UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT between WHITESMOKE, INC. and AEGIS CAPITAL CORP. as Representative
between
and
AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.
as Representative
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___________ __, 2011
Aegis Capital Corp.
As Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 attached hereto
c/o Aegis Capital Corp.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, WhiteSmoke, Inc., a company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), hereby confirms its 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 you are acting as Representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively called the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”) as follows:
1.
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Purchase and Sale of Securities.
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1.1 Firm Securities.
1.1.1. Nature and Purchase of Firm Securities.
(i) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of _____________ shares of Common Stock (“Firm Shares”), par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”).
(ii) The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $[___] per Share. The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof).
1.1.2. Shares Payment and Delivery.
(i) Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the third (3rd) Business Day following the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.2 below) (or the fourth (4th) Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:30 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, counsel to the Underwriters (“GM”), 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.”
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(ii) Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the 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 the Firm Shares. The term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
1.2 Over-allotment Option.
1.2.1. Option Shares. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Underwriters are hereby granted an option to purchase up to [_______] Shares representing fifteen percent (15%) of the Firm Shares sold in the offering from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). Such additional [ ] Shares, the net proceeds of which will be deposited with the Company’s account, are hereinafter referred to as “Option Shares.” The purchase price to be paid for the Option Shares will be the same price per Option Share as the price per Firm Share set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.”
1.2.2. Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting forth the number of Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of GM 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 Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Shares specified in such notice.
1.2.3. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Shares will be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds in an amount (net of discounts and commissions) equal to $[ ] per Option Share, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Shares (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for applicable Option Shares.
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1.3 Representative’s Purchase Options.
1.3.1. Purchase Options. The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date common stock purchase options (“Representative’s Purchase Options”) for the purchase of an aggregate of [________] Shares [5% of the Firm Shares] (“Representative’s Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $100. The Representative’s Purchase Options in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on a date which is one year from the Applicable Time (as defined below) and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the Applicable Time at an initial exercise price per Share of $[__________], which is equal to 125% of the initial public offering price of the Firm Shares. The Representative’s Purchase Options and the Representative’s Shares are sometimes hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Purchase Options and the Representative’s Shares during the first 180 days after the Effective Date and by their acceptance thereof shall agree that neither they nor their designees will sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Purchase Options and Representative’s Shares, or any potion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of 180 days following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of any such Underwriter or selected dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions.
1.3.2. Delivery. Delivery for the Representative’s Purchase Options shall be made on the Closing Date and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows (for purposes of these representations and warranties, the term “Company” shall mean the Company together with its subsidiaries where appropriate):
2.1 Filing of Registration Statement.
2.1.1. Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-174160), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Public Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act (the “Regulations”). Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Regulations), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file, a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional Public Securities of any type (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. “Applicable Time” means [___ am/pm on _________________, 2011], on the Effective Date or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Representative. Prior to the Applicable Time, the Company prepared a preliminary prospectus, dated __________, 2011, for distribution by the Underwriters (the “Statutory Prospectus”). The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in the Offering is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.”
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2.1.2. Registration under the Exchange Act and Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 8-A (File No. 001-_____) and have been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”). The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting the Shares from NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NASDAQ is contemplating terminating such registration or listing except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.2 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Registration Statement or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.
2.3 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.3.1. 10b-5 Representation.
(i) At the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or at the time any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments thereto did and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and will in all material respects conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations; and
(ii) On the Effective Date and at the Applicable Time, the Registration Statement did not, and on the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, it will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and at the Applicable Time, the Statutory Prospectus does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1(ii) does 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 Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of the following information: the statement regarding delivery of shares by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page, the table of Underwriters under the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, the information about the Underwriters appearing in the sixth and seventh paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, the information contained in the second paragraph under the sub-heading “Overallotment Option” under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, the information contained in the first three paragraphs under the sub-heading “Other Terms” under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, and the information contained in the first three paragraphs under the sub-heading “Stabilization” under the heading “Underwriting” in the Prospectus (the “Underwriters’ Information”).
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2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus and the Registration Statement conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Act and the Regulations to be described in the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus and the Registration Statement or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder in all material respects and, to the best of 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 in all material respects. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a material violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.3.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus and the Registration Statement concerning the effects of Federal, State, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
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2.4 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.4.1. No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the general affairs, business, properties, assets, operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company; (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company.
