UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT between CEL-SCI Corporation and AEGIS CAPITAL CORP., as Representative of the Several Underwriters CEL-SCI CORPORATION UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 1.1
between
CEL-SCI Corporation
and
AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.,
as Representative of the Several Underwriters
|
CEL-SCI CORPORATION
December
23, 2019
Aegis
Capital Corp.
As
Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 attached
hereto
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned, CEL-SCI
Corporation, a corporation formed under the laws of the
State of Colorado (collectively with its subsidiaries and
affiliates, including, without limitation, all entities disclosed
or described in the Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined)
as being subsidiaries or affiliates of CEL-SCI Corporation the
“Company”),
hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Aegis Capital
Corp. (hereinafter referred to as “you” (including its
correlatives) or the “Representative”) and with the
other underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto for which the
Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and
such other underwriters being collectively called the
“Underwriters”
or, individually, an “Underwriter”) as
follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of
Securities.
1.1 Firm Shares.
1.1.1 Nature
and Purchase of Firm Shares.
(i) On the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue
and sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of
606,395, (the
“Firm Shares”)
of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
“ Common Stock
“).
(ii) The
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the
Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their
respective names on Schedule 1 attached hereto and
made a part hereof at the purchase price of $8.4351 per Firm Share (93% of the per Firm
Share offering price) with respect to each Firm Share. The Firm
Shares are to be offered to the public at the offering price set
forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section
2.1 hereof).
1.1.2 Firm
Shares Payment and Delivery.
(i) Delivery and
payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern
time, on the second (2nd) Business Day
following the date of this Agreement or at such earlier time as
shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the
offices of Sichenzia Xxxx Xxxxxxx
LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
(“Representative
Counsel”), or at such other place (or remotely by
facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon
by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of
delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the
“Closing
Date.”
(ii) Payment
for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire
transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the
Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or
through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”)) for the
account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in
such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the
Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full
Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be
obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of
payment by the Representative for all of the Firm Shares. The term
“Business Day”
means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or
a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by
law to close in New York, New York.
1.2 Over-allotment
Option.
1.2.1 Additional
Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Representative an
option (the “Over-allotment
Option”) to purchase up to an additional 90,959 shares of Common Stock,
representing up to 15% of the Firm Shares sold in the Offering (the
“Additional
Shares”) for the purpose of covering over-allotments
of such securities, if any. The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are collectively referred to as the “Securities.” The Securities shall
be issued directly by the Company and shall have the rights and
privileges described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus referred to below. The offering and sale
of the Securities is herein referred to as the “Offering.”
1.2.2 Exercise
of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to
Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to
all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Additional
Shares within 45 days after the date hereof. The purchase price to
be paid per Additional Share shall be equal to the price per Firm
Share set forth in Section 1.1.1(ii) hereof. The Representative
shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares
prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The
Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving
of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which shall
be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other
electronic transmission, setting forth the number of Additional
Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and
payment for the Additional Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall
not be later than two (2) full Business Days after the date of the
notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company
and the Representative, at the offices of Representative Counsel or
at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other
electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and
the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Additional
Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date
will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the
Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the
Additional Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Company shall become obligated to sell to the
Representative, and the Representative shall purchase, the number
of Additional Shares specified in such notice.
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1.2.3 Payment
and Delivery. Payment for the Additional Shares shall be
made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same
day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to
you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative) representing the Additional Shares (or through the
facilities of DTC) for the account of the Representative. The
Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in
such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in
writing at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Option
Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver
the Additional Shares except upon tender of payment by the
Representative for applicable Additional Shares. The Option Closing
Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing
Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous
with the Closing Date, the term “ Closing Date “ shall refer to the
time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Additional
Shares.
2. Representations and Warranties of the
Company. The Company represents and warrants to the
Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of
the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as
follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration
Statement. The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration
statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-226558), including any related
prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities
Act”), which registration statement was prepared by
the Company in all material respects in conformity with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Regulations”) and
contains and will contain all material statements that are required
to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the
Securities Act Regulations. Except as the context may otherwise
require, such registration statement on file with the Commission at
any given time, including any amendments thereto to such time,
exhibits and schedules thereto at such time, documents filed as a
part thereof or incorporated pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under
the Securities Act at such time and the documents and information
otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein pursuant
to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations (the
“Rule 430B
Information”) or otherwise pursuant to the Securities
Act Regulations at such time, is referred to herein as the
“Registration
Statement.” The Registration Statement at the time it
originally became effective is referred to herein as the
“Initial Registration
Statement.” If the Company files any registration
statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act
Regulations, then after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall
include such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b).
The Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission
on August 24, 2018.
The
prospectus in the form in which it was filed with the Commission in
connection with the Initial Registration Statement is herein called
the “Base
Prospectus.” Each preliminary prospectus supplement to
the Base Prospectus (including the Base Prospectus as so
supplemented) that described the Securities and the Offering and
omitted the Rule 430B Information and that was used prior to the
filing of the final prospectus supplement referred to in the
following paragraph is herein called a “Preliminary
Prospectus.”
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Promptly after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare
and file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement to the
Base Prospectus relating to the Securities and the Offering in
accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B and Rule 424(b) of the
Securities Act Regulations. Such final prospectus supplement
(including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented), in the form
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein
to the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
under the Securities Act as of the date of such
prospectus.
“Applicable Time” means 10:00 p.m.,
Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.
“Disclosure Package” means any
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus issued at or prior to
the Applicable Time, the Preliminary Prospectus dated December
23, 2019
and the information included on Schedule 2-A hereto, all
considered together.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”
means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined
in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without
limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) relating to the
Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by
the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written
communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i),
whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii)
exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule
433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or
of the Offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case
in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or,
if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the
Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“Issuer General Use Free Writing
Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors
(other than a “bona
fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433
(the “Bona Fide Electronic
Road Show”)), as evidenced by its being specified in
Schedule 2-B
hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing
Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing
Prospectus.
2.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act.
The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”).
The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the
effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under
the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification
that the Commission is contemplating terminating either such
registration.
2.3 Stock Exchange Listing. The
Common Stock is listed on the NYSE American LLC (the
“NYSE
American”), and the Company has taken no action
designed to, or likely to have the effect of delisting the Common
Stock from the NYSE American, nor has the Company received any
notification that the NYSE American is contemplating terminating
such listing, except as described in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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2.4 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither
the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any state
regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending
the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus or has instituted or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened to institute, any proceedings with respect to
such an order. The Company has complied with each request (if any)
from the Commission for additional information.
2.5 Disclosures in Registration
Statement.
2.5.1 Compliance
with Securities Act and 10b-5 Representation.
(i) Each of the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at
the time it became effective (including each deemed effective date
with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B or otherwise
under the Securities Act) complied and will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Securities Act Regulations. The Company was at the time of the
filing of the Registration Statement eligible to use Form S-3. The
Company is currently eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities
Act and it meets the transaction requirements for use of Form S-3
(including if applicable General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3).
Each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time each
was or will be filed with the Commission, complied and will comply
in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this
Offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T.
(ii) Neither
the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its
effective time, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date or
at any Option Closing Date (if any), contained, contains or will
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or
will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made not
misleading.
(iii) The
Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date
or at any Option Closing Date (if any), did not, does not and will
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and each Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus
hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus, and each such Issuer Limited Use Free Writing
Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the
Preliminary Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, did not include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
warranty shall not apply to statements made or statements omitted
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the
Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such
information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists
solely of the following disclosure contained in the
“Underwriting” section of the Prospectus: ((a) the
fourth and fifth paragraphs, (b) the information set forth under
the sub-captions “Discretionary Accounts,”
“Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares”,
“Other Relationships”, “Stabilization,” and
“Passive Market Making” and (c) the table showing the
number of Securities to be purchased by each
Underwriter, (the
“Underwriters’
Information”); and
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(iv) Neither
the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date,
included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
warranty shall not apply to the Underwriters’
Information.
