the use of
Securities Act Registration Statement on Form S-3 for the purpose of registering
the Registrable Securities, it shall file all reports and information required
to be filed by it with the Commission in a timely manner and take all such other
action so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of such form.
Section 11. COUNTERPARTS/FACSIMILE. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original, but all of which, when together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties. In lieu of the
original, a facsimile transmission or copy of the original shall be as effective
and enforceable as the original.
Section 12. REMEDIES. The remedies provided in this Agreement
are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term,
provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
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shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result
as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.
Section 13. CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this
Agreement or otherwise prevents the Company from complying with all of its
obligations hereunder.
Section 14. HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 15. GOVERNING LAW, ARBITRATION. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York
City and without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute
under this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration under the American
Arbitration Association (the "AAA") in New York City, New York, and shall be
finally and conclusively determined by the decision of a board of arbitration
consisting of three (3) members (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of
Arbitration") selected as according to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of
Arbitration shall meet on consecutive business days in New York City, New York,
and shall reach and render a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of
the members of the Board of Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any,
which the losing party is required to pay to the other party in respect of a
claim filed. In connection with rendering its decisions, the Board of
Arbitration shall adopt and follow the laws of the State of New York. To the
extent practical, decisions of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no
more than thirty (30) calendar days following commencement of proceedings with
respect thereto. The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be
delivered to all parties involved in the dispute. Any decision made by the Board
of Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty (30)
calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties to
the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law
and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Board of Arbitration
shall be authorized and is hereby directed to enter a default judgment against
any party failing to participate in any proceeding hereunder within the time
periods set forth in the AAA rules. The non-prevailing party to any arbitration
(as determined by the Board of Arbitration) shall pay the expenses of the
prevailing party, including reasonable attorneys' fees, in connection with such
arbitration. Any party shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief from a
court in any case where such relief is available.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed, on the day and year first
above written.
Viragen, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
AMRO International, S.A.
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------
X. X. Xxxxxxxx, Director
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