2.4.2. Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
2.5 Independent Accountants. Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global (“KFGK”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act and the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). To the Company’s knowledge, KFGK is duly registered and in good standing with the PCAOB. KFGK has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
2.6 Financial Statements; Statistical Data; etc.
2.6.1. Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose 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. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Regulations which have not been included as so required. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including each entity disclosed or described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus as being a subsidiary of the Company (each a “Subsidiary” and together the “Subsidiaries”), 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) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; (c) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any grants under any stock compensation plan and, (d) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
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2.6.2. Statistical Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and/or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.
2.7 Authorized Capital; Options, etc.
2.7.1. The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus 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 Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no stock options (“Stock Options”), warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Shares of the Company or any security convertible into Shares of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Shares or any such Stock Options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.7.2. With respect to the Stock Options granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each grant intended to qualify for the “capital gains track” of Section 102 of the Israel Tax Ordinance so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option has been duly authorized, approved or ratified by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval or ratification by the board of directors of the Company and any required shareholder approval, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with all applicable accounting rules in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company. The Company has not in the past knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.
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2.8 Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.8.1. Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Shares were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such Shares, exempt from such registration requirements.
2.8.2. Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Public Securities and Representative’s Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities and Representative’s 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 that have not been waived as of the date of this Agreement; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities and Representative’s Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. When paid for and issued in accordance with the Representative’s Purchase Options, the Representative’s Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Representative’s Shares are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Representative’s Purchase Options has been duly and validly taken.
2.8.3. No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
2.9 Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.10 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement and the Representative’s Purchase Options have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought.
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2.11 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Representative’s Purchase Options and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Charter Documents”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or business constituted as of the date hereof, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.12 No Immunity. Neither the Company nor any of its properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of the State of Israel.
2.13 No Defaults; Violations. No default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject, except for any such default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Charter Documents, or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses, except for any such violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
2.14 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.14.1. Conduct of Business. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and foreign regulation on this Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
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2.14.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Public Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and the Representative’s Purchase Options and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus 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”).
2.15 D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) provided to the Underwriters is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate and incorrect.
2.16 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Insider required to be disclosed under the Act and the Regulations which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or in connection with the Company’s listing application for the listing of the Shares on NASDAQ.
2.17 Approved Enterprise Status. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all conditions and requirements relating to the funding that it has received from the Israeli Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor and has not been notified of any default or acceleration of the repayment of such funding. All information supplied by the Company with respect to applications relating to such funding was true, correct and complete in all material respects when supplied to the appropriate authorities; and (iii) the Company has not received any notice of any proceeding or investigation relating to revocation or modification of such funding, in each case except for any failure to comply, inaccuracy, or notice that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company's facilities currently receive any tax benefits from “Approved Enterprise”, "Beneficiary Enterprise" or similar status in Israel.
2.18 Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the Delaware as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the general affairs, business, properties, assets, operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
2.19 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.19.1. Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its stockholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
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2.19.2. Payments Within Twelve Months. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date, other than payments to the Underwriters in connection with the Offering.
2.19.3. Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or any person associated or affiliated with a member of FINRA, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.19.4. FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, no officer, director or any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered securities (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). To the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased on the open market). To the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA. The Company will advise the Representative and GM if it learns that any Company Affiliate is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering.
2.19.5. Securities Issuances. Except as contemplated herein with respect to the Representative’s Purchase Options, the Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly, to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined in the FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.19.5, no person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA.
2.19.6. Conflicts of Interest. To the Company’s knowledge, no FINRA member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest (as defined in the FINRA rules) with the Company.
2.19.7. Items of Value. Except with respect to the Underwriters and/or their designees in connection with the Offering or as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer or issuance of any warrants, options or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a member (as defined in the FINRA rules), any potential underwriters in the Offering and/or any related persons.
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2.20 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction), that is in contravention with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (“FCPA”). The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the FCPA.
2.21 Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction 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 agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
2.22 Bank Secrecy Act; Money Laundering; Patriot Act. Neither the Company nor to the Company’s knowledge, any Company Affiliate, has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, (ii) the Money Laundering Laws or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.
2.23 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to GM shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby, as of the date of such certificate.
2.24 Lock-Ups.
2.24.1. Each of the Company’s officers, directors and stockholders (including the holders of the Company’s outstanding Preferred Stock) (together the “Lock-Up Parties”) have agreed pursuant to executed agreements (“Lock-Up Agreements”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B that such persons and their affiliated parties shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock, without the consent of the Representative, for a period of time as set forth in such Lock-Up Agreements (the “Lock-Up Period”). The Representative may consent to an early release from the any Lock-Up Period if, in their opinion, the market for the Shares would not be adversely impacted by sales and in cases of financial emergency of an officer, director or other stockholder. The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Underwriters the Lock-Up Agreements of each of the Lock-Up Parties to the foregoing effect prior to the date that the Company requests that the Commission declare the Registration Statement effective under the Act.