2.5.2 Disclosure
of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents
required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations
to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as
exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so
described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however
characterized or described) to which the Company or any of its
direct and indirect subsidiaries, including each entity disclosed
or described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus as being a subsidiary of the Company (each, a
“Subsidiary”
and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) is a party or by
which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to
in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the business of the Company or
any Subsidiary, has been duly authorized and validly executed by
the Company or any Subsidiary, is in full force and effect in all
material respects and is enforceable against the Company or any
Subsidiary, and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other
parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or
contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state
securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance
and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject
to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which any proceeding therefor may be brought. None of such
agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company or any
Subsidiary, and neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor, to the
Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder
and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that,
with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s
knowledge, performance by the Company or any Subsidiary of the
material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not
result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule,
regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental or
regulatory agency, body or court, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their
respective assets or businesses (each, a “Governmental Entity”), including,
without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and
regulations.
2.5.3 Prior
Securities Transactions. Since October 1, 2018, no
securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on
behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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2.5.4 Regulations.
The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal,
state, local and all foreign laws, rules and regulations relating
to the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
currently conducted or contemplated are correct and complete in all
material respects and, to the Company’s knowledge, no other
such laws, rules or regulations are required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
which are not so disclosed.
2.5.5 No
Other Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has
not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute
any offering material in connection with the Offering other than
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus
and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act and
consistent with Section 3.2 below.
2.6 Changes After Dates in Registration
Statement.
2.6.1 No
Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise
specifically stated or incorporated by reference therein: (i) there
has been no material adverse change in the financial position or
results of operations of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor any
change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would
involve a material adverse change or a prospective material adverse
change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise),
results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company
or any Subsidiary (a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii)
there have been no material transactions entered into by the
Company or any Subsidiary, other than as contemplated pursuant to
this Agreement; and (iii) no officer or director of the Company has
resigned from any position with the Company.
2.6.2 Recent
Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as
may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities, other
than securities issued pursuant to the Company’s existing
equity incentive or stock option plans or shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of then outstanding options, warrants
and convertible securities, or incurred any liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend
or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital
stock.
2.7 Disclosures in Commission
Filings. Since October 1, 2018, (i) none of the
Company’s filings with the Commission contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
(ii) the Company has made all filings with the Commission required
under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act
Regulations”).
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2.8 Independent Accountants. To the
knowledge of the Company, BDO USA, LLP (the “Auditor”), whose report is filed
with the Commission and incorporated in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent
registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act
and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board. The Auditor has not, during the periods
covered by the financial statements included in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided to
the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section
10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
2.9 Financial Statements, etc. The
financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting
schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly
present the financial position and the results of operations of the
Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and
such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied
throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim
financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that
are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain
all footnotes required by GAAP); and the supporting schedules
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly
the information required to be stated therein. Except as included
or incorporated by reference therein, no historical or pro forma
financial statements are required to be included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act
Regulations. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial
information and the related notes, if any, included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
and the Securities Act Regulations and present fairly the
information shown therein, and the assumptions used in the
preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein
are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP
financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and
regulations of the Commission), if any, comply with Regulation G of
the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities
Act, to the extent applicable. Each of the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus discloses all material
off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations
(including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the
Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have
a material current or future effect on the Company’s
financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of
operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or
significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed
in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries,
including each entity disclosed or described in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being a
Subsidiary of the Company, has incurred any material liabilities or
obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material
transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b)
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has declared or
paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with
respect to its capital stock, (c) there has not been any change in
the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (d)
other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
the Company’s prior policies, the Company has not made any
grants under any stock compensation plan, and (e) there has not
been any material adverse change in the long-term or short-term
debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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2.10 Authorized
Capital; Options, etc. The Company had, at the date or dates
indicated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth therein. Based on the assumptions
stated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the
adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set
forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time
and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, there will be
no stock options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or
otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock of the Company or equity securities of any Subsidiary or any
security convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock of
the Company or equity securities of any Subsidiary, or any
contracts or commitments to issue or sell shares of Common Stock of
the Company or equity securities of any Subsidiary or any such
options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.11 Valid
Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.11.1 Outstanding
Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the
Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable; except as set forth in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
the holders thereof have no contractual rights of rescission or the
ability to force the Company to repurchase such securities with
respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by
reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were
issued in violation of the preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or rights of participation of any holders of any security
of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the
Company. The authorized shares of Common Stock conform in all
material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, options, warrants and other rights to purchase or
exchange such securities for shares of the Common Stock were at all
relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the
applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or,
based in part on the representations and warranties of the
purchasers of such shares of Common Stock, exempt from such
registration requirements. The description of the Company’s
stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements,
and the options or other rights granted thereunder, as described in
the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
accurately and fairly present, in all material respects, the
information required to be shown with respect to such plans,
arrangements, options and rights.
2.11.2 Securities
Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Securities have been
duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid
for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the
holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal
liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities are not
and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of
any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted
by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for
the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been
duly and validly taken. The Securities conform in all material
respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus.
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2.12 Registration
Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
no holders of any securities of the Company or any options,
warrants, rights or other securities exercisable for or convertible
or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to
require the Company to register any such securities of the Company
under the Securities Act or to include any such securities in the
Registration Statement or any other registration statement to be
filed by the Company.
2.13 Validity
and Binding Effect of Agreements. The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by the Company, and this Agreement, when executed and
delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any
indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the
federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of
specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
2.14 No
Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance by
the Company of this Agreement and all ancillary documents, the
consummation by the Company of the transactions herein contemplated
and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof
do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the
lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or
conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
material default under, or result in the creation, modification,
termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon
any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or as to which any
property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; (ii)
result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation (as the same have been amended or
restated from time to time, the “Charter”), the by-laws of the
Company, the certificate of incorporation of any Subsidiary or the
bylaws of any Subsidiary (as applicable); or (iii) violate any
existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or
decree of any Governmental Entity as of the date hereof, except in
the cases of clauses (i) and (iii) for such breaches, conflicts or
violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Change.
2.15 No
Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due
performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of
any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or
instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any
other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries may be bound or to which any of the properties or
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) in violation
of any term or provision of its Charter or by-laws, or (ii) in
violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule,
regulation, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity, except
in the cases of clause (ii) for such violations which would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
10
2.16 Corporate
Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.16.1 Conduct
of Business. Except as described in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and
authority, and has all necessary consents, authorizations,
approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, qualifications,
registrations and permits (collectively, the “Authorizations”) of and from all
Governmental Entities that it needs as of the date hereof to
conduct its respective business as described in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.16.2 Transactions
Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the
provisions and conditions hereof, and all Authorizations required
in connection therewith have been obtained. Except for the filing
of an Additional Listing Application with the NYSE American with
respect to the sale of the Securities, no Authorization of, and no
filing with, any Governmental Entity is required for the valid
issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and the consummation
of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement
and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable
federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations of
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
(“FINRA”).
2.17 D&O
Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all
information contained in the questionnaires (the
“Questionnaires”)
completed by each of the Company’s directors, officers and
beneficial holders of 5% or more of the Company’s Common
Stock immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as supplemented by all
information concerning the Company’s directors, officers and
principal shareholders as described in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as well as in the
Lock-Up Agreements (as defined in Section 2.27 below), provided to
the Underwriters is true and correct in all material respects and
the Company has not become aware of any information which would
cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become
inaccurate and incorrect in any material respect.
2.18 Litigation;
Governmental Proceedings. There is no material action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or
governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any executive
officer or director which has not been disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
which is required to be disclosed.
2.19 Good
Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in
which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business
requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify,
singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
11
2.20 Insurance.
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries carries or is entitled to
the benefits of insurance (including, without limitation, as to
directors and officers insurance coverage), with reputable
insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks which the Company
believes are adequate, and all such insurance is in full force and
effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its
Subsidiaries will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance
coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain
comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary
or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a
cost that would not result in a Material Adverse
Change.
2.21 Transactions
Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.21.1 Finder’s
Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no claims,
payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to
the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by
the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the
Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or
understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge,
any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’
compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.21.2 Payments
Within Six (6) Months. Except as described in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash,
securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s
fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person
raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company
persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any
FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or
indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within
the six (6) months prior to the initial filing of the Registration
Statement, other than the payment to the Underwriters as provided
hereunder in connection with the Offering.
2.21.3 Use
of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will
be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its
affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.21.4 FINRA
Affiliation. There is no (i) officer or director of the
Company, (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, any beneficial
owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s securities
or (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, any beneficial owner of
the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were
acquired during the 180-day period immediately preceding the filing
of the Registration Statement that is an affiliate or associated
person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as
determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of
FINRA).
2.21.5 Information.
All information provided by the Company in its FINRA questionnaire
to Representative Counsel specifically for use by Representative
Counsel in connection with its Public Offering System filings (and
related disclosure) with FINRA is true, correct and complete in all
material respects.
12
2.22 Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company, nor any of its
Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director,
officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other
person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money,
gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to
customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer,
supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official
or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any
government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or
candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was,
is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries (or assist it in connection with any
actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to any material damage or penalty in any
civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if
not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Change or
(iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the
assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has
taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and
procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all
material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
as amended.
2.23 Compliance
with OFAC. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries
nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer,
agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other
person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the
Treasury (“OFAC”), and the Company will not,
directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering hereunder,
or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to
any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity,
for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently
subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
2.24 Money
Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in
compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting
requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act
of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all
jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related
or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered
or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the
“Money Laundering
Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before
any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending
or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
2.25 Forward-Looking
Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the
Exchange Act) contained in either the Registration Statement,
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed
without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good
faith.
2.26 Officers’
Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized
officer of the Company and delivered to you or to Representative
Counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the
Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered
thereby.
13
2.27 Lock-Up
Agreements. Schedule 3 hereto contains a
complete and accurate list of the Company’s officers,
directors and, to the Company’s knowledge, holders of 5% or
more of the Company’s Common Stock (collectively, the
“Lock-Up
Parties”). The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up
Parties to deliver to the Representative an executed Lock-Up
Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), prior to the
execution of this Agreement.
2.28 Subsidiaries.
The Company has no subsidiaries.
2.29 Related
Party Transactions.
2.29.1 Business
Relationships. There are no business relationships or
related party transactions involving the Company or any other
person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described
as required.
2.29.2 No
Relationships with Customers and Suppliers. No relationship,
direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one
hand, and the directors, officers, 5% or greater stockholders,
customers or suppliers of the Company or any of the Company’s
affiliates on the other hand, which is required to be described in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or a document
incorporated by reference therein and which is not so
described.
2.29.3 No
Unconsolidated Entities. There are no transactions,
arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the
Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405
of the Securities Act) and any unconsolidated entity, including,
but not limited to, any structure finance, special purpose or
limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to
materially affect the Company’s liquidity or the availability
of or requirements for its capital resources required to be
described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or a
document incorporated by reference therein which have not been
described as required.
2.29.4 No
Loans or Advances to Affiliates. There are no outstanding
loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in
the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by
the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or
directors of the Company or any of their respective family members,
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus.
2.30 Board
of Directors. The qualifications of the persons serving as
members of the Company’s Board of Directors and the overall
composition of the Board comply with the Exchange Act, the Exchange
Act Regulations, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules
promulgated thereunder (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”)
applicable to the Company and the listing rules of the NYSE
American. At least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board
of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee
financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation
S-K and the listing rules of the NYSE American. In addition, 50% of
the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as
“independent,” as defined under the listing rules of
the NYSE American.
14
2.31 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Compliance.
2.31.1 Disclosure
Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has
developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and
procedures that comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the
Exchange Act Regulations, and such controls and procedures are
effective to the extent or except as otherwise disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will
be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for
the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and
other public disclosure documents.
2.31.2 Compliance.
The Company is, or at the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date
will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will
implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the
Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant
statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all of the
material provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
2.32 Accounting
Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries maintains systems of “internal control over
financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and
15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations ) that comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and
have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their
respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or
persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance 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 GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company
is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal controls.
The Auditor and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies
and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal
controls over financial reporting which are known to the
Company’s management and that have adversely affected or are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’ ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or
not material, that involves management or other employees who have
a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over
financial reporting.
15
2.33 No
Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after
giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an
“investment company,” as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.34 No
Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of
the Company, is imminent. The Company is not aware that any key
employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or such
Subsidiary.
2.35 Intellectual
Property Rights. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
owns or possesses or has valid rights to use all patents, patent
applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark
registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses,
inventions, trade secrets software, databases, know-how, internet
domain names, other unpatented and/or un-patentable proprietary
confidential information systems, processes or procedures and
similar rights (“Intellectual
Property Rights”) necessary for the conduct of the
business of the Company or such Subsidiary as currently carried on
and as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus. The Intellectual Property licenses
described in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus are validly executed by, binding upon and enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their respective terms. To
the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the conduct of their
respective businesses as currently carried on and as described in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will involve or give
rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any
Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has received any notice alleging any such infringement,
fee or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of
others. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result,
individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change or
as otherwise as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (A) there is no pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit,
proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries in or to any such Intellectual Property
Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a
reasonable basis for any such claim, that would, individually or in
the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.35,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (B)
the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual
Property Rights licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid
or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or,
to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit,
proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of
any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware
of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim
that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any
other claims in this Section 2.35, reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Change; (C) there is no pending or, to the
Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or
claim by others that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual
Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice
of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other facts which
would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would,
individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in
this Section 2.35, reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change; and (D) to the Company’s knowledge, no
employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in or has
ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any
employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention
assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation
agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to
or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates
to such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed
with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and could reasonably be
expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material
Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, all material
technical information developed by and belonging to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries which has not been patented has been kept
confidential. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with
respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or
entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not
described therein. The Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus contain in all material respects the
same description of the matters set forth in the preceding
sentence. None of the technology employed by the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries has been obtained or is being used by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries in violation of any contractual
obligation binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to
the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or
employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any
persons.