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2.24.2. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, has agreed that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, for a period of 180 days from the Effective Date, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or 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 or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The restrictions contained in this paragraph 2.22.2 shall not apply to (i) the Public Securities to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of shares of common stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the Representative has been advised in writing or disclosed in the Registration Statement, (iii) the issuance by the Company of options, shares of capital stock or any other awards of the Company under any stock compensation plan of the Company or (iv) the filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-8.
2.24.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by paragraph 2.22 shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless the Representative waives such extension.
2.25 Subsidiaries. Schedule 2.25 sets forth the ownership of all Subsidiaries. All direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each such Subsidiary and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary is as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
2.26 Related Party Transactions. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no business relationships or related party transactions (including loans, advances other than normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course, guarantees of indebtedness or arrangement of credit) involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
2.27 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Prospectus captioned “Management.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended (“SOX”), and the rules promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and the rules of NASDAQ. At least one member of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under SOX and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of NASDAQ.
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2.28 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Compliance.
2.28.1. Disclosure Controls. The Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that will comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act, and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.
2.28.2. Compliance. The Company is, or on the Effective Date will be, in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of SOX applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefore) in all material respects with all the provisions of SOX.
2.29 No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and sale of the Firm Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.30 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.
2.31 Intellectual Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.
2.32 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.
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2.33 No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Shares to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.
2.34 Termination or Renegotiation of Prior Agreements. As of the date hereof, each of the agreements listed on Schedule 2.34 have either terminated in accordance with their terms, have been terminated by the parties thereto or have been re-negotiated on terms acceptable to the Representative.
2.35 Conversion of Securities. As of the date hereof, the Company has obtained the agreement of (i) each holder of shares of the Company’s outstanding preferred stock to convert such securities into Shares on the Closing Date and (ii) each holder of warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s preferred stock to exchange such warrants for warrants to purchase Shares on the Closing Date.
2.36 Enforcement of Judgments. Subject to the conditions and qualifications set forth in the Prospectus, Statutory Prospectus and Registration Statement, a final and conclusive judgment against the Company for a definitive sum of money entered by any court in the United States would be enforced by an Israeli court.
2.37 Insurance. The Company has insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and businesses which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are reasonably adequate to protect the Company and its business; and the Company has not (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.
2.38 Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee or affiliate 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 of the Shares 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.
3.
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Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
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3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
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3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1. Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time during such period to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) in accordance with Section 10 of the Act so as to correct such statement or omission or effect of such compliance.
3.2.2. Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. For a period of three years from the Effective Date (except in connection with a going private transaction or a merger in which the Company is not the surviving entity), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act. The Company will not deregister the Shares under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the Act, without the prior consent of the Representative. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that its will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 of the Act, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act such number of copies of each Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as such Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, if requested by the Representative, deliver to you two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all original executed consents of certified experts.
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3.4 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus for at least nine (9) months from the Applicable Time and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing of: (i) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) the issuance by any foreign or state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.4 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any foreign or state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.5 Review of Financial Statements. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly report and the mailing of quarterly financial information to stockholders.
3.6 Secondary Market Trading and Standard & Poor’s. The Company will apply to be included in Standard & Poor’s Daily News and Corporation Records Corporate Descriptions for a period of five (5) years immediately after the Effective Date. Additionally, the Company shall take such steps as may be necessary to obtain a secondary market trading exemption for the Company’s securities in such jurisdictions as may be requested by the Representative; provided, however, no qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction. The Company shall also take such other action as may be reasonably requested by the Representative to obtain a secondary market trading exemption in such other states as may be requested by the Representative.
3.7 Financial Public Relations Firm. As of the Effective Date, the Company shall have retained a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative and the Company, which shall initially be [_____________________], which firm will be experienced in assisting issuers in public offerings of securities and in their relations with their security holders, and shall retain such firm or another firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a period of not less than two (2) years after the Effective Date.
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3.8 Reports to the Representative.
3.8.1 Periodic Reports, etc. For a period of three years from the Effective Date, the Company will furnish to the Representative copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared and filed by the Company; (iv) a copy of each registration statement filed by the Company under the Act; (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future Subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and GM in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“XXXXX”) system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section.