16
2.36 Taxes.
Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all returns (as
hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities
prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time
for the filing thereof. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such
returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or
assessed against the Company or such respective Subsidiary. The
provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial
statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are
sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not
disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such
consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing
to the Underwriters, (i) no issues have been raised (and are
currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any
of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its
Subsidiaries, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with
respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or
requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term
“taxes” mean all
federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income,
gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise,
profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding,
payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium,
property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees,
assessments or charges of any kind whatever, together with any
interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts
with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns,
declarations, reports, statements and other documents required to
be filed in respect to taxes
2.37 Compliance
with Environmental Laws. Except as described in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
(i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material
violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law,
rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or
any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including
any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment,
relating to pollution or protection of human health, the
environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface
water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife,
including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the
release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances,
petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials
(collectively, “Environmental
Laws ), (ii) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has
all material permits, authorizations and approvals required under
any applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their
requirements, (iii) there are no pending or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial
actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of
noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating
to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and (iv) to the Company’s knowledge, there are
no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to
form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an
action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental
body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental
Laws.
17
2.38 ERISA
Compliance. The Company and any “employee benefit
plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained
by the Company or its “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined
below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA.
“ERISA
Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, any
member of any group of organizations described in Sections
414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company is a
member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA)
has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any
“employee benefit plan” established or maintained by
the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No “employee
benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any
of its ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit
plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of
unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA).
Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any material liability under (i) Title
IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any
“employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971,
4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan”
established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company,
nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which
would cause the loss of such qualification. The execution of this
Agreement, or consummation of the Offering does not constitute a
triggering event under any employee benefit plan or any other
employment contract, whether or not legally enforceable, which
(either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or
subsequent event) will or may result in any payment (of severance
pay or otherwise), acceleration, increase in vesting, or increase
in benefits to any current or former participant, employee or
director of the Company other than an event that is not material to
the financial condition or business of the Company.
2.39 Compliance
with Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries: (A) is
and at all times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules,
or regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development,
manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing,
labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export
or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the
Company (“Applicable
Laws”), except as could not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Change; (B) possesses all material Authorizations and such
Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not
in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (C)
has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action
from any Governmental Entity or third party alleging that any
product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable
Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such
governmental authority or third party is considering any such
claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or
proceeding; (D) has not received notice that any Governmental
Entity has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit,
suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge
that any such governmental authority is considering such action;
and (E) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material
reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims,
submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any
Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports,
documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims,
submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct
on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a
subsequent submission).
18
2.40 Smaller
Reporting Company. As of the effective date, or deemed
effective date, of the Registration Statement, the Company was a
“smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act Regulations.
2.41 Industry
Data. The statistical and market-related data included in
each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company
reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate or
represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on
the basis of data derived from such sources.
2.42 Margin
Securities. The Company does not own any “margin
securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
“Federal Reserve
Board”), and none of the proceeds of Offering will be
used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or
retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase
or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might
cause any of the shares of Common Stock to be considered a
“purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U
or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
2.43 Integration.
Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person
acting on its or 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 cause the Offering to be
integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the
Securities Act that would require the registration of any such
securities under the Securities Act.
2.44 Title.
Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has good and marketable title in fee simple to, or has
valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or
personal property that are material to its respective business,
free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests,
claims and defects that do not, singularly or in the aggregate,
materially affect the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries
and do not interfere with the use made of such property by the
Company or its Subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases
material to the business of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries, and under which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are, to the
Company’s knowledge in full force and effect, and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any
material claim of any sort that have been asserted by anyone
adverse to the rights of the Company or such Subsidiaries under any
of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or
questioning the rights of the Company or such Subsidiaries to the
continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any
such lease or sublease, which would result in a Material Adverse
Change.
2.45 Confidentiality
and Non-Competitions. To the Company’s knowledge, no
director, officer, key employee or consultant of the Company is
subject to any confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-competition
agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior
employer that could materially affect his ability to be and act in
his respective capacity of the Company or be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Change.
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2.46 Potential
Products; FDA; EMEA.
2.46.1 Except as described in the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the
Company possesses all certificates, authorizations and permits
issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory
authorities necessary to conduct its business as currently
conducted, including without limitation all such certificates,
authorizations and permits required by the United States Food and
Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or any other federal, state or foreign
agencies or bodies engaged in the regulation of pharmaceuticals or
biohazardous materials, except where the failure to so possess such
certificates, authorizations and permits, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement,
the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has
not received any written notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization
or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject
of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.46.2 Except to the extent disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, the Company has not received any written notices or
statements from the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (the
“EMEA”) or any other governmental agency that (i)
any drug candidate of the Company described in the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (each
a “Potential
Product”) may or will be
rejected or determined to be non-approvable; (ii) a delay in time
for review and/or approval of a marketing authorization application
or marketing approval application in any jurisdiction for any
Potential Product is or may be required, requested or being
implemented; (iii) one or more clinical studies for any Potential
Product shall or may be requested or required in addition to the
clinical studies submitted to the FDA prior to the date hereof as a
precondition to or condition of issuance or maintenance of a
marketing approval for any Potential Product; (iv) any license,
approval, permit or authorization to conduct any clinical trial of
or market any product or Potential Product of the Company has been,
will be or may be suspended, revoked, modified or limited, except
in the cases of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) where such
rejections, determinations, delays, requests, suspensions,
revocations, modifications or limitations would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
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2.46.3
Except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the
Company’s knowledge, the preclinical and clinical testing,
application for marketing approval of, manufacture, distribution,
promotion and sale of the products and Potential Products of the
Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with all laws,
rules and regulations applicable to such activities, including
without limitation applicable good laboratory practices, good
clinical practices and good manufacturing practices, except for
such non-compliance as would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
The descriptions of the results of such tests and trials contained
in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus are complete and accurate in all material respects
such that there would be no untrue statement of a material fact or
omission of a material fact necessary to make the statements in the
Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading. The Company is not aware of any studies,
tests or trial the results of which reasonably call into question
the results of the tests and trials conducted by or on behalf of
the Company that are described or referred to in the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
Except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not
received written notice of adverse finding, warning letter or
clinical hold notice from the FDA or any non-U.S. counterpart of
any of the foregoing, or any untitled letter or other
correspondence or notice from the FDA or any other governmental
authority or agency or any institutional or ethical review board
alleging or asserting noncompliance with any law, rule or
regulation applicable in any jurisdiction, except notices, letters,
and correspondences and non-U.S. counterparts thereof alleging or
asserting such noncompliance as would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect. Except to the extent disclosed in the Registration
Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the
Company has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated,
conducted or issued, or caused to be initiated, conducted or
issued, any recall, field correction, market withdrawal or
replacement, safety alert, warning, “dear doctor”
letter, investigator notice, or other notice or action relating to
an alleged or potential lack of safety or efficacy of any product
or Potential Product of the Company, any alleged product defect of
any product or Potential Product of the Company, or any violation
of any material applicable law, rule, regulation or any clinical
trial or marketing license, approval, permit or authorization for
any product or potential product of the Company, and the Company is
not aware of any facts or information that would cause it to
initiate any such notice or action and has no knowledge or reason
to believe that the FDA, the EMEA or any other governmental agency
or authority or any institutional or ethical review board or other
non-governmental authority intends to impose, require, request or
suggest such notice or action.
3. Covenants of the Company. The
Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration
Statement. The Company shall deliver to the Representative,
prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, Disclosure Package or
Prospectus proposed to be filed and shall not file any such
document to which the Representative shall reasonably object in
writing.
3.2 Federal Securities
Laws.
21
3.2.1 Compliance.
The Company, subject to Section 3.2.2, shall comply with the
requirements of Rule 424(b) and Rule 430B of the Securities Act
Regulations, and will notify the Representative promptly, and
confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus shall have been filed and when any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective;
(ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of
any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or for
additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the
qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant
to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the
Registration Statement; and (v) if the Company becomes the subject
of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in
connection with the Offering of the Securities. The Company shall
effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act
Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by
Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and shall take
such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the
form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was
received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was
not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company shall use
its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order,
prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to
obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible
moment.
3.2.2 Continued
Compliance. The Company shall comply with the Securities
Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the
Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the
distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement
and in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of
the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by
the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the
Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a
result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration
Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not 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 not misleading; (ii) amend or supplement the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time
it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration
Statement or amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the
requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Act
Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative
notice of such event; (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as
may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount
of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the
Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and
(C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement;
provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment
or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the
Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to
the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or
supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company
has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to
the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours
prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the
Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from
the Applicable Time to the Closing Date and will furnish the
Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable
amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be,
and will not file or use any such document to which the
Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably
object.
22
3.2.3 Exchange
Act Registration. For a period of three (3) years after the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under the
Exchange Act, provided that such provision shall not prevent a
sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company. The
Company shall not, for a period of three (3) years after the date
of this Agreement, deregister the Common Stock under the Exchange
Act without the prior written consent of the Representative, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3.2.4 Free
Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it
obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it shall
not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute
an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise
constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion
thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or
retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the
Representative shall be deemed to have consented to each Issuer
General Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto and any “road show
that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule
433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representative. The
Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat
each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented
to, by the Underwriters as an “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied
and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with
respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where
required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following
issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or
occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the
information contained in the Registration Statement or included or
would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at
that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly
notify the Underwriters and will promptly amend or supplement, at
its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate
or correct such conflict, untrue statement or
omission.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of
Registration Statements. The Company has delivered or made
available or shall deliver or make available to the Representative
and counsel for the Representative, if requested, without charge,
signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and
each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and
signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will
also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy
of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each
amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.
The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T.
23
3.4 Delivery to the Underwriters of
Prospectuses. The Company has delivered or made available or
will deliver or make available to each Underwriter, without charge,
as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and
the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes
permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each
Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus
relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded
by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations, would be) required
to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may
reasonably request. The Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure
Package, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation
S-T.
3.5 Listing. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of the Common
Stock (including the Securities) on the NYSE American for at least
three years from the date of this Agreement; provided that such
provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction
involving the Company.
3.6 Payment of Expenses. The
Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the
Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing
Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations
of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to:
(a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the
registration of Securities to be issued and sold in the Offering
with the Commission; (b) all Public Offering System filing fees
associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (c) all fees
and expenses relating to the listing of the Securities on the NYSE
American; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the
registration or qualification of the Securities under the
“blue sky” securities laws of such states and other
jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate
(including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees,
and the reasonable fees and disbursements of “blue sky”
counsel which will be Representative Counsel); (e) all fees,
expenses and disbursements relating to the registration,
qualification or exemption of the Securities under the securities
laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may
reasonably designate; (f) the costs of all mailing and printing of
the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the
Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate,
any Agreement Among Underwriters, Selected Dealers’
Agreement, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and Power of
Attorney), Registration Statements, Preliminary Prospectuses,
Disclosure Packages and Prospectuses and all amendments,
supplements and exhibits thereto and as many Preliminary
Prospectuses and Prospectuses as the Representative may reasonably
deem necessary; (g) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering
certificates representing the Securities; (h) fees and expenses of
the Company’s transfer agent; (j) stock transfer and/or stamp
taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the
Company to the Underwriters; (k) the fees and expenses of the
Company’s accountants; (l) the fees and expenses of the
Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives;
and (m) up to $65,000 for the actual fees and expenses incurred by
the Representative in connection with the Offering including the
legal fees of the Representative Counsel or $25,000 if the Offering
is not consummated. The Representative may deduct from the net
proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing
Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth
herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters.
24
3.7 Reserved.
3.8 Application of Net Proceeds.
The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the Offering received
by it in a manner consistent with the application thereof described
under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
3.9 Stabilization. Neither the
Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or
shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken
or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or
that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause
or result in, under Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or otherwise,
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities.
3.10 Internal
Controls. The Company shall maintain and shall cause each of
its Subsidiaries to maintain a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements
in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets;
(iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets
at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
3.11 Accountants.
As of the date of this Agreement, the Company shall retain an
independent registered public accounting firm, as required by the
Securities Act and the Regulations and the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board, reasonably acceptable to the
Representative. The Representative acknowledges that the Auditor is
acceptable to the Representative.
3.12 FINRA.
For a period of 90 days from the later of the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date (if any), the Company shall advise the
Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if
it is or becomes aware that (i) any officer or director of the
Company, (ii) any beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of
the Company’s securities or (iii) any beneficial owner of the
Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired
during the 180 days immediately preceding the filing of the
Registration Statement is or becomes an affiliate or associated
person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as
determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of
FINRA).
3.13 No
Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that
the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely
contractual in nature and that none of the Underwriters or their
affiliates or any selling agent shall be deemed to be acting in a
fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the
Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering
and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
25
3.14 Company
Lock-Up Agreement. The Company, on behalf of itself and any
successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of
the Representative, it will not, during the period of forty-five
(45) days from the date of this Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any
option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer
or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock
of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; or (ii)
file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the
Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock
of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the
Company.
The
restrictions contained in this Section 3.14 shall not apply to (i)
the Securities to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the
Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a stock
option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on
the date hereof, which is disclosed in the Registration Statement,
Disclosure Package and Prospectus,(iii) the issuance by the Company
of stock options under any equity compensation plan of the Company,
and (iv) the sale or issuance by the Company to a non-U.S. person,
as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the
Securities Act, at a price per share that is equal to or more than
the per Firm Share public offering price.
3.15 Release
of D&O Lock-up Period. If the Representative, in its
sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set
forth in the Lock-Up Agreements described in Section 2.27 hereof
for an officer, director or shareholder of the Company, the
Representative shall provide the Company with notice of the
impending release or waiver at least three (3) Business Days before
the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees if
required by applicable law to announce the impending release or
waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a
major news service at least two (2) Business Days before the
effective date of the release or waiver.
3.16 Blue
Sky Qualifications. The Company shall use its best efforts,
in cooperation with the Underwriters, if necessary, to qualify the
Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities
laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign)
as the Representative may designate and to maintain such
qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the
distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of
process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or
to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
3.17 Reporting
Requirements. The Company, during the period when a
prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception
afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the
Securities Act, will file all documents required to be filed with
the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods
required by the Exchange Act and Exchange Act
Regulations.
26
3.18 Press
Releases. Prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing
Date, the Company shall not issue any press release or other
communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference
with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise,
or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for
routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and
of which the Representative is notified), without the prior written
consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, unless in the judgment of the Company and
its counsel, and after notification to the Representative, such
press release or communication is required by law.
3.19 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx.
The Company shall at all times comply with all applicable
provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act in effect from time to
time.
4. Conditions of Underwriters’
Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase
and pay for the Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to
(i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties
of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the
statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the
provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder; and (iv) the following
conditions:
4.1 Regulatory
Matters.
4.1.1 Absence
of Certain Commission Actions; Required Filings. At each of
the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have been issued under the
Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been issued and
no proceedings for any of those purposes shall have been instituted
or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated
by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if
any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus
containing the Rule 430B Information shall have been filed with the
Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations (without reliance on
Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing such
information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by,
the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430B
under the Securities Act Regulations.
4.1.2 FINRA
Clearance. On or before the date of this Agreement, the
Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the
amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as
described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.3 NYSE
American Stock Market Clearance. On or before the Closing
Date, the Firm Shares, and on or before the Option Closing Date,
the Additional Shares, shall have been approved for listing on the
NYSE American.