3.8.2. Transfer Sheets. For a period of three (3) years from the Effective Date, the Company shall retain a transfer and registrar agent acceptable to the Representative (the “Transfer Agent”) and will furnish to the Representative at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may reasonably request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC. Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company is acceptable to the Representative to act as Transfer Agent for the Company’s Shares.
3.8.3. Trading Reports. During such time as the Public Securities are listed on NASDAQ the Company shall provide to the Representative, at the Company’s expense, such reports published by NASDAQ relating to price trading of the Public Securities, as the Representative shall reasonably request.
3.9 Payment of Expenses.
3.9.1. General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of the Shares to be sold in the Offering (including the Over-allotment Shares) with the Commission; (b) filing fees, costs and expenses (including fees and disbursements for the Representative’s counsel up to a maximum of $15,000) incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA; all fees and expenses relating to the listing of such Shares on NASDAQ and such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Underwriters together determine; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per individual and $____ in the aggregate; (d) if the Shares are not listed on NASDAQ, all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of such Shares under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of “blue sky” counsel selected by the Representative, it being agreed that the Company will make a payment of $15,000 to such counsel upon the commencement of “blue sky” work by such counsel and an additional $5,000 at Closing); (e) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of such Shares under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Underwriters 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, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Underwriters may reasonably deem necessary, (g) the costs and expenses of the public relations firm referred to in Section 3.7; (h) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Shares; (i) fees and expenses of the transfer agent for the Shares; (j) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (k) the costs associated with post-Closing advertising the Offering in the national editions of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times; (l) the costs associated with bound volumes of the public offering materials as well as commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones, each of which the Company or its designee will provide within a reasonable time after the Closing in such quantities as the Underwriters may reasonably request; (m) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (n) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (o) up to $16,000 for the Underwriters use of i-Deal’s book-building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering; and (p) up to $10,000 for the Underwriter’s actual “road show” expenses for the Offering. The Underwriters may also deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters.
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3.9.2. Non-accountable Expenses. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses payable pursuant to Section 3.9.1, on the Closing Date it will pay to the Representative a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm Shares by deduction from the proceeds of the Offering contemplated herein.
3.10 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use Of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.11 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.12 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or stockholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
3.13 Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
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3.14 Accountants. As of the Effective Date, the Company shall retain an independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative, and the Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm for a period of at least three years after the Effective Date. The Representative acknowledges that KFGK is acceptable to the Representative.
3.15 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Company’s Public Securities.
3.16 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the offering of the Company's securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm's length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as fiduciaries to the Company, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the offering of the Company's securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company's securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
3.17 Insurance. The Company will maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance (including insurance covering the Company, its directors and officers for liabilities or losses arising in connection with this Offering, including, without limitation, liabilities or losses arising under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations and applicable securities laws.
3.18 Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Underwriters, at its expense, promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days from the date of this Agreement, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Shares for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the Electronic Prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the Prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time).
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3.19 Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Purchase Options outstanding from time to time.
3.20 Listing on NASDAQ. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of the Shares on NASDAQ for a period of three (3) years from the date of this Agreement.
4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iv) the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or preventing or suspending the use of the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of GM.
4.1.2. FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, 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. NASDAQ Stock Market Clearance. On the Closing Date, the Company’s Shares, including the Firm Shares, shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ.
4.1.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Representative covenants with the Company that the Underwriters will not use, authorize the use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for the use of a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, which term includes use of any written information furnished by the Commission to the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, without the prior written consent of the Company. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company is hereinafter referred to as an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus.”
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4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1. Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of Xxxx Xxxxx LLP and Xxxxx Xxxxx & Co., dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Representative in the form attached as Exhibits C and D, respectively.
4.2.2. Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of each 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 counsels in their respective opinions 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 jurisdiction having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to GM if requested.
4.3 Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, you shall have received a cold comfort letter, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and to GM from KFGK dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any.
4.4 Officers’ Certificates.
4.4.1. Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4.5 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.
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 Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that the Charter Documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and NASDAQ; and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
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4.5 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened in writing against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefore shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Statutory Prospectus and Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.
4.6 Termination or Renegotiation of Prior Agreements. The agreements listed on Schedule 2.34 have been terminated or renegotiated on terms acceptable to the Representative.
4.7 Conversion of Securities. Each holder of shares of the Company’s outstanding preferred stock has converted such securities into Shares and each holder of warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s preferred stock has exchanged such warrants for warrants to purchase Shares.
4.8 Employment Agreements. The Company shall have entered into employment or consulting agreements with each of Xxxxx Xxxx-Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx acceptable to the Representative and such agreements shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
4.9 Delivery of Agreements.
4.9.1. Effective Date Deliveries. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of this Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreements.