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4.2 Company Counsel
Matters.
4.2.1 Closing
Date Opinion of Counsel to the Company. On the Closing Date,
the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of
Xxxx & Xxxx, LLC and a
written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative
assurances, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Representative, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
C.
4.2.2 Option
Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On the Option Closing Date,
if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable
opinion of counsel listed in Section 4.2.1, dated the Option
Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, confirming
as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made by such counsel
in its opinion delivered on the Closing Date.
4.2.3 Reliance.
In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely: (i) as to
matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of
the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to
the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in
such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other
counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with
the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent
they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of
officers of the Company and officers of departments of various
jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate
existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of
any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to
Representative Counsel if requested. The opinion referred to in
Sections 4.2.1 above and any related Option Closing Date opinion
shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon
by Representative Counsel in its written statement providing
certain “10b-5” negative assurances delivered to the
Underwriters.
4.3 Comfort Letters.
4.3.1 Cold
Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed you
shall have received a cold comfort letter containing statements and
information of the type customarily included in accountants’
comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and
certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, addressed to
the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all
respects to you and to Representative Counsel from the Auditor,
dated such date.
4.3.2 Bring-down
Comfort Letter. At each of the Closing Date and the Option
Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from
the Auditor a letter, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as applicable, to the effect that the Auditor
reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to
Section 4.3.1, except that the specified date referred to shall be
a date not more than one (1) business day prior to the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.
28
4.4 Officers’
Certificates.
4.4.1 Officers’
Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the
Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date and any Option
Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), of its
Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer or Chief
Operating Officer stating that (i) such officers have carefully
examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and, in their
opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, as
of the Applicable Time and as of the date of this Agreement and as
of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is
other than the Closing Date) did not include any untrue statement
of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and the Disclosure Package, as of the
Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing
Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus as of its date and as of the Closing Date (or
any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing
Date), the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as
of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not
include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made,
not misleading, (ii) since the date of this Agreement, no event has
occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement or
amendment to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus, (iii) to the best of their knowledge after
reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date (or any Option
Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct in all material respects and the Company has
complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the
Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than
the Closing Date), and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package, any material
adverse change in the financial position or results of operations
of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in
the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change or a
prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets
or prospects of the Company, except as set forth in the
Prospectus.
4.4.2 Secretary’s
Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option
Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a
certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or the Assistant
Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option
Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that each
of the Charter and Bylaws is true and complete, has not been
modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions
of the Company’s Board of Directors and the Pricing Committee
of the Board of Directors relating to the Offering are in full
force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the
accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company
or its counsel and the Commission; and (iv) as to the incumbency of
the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such
certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
29
4.5 No Material Changes. Prior to
and on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or
development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or
otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such
condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and no
material change in the capital stock or debt of the Company, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) no action, suit or
proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or
threatened against the Company or, to the Company’s
knowledge, any Insider before or by any court or federal or state
commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely
affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition
or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (iii) no stop
order shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no
proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission; (iv) no action shall have been taken and no law,
statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted
or issued by any Governmental Entity which would prevent the
issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely
affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business
or operations of the Company; (v) no injunction, restraining order
or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of
competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent
the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely
affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business
or operations of the Company and (vi) the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are
required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act
and the Securities Act Regulations and shall conform in all
material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the
Securities Act Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus nor any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
4.6 No Material Misstatement or
Omission. The Underwriters shall not have discovered and
disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date and any
Option Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a
fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, is
material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such
counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that
the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion
of such counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in
the opinion of such counsel, is material and is necessary in order
to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
4.7 Corporate Proceedings. All
corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the
authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the
Securities, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package,
each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, and the Prospectus and
all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory
in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and
information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass
upon such matters.
30
4.8 Delivery of Lock-Up Agreements.
On or before the date of this Agreement, the Company shall have
delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Lock-Up
Agreements from each of the persons listed in Schedule 3 hereto.
4.9 Good Standing Certificates. On
the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company
shall have delivered to the Representative a certificate of good
standing from the State of New York for the Company
4.10 Additional
Documents. At the Closing Date and at each Option Closing
Date (if any), Representative Counsel shall have been furnished
with such documents and opinions as they may require for the
purpose of enabling Representative Counsel to deliver an opinion to
the Underwriters, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of
the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the
Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities
as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance
to the Representative and Representative Counsel.
5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification by the Company.
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its
affiliates and each of its and their respective directors,
officers, members, employees, representatives and agents and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act of or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act (collectively the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,”
and each a “Underwriter
Indemnified Party”) against any loss, claim, damage,
expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or
proceeding in respect thereof), to which such Underwriter
Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or
otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability,
action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon
(A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any Registration Statement, Preliminary
Prospectus, Disclosure Package, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any
“issuer
information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, or the Prospectus,
or in any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated
by reference therein, or (B) the omission or alleged omission to
state in any Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus,
Disclosure Package, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any
“issuer
information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, or the Prospectus,
or in any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated
by reference therein, a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
shall reimburse the Underwriter Indemnified Party promptly upon
demand for any legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by
that Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating, or preparing to defend, or defending against, or
appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise
incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense,
liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon
an untrue statement in, or omission from any Registration
Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Disclosure Package, Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or
supplement thereto, or made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company through the
Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for
use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited
to the Underwriters’ Information. This indemnity agreement is
not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the
Company might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or
remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to
each Underwriter Indemnified Party.
31
5.2 Indemnification by the
Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly,
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Company’s
directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
(collectively the “Company
Indemnified Parties” and each a “Company Indemnified Party”)
against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever
(or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), to
which such Company Indemnified Party may become subject, under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out
of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus,
Disclosure Package, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any
“issuer
information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, or the Prospectus,
or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission to
state in any Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus,
Disclosure Package, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any
“issuer
information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to
Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, or the Prospectus,
or in any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 the untrue
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company through the
Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for
use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited
to the Underwriters’ Information and shall reimburse the
Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or
defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection
with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation
or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.2, in no event
shall any indemnity by an Underwriter under this Section 5.2 exceed
the total discount and commission received by such Underwriter in
connection with the Offering.
32
5.3 Procedure. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of
the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying
party under this Section 5, notify such indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have under this Section 5 except to the extent it has been
materially adversely prejudiced by such failure; and, provided, further, that the failure to notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section
5. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified
party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly
notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party
(which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After
notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its
election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided
herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the
indemnified party under Section 5 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with
the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of
investigation; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall
have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to
participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses
of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation)
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by
the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under 5.1 or
the Representative in the case of a claim for indemnification under
Section 5.2, (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by
its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it which are different from or additional to those available to
the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed
to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of
time after notice of the commencement of the action or the
indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after
assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party
notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense
of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action
after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action
on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party
shall be responsible for legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
of such action; provided,
however, that the
indemnifying party shall not, 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 for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time any such
indemnified party (in addition to any local counsel), which firm
shall be designated in writing by the Representative if the
indemnified party under this Section 5 is an Underwriter
Indemnified Party or by the Company if an indemnified party under
this Section 5 is a Company Indemnified Party. Subject to this
Section 5.3, the amount payable by an indemnifying party under
Section 5 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable
legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any
other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or
defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect
of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action,
investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in
settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties,
settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim
whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution
could be sought under this Section 5 (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto),
unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party from
all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or
a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Subject
to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party
shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action
or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent
has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment
for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall
have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified
party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated herein effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for
reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received
notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (30) days
prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party
in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
33
5.4 Contribution. If the
indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section
5.1 or Section 5.2, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid,
payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result
of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action,
investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i)
in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each of the
Underwriters on the other hand from the Offering, or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 5.4 is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
of this Section 5.4 but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to the
statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in
such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action,
investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the
same proportion as the total proceeds from the Offering purchased
under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company bear to the total underwriting discount and commissions
received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in
each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
the Underwriters on the other 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 Underwriters on the other, the intent of the
parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission,
act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that
the written information furnished to the Company through the
Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists
solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contributions pursuant to this Section 5.4 be determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not
take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation
or proceeding referred to above in this Section 5.4 shall be deemed
to include, for purposes of this Section 5.4, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending
against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or
otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim,
damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.4, no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total
discount and commission received by such Underwriter in connection
with the Offering less the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of
any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged
omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure
to act. 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. The Underwriters’ obligation to
contribute as provided in this Section 5.4 are several and in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligation, and not
joint.
34
6. Default by an
Underwriter.
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase
the Firm Shares or the Additional Shares, if the Over-allotment
Option is exercised hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Shares
or Additional Shares with respect to which such default relates
does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares
or Additional Shares that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase
hereunder, then such Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which the
default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting
Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments
hereunder.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares
or Additional Shares. In the event that the default
addressed in Section 6.1 relates to more than 10% of the Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, you may in your discretion arrange for
yourself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm
Shares or Additional Shares to which such default relates on the
terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such
default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or
Additional Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further
period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another
party or parties satisfactory to you to purchase said Firm Shares
or Additional Shares on such terms. In the event that neither you
nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or
Additional Shares to which a default relates as provided in this
Section 6, this Agreement will automatically be terminated by you
or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except
as provided in Sections 3.10 and 5 hereof) or the several
Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided,
however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Additional
Shares, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares;
and provided, further, that nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other
Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its
default hereunder.
6.3 Postponement of Closing Date.
In the event that the Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which the
default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as
aforesaid, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but
not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to
effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or
in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to
file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel
for the Underwriter may thereby be made necessary. The term
“Underwriter” as
used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under
this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a
party to this Agreement with respect to such
Securities.
35
7. Reserved
8. Effectiveness of this Agreement and
Termination Thereof.
8.1 Effectiveness of the Agreement.
This Agreement shall become effective when both the Company and the
Representative have executed the same and delivered counterparts of
such signatures to the other party.
8.2 Termination. The Representative
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior
to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or
act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your opinion will
in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities
markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC shall have been
suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for
trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for
securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the
Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction;
or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new
war or an increase in major hostilities; or (iv) if a banking
moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal
authority; or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has
been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States
securities markets; or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a
material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake,
theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether
or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in your opinion,
make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Shares
or Additional Shares; or (vii) if the Company is in material breach
of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder;
or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the
date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or
prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in
general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment
would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale
and/or delivery of the Securities or to enforce contracts made by
the Underwriters for the sale of the Securities.
8.3 Expenses Upon Termination.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except
in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section
6.2 above, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried
out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or
any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company
shall be obligated to pay to the Representative its actual and
accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions
contemplated herein then due and payable (including the fees and
disbursements of Representative Counsel) up to $25,000, and upon
demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the
Representative; provided, however, that such expense cap in no way
limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions
of this Agreement.
8.4 Survival of Indemnification.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement,
any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and
whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the
provisions of Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect and
shall not be in any way affected by, such election or termination
or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part
hereof.
36
8.5 Representations, Warranties,
Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and
agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of
officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its
Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any
Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling
the Company or (ii) delivery of and payment for the
Securities.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Notices. All communications
hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall
be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by
facsimile transmission and confirmed and shall be deemed given when
so delivered or faxed and confirmed or if mailed, two (2) days
after such mailing.
If to
the Representative:
Aegis
Capital Corp.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn:
Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxx Co-Head of Investment Banking and Xx. Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Co-Head of Investment Banking
Fax
No.:
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Sichenzia
Xxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx , Esq.
Fax No:
(000) 000-0000
If to
the Company:
CEL-SCI
Corporation
0000
Xxxxx Xxxx. #000
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Geert X. Xxxxxxx
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
with a
copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxx
& Xxxx, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx. Esq.
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
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9.2 Headings. The headings
contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of
reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or
interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement.
9.3 Absence of Fiduciary
Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that:
(i) each
Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely
contractual in nature, each Underwriter has been retained solely to
act as an underwriter in connection with the Offering and no
fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and
the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of
whether the Representative has advised or is advising the Company
on other matters;
(ii) the
price of the Securities set forth in this Agreement was established
by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations
with the Representative, and the Company is capable of evaluating
and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks
and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(iii) it
has been advised that the Representative and their respective
affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may
involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that
the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interests and
transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or
agency relationship; and
9.4 Research Analyst Independence.
The Company acknowledges that each Underwriter’s research
analysts and research departments are required to be independent
from its investment banking division and are subject to certain
regulations and internal policies, and that such
Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make
statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research
reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ
from the views of their investment banking division. The Company
acknowledges that each Underwriter is a full service securities
firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable
securities laws, rules and regulations, may effect transactions for
its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or
short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9.4 shall relieve
the Underwriter of any responsibility or liability it may otherwise
bear in connection with activities in violation of applicable
securities laws, rules or regulations.
9.5 Amendment. This Agreement may
only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the
parties hereto.
9.6 Entire Agreement. This
Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being
delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement)
constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written,
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
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9.7 Binding Effect. This Agreement
shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling
persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof,
and their respective successors, legal representatives, heirs and
assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or
by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The
term “successors and assigns” shall not include a
purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the
Underwriters.
9.8 Governing Law; Consent to
Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws
principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action,
proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any
way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York
Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably
submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be
exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such
exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an
inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon
the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.1
hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be
legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or
claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any
such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies)
all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating
to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the
preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and
affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives,
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all
right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
9.9 Execution in Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of
the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties
hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by
facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and
sufficient delivery thereof.
9.10 Waiver,
etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time
enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed
or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any
way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof
or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce
each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any
breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written
instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which
enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such
breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or
deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach,
non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the
foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the
Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space
provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall
constitute a binding agreement between us.
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Very
truly yours,
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CEL-SCI
Corporation
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By:
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Name:
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Geert
X. Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief
Executive Officer
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Confirmed
as of the date first written above, on behalf of itself and as
Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto:
AEGIS
CAPITAL CORP.
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By:
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Name:
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Title:
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Co-Head
of Investment Banking
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AEGIS
CAPITAL CORP.
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Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title:
Co-Head of Investment Banking
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SCHEDULE 1
Underwriter
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Total Number of
Firm Shares to be Purchased
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Number of
Additional Shares to be Purchased if Over-Allotment Option is Fully
Exercised
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Aegis Capital
Corp.
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606,395
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90,959
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S-1
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SCHEDULE 2-A
Pricing Information
Number
of Firm Shares: 606,395
Number
of Additional Shares: 90,959
Public
Offering Price per Share: $9.07
Underwriting
Discount per Share: $.6349
Proceeds
to Company per Share (before expenses): $8.4351
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S-2A
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SCHEDULE 2-B
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses
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S-2B
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SCHEDULE 3
List of Lock-Up Parties
Geert
X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Xx.
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Baillavione
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
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S-3
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
__________,
2019
Aegis
Capital Corp.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00 xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned understands that Aegis Capital Corp. (the
“Representative”) proposes to enter
into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement “) with
CEL-SCI Corporation, a
Colorado corporation (the “Company”), providing for the
public offering (the “Public
Offering”) of shares of common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Company (the “Shares”).
To
induce the Representative to continue its efforts in connection
with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that,
without the prior written consent of the Representative, the
undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date of
the Underwriting Agreement and ending forty-five (45) days after
such date (the “Lock-Up
Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the
undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition
(collectively, the “Lock-Up
Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other
arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of
the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities,
whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above
is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or
otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with
respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities; or (4)
publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or
disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other
arrangement relating to any Lock-Up Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may
transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of
the Representative in connection with (a) transactions relating to
Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the Public Offering; provided that no filing under
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange
Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made
in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up Securities acquired
in such open market transactions; (b) transfers of Lock-Up
Securities as a bona fide
gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the
benefit of a family member (for purposes of this lock-up agreement,
“family member” means any relationship by blood,
marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (c)
transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational
institution; or (d) if the undersigned, directly or indirectly,
controls a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or
other business entity, any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to any
shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity
interests in, the undersigned, as the case may be; provided that in the case of
any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d), (i)
any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii)
each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Representative a
lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up
agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made. The undersigned
also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions
with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the
transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in
compliance with this lock-up agreement.
Exhibit
A-1
If the
undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the
undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally
applicable to any Shares that the undersigned may purchase in the
Public Offering; (ii) the Representative agrees that, at least
three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or
waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer
of Lock-Up Securities, the Representative will notify the Company
of the impending release or waiver; and (iii) the Company has
agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending
release or waiver by press release through a major news service at
least two (2) business days before the effective date of the
release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the
Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only
be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of
such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply
if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a
transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration and (b) the
transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms
described in this lock-up agreement to the extent and for the
duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of such
transfer.
No
provision in this lock-up agreement shall be deemed to restrict or
prohibit the exercise, exchange or conversion by the undersigned of
any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into
Shares, as applicable; provided that the undersigned
does not transfer the Shares acquired on such exercise, exchange or
conversion during the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted
pursuant to the terms of this lock-up agreement. In addition, no
provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry
into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at
any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a plan
in such a manner as to cause the sale of any Lock-Up Securities
within the Lock-Up Period) or a sale of 100% of the Company’s
outstanding Shares.
The
undersigned understands that the Company and the Representative are
relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward
consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further
understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be
binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives,
successors and assigns.
The
undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement is not
executed by December 31, 2019, or if the Underwriting Agreement
(other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall
terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the
Shares to be sold thereunder, then this lock-up agreement shall be
void and of no further force or effect.
Exhibit
A-2
Whether
or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of
factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only
be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which
are subject to negotiation between the Company and the
Representative.
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Very
truly yours,
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(Name -
Please Print)
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(Signature)
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(Name
of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
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(Title
of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
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Address:
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Exhibit
A-3
EXHIBIT B
Form of Press Release
CEL-SCI Corporation,
[Date]
CEL-SCI Corporation, (the
“Company”)
announced today that Aegis Capital Corp., acting as representative
for the underwriters in the Company’s recent public offering
of the Company’s common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a
lock-up restriction with respect to _________ shares of the
Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or
directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver]
[release] will take effect on _________, 20___, and the shares may
be sold on or after such date.
This
press release is not an offer or sale of the securities in the
United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale
is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in
the United States absent registration or an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
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Exhibit
B-4
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EXHIBIT C
Form of Opinion of Company Counsel
(i) The
Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of
Colorado with the requisite corporate power and authority to own or
lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties, and to
conduct its business, as described in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and
perform its obligations under the Underwriting
Agreement.
(ii) The
authorized and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
is as set forth in the Prospectus.
(iii) The
Firm/Additional Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and
sale to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
and, when issued and paid for pursuant to the terms of the
Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject
to personal liability solely by reason of being such holders. The
issuance of the Firm/Additional Shares is not and will not be
subject to the preemptive or similar rights of any holders of any
security of the Company arising by operation of law or under the
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the
“Charter”), bylaws, as amended (the
“Bylaws”) or the Material Contracts ( as defined
below).
(iv) The
Underwriting Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and
legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except (a) as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or
contribution provisions may be limited under the Federal and state
securities laws, and (c) that the remedy of specific performance
and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject
to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which any proceeding therefore may be brought..
(v) The execution,
delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and
compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions thereof and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, and the
issuance and sale of the Securities, do not and will not, whether
with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both,
(a) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of, any of
the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or
result in the creation or modification of any lien, security
interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or
assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of, any mortgage, deed
of trust, note, indenture, loan, contract, commitment or other
agreement or instrument filed or incorporated by reference as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (collectively, the
“Material Contracts”), (b) result in any violation
of the provisions of the Charter, the By-laws or any other
governing documents of the Company, or (c) violate any law,
statute or any judgment, order or decree, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company of any Governmental Entity.
Exhibit
C-1
(vi) The
shares of Common Stock offered pursuant to the Prospectus conform
in all material respects to the description thereof contained in
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus. No United States or state statute or regulation
required to be described in the Prospectus is not described as
required (except as to the “blue sky” laws of the
various states, as to which such counsel expresses no opinions),
nor to such counsel’s knowledge are any contracts or
documents of a character required to be described in the
Registration Statement, Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to
be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the
Registration Statement not so described or filed as
required.
(vii) The
statements in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus under the heading “Description of
Securities,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize
legal matters, legal conclusions, the Charter, the Bylaws, or other
agreements or documents discussed therein, are correct in all
material respects.
(viii) The
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act and the Securities Act
Regulations. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act or
any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus
has been issued, and no proceedings for any such purpose have been
instituted or, to such counsel’s knowledge, are pending by
the Commission or any other Governmental Entity. Any required
filing of the Prospectus, and any required supplement thereto,
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations, has
been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
424(b) (without reference to Rule 424(b)(8)).
(ix) The
Company is not required and, after giving effect to the Offering
and sale of the Firm/Additional Shares and the application of the
proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required, to
register as an “investment company,” under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(x) No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity (other than
under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations or with
NYSE American, which have been obtained, or as may be required
under the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to
which we need express no opinion) is necessary or required for the
performance by the Company of its obligations under the
Underwriting Agreement, in connection with the offering, issuance
or sale of the Firm/Additional Shares thereunder or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except such
as have been already made or obtained or as may be required under
the rules of the Exchange, state securities laws or the rules of
FINRA.
(xi) The
Securities have been approved for listing on the Exchange upon
official notice of issuance.
(xii) To
such counsel’s knowledge, there are no persons with
registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities
registered pursuant to the Registrant Statement or otherwise
registered for sale by the Company under the Securities Act, except
as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus.
Exhibit
C-2
(xiii) To
such counsel’s knowledge, there are not any pending legal
proceedings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or of which the property of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is the subject which are required to be disclosed in
the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
and are not so disclosed.
(xiv) Each
of (1) the Registration Statement, as of the time it became
effective, (2) the Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time,
and (3) the Prospectus, as of its date (in each case other than the
financial statements and supporting schedules included therein, as
to which no opinion need be rendered), complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and
Securities Act Regulations.
The
opinion shall further include the following:
Nothing
has come to such counsel’s attention that caused such counsel
to believe that (1) the Registration Statement, as of the time it
became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (2) the
Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or
(3) the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date or
Option Closing Date, as applicable, contained or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (except that, in each case, such counsel need express no
view, and make no statement, with respect to the financial
statements and schedules and notes thereto and other financial data
derived therefrom that are contained in or omitted from the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus).
Exhibit
C-3