4.9.2. Closing Date Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Representative’s Purchase Options.
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5.
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Indemnification.
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5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters.
5.1.1. General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters, and each dealer selected by the Representative that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter (“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities and Representative’s Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, NASDAQ or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter (including the Underwriters’ Information) expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5.1.1 shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.3 hereof. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus.
5.1.2. Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter, a Selected Dealer or a Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter or such Selected Dealer, as the case may be) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded based on the advice of counsel that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter (in addition to local counsel), Selected Dealer and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Underwriter, Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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5.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to indemnify any person for the settlement of any action effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless such settlement (a) includes an unconditional release from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (b) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Company.
5.3 Contribution.
5.3.1. Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 (f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter or the Company, as applicable.
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5.3.2. Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representatives) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representatives of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section 5.3.2 are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. Each Underwriter’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not joint.
6.
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Default by an Underwriter.
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6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Option Shares. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised, hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Shares or Option Shares with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares or Option Shares that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Option Shares. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 relates to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, you may in your discretion arrange for yourself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Option Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to you to purchase said Firm Shares or Option Shares on such terms. In the event that neither you nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Option Shares to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement will automatically be terminated by you or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.9 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Shares, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares; and provided further that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
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6.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.
7.
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Additional Covenants.
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7.1 Board Composition and Board Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with SOX and the rules promulgated thereunder and with the listing requirements of NASDAQ (including compliance in accordance with any phase-in period as a result of the Offering) or any other national securities exchange or national securities association, as the case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have its Public Securities listed on another exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system, and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the board of directors qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under SOX and the rules promulgated thereunder.
7.2 Prohibition on Press Releases and Public Announcements. The Company will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the first business day following the 40th day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
8.
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Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination Thereof.
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8.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective when both the Company and the Representative have executed the same and delivered counterparts of such signatures to the other party.
8.2 Termination. You shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date by providing notice to the Company, (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, the NYSE Amex, NASDAQ (either Global Market or Capital Market) or the Over The Counter Bulletin Board 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 war or an increase in existing 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 Option 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.
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8.3 Expenses. Except in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 6.2 above, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriters their actual and accountable out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable (including the fees and disbursements of GM) up to $250,000; provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement).
8.4 Survival of Provisions. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, the reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or its directors or officers and (c) delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares or Option Shares under this Agreement.
9.
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Miscellaneous.
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9.1 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so delivered or faxed and confirmed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
Aegis Capital Corp.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Fax No.:
Copy to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
The Chrysler Building
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No.: 000-000-0000
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If to the Company:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Fax No.:
Copy to:
Xxxx Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx-Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No.: 000-000-0000
9.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
9.3 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
9.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the Controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the Underwriters.
9.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefore.
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9.7 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
9.8 Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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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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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Accepted on the date first above written.
AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.
For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto
AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Representative’s Purchase Options
THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE OPTION (“PURCHASE OPTION”) BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE OPTION EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE OPTION FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (DEFINED BELOW) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) AEGIS CAPITAL CORP. OR AN UNDERWRITER OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF AEGIS CAPITAL CORP. OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER.
THIS PURCHASE OPTION IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO ________________ [DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PROSPECTUS]. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, ___________________ [DATE THAT IS FIVE YEARS THE FROM DATE OF THE PROSPECTUS].
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE OPTION
For the Purchase of Shares of Common Stock
of
1. Purchase Option. THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of funds duly paid by or on behalf of [ ]("Holder"), as registered owner of this Purchase Option, to WhiteSmoke, Inc. (the "Company"), Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time from ________________ [DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PROSPECTUS] (the "Commencement Date"), and at or before 5:00p.m., Eastern Time, ___________________ [DATE THAT IS FIVE YEARS THE FROM DATE OF THE PROSPECTUS] (the "Expiration Date"), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to [____] shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the "Shares") subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Option may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate the Purchase Option. This Purchase Option is initially exercisable at $[________] per Share (125% of the price of the Shares sold in the Company’s initial public offering (“Offering”) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”)); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Option, including the exercise price per Share and the number of Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term "Exercise Price" shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context.
2. Exercise.
2.1 Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Option, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company or by certified check or official bank check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Option shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.
2.2 Cashless Exercise. In lieu of exercising this Purchase Option by payment of cash or certified check or official bank check payable to the order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 above, Holder may elect to receive the number of Shares equal to the value of this Purchase Option (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Purchase Option to the Company, together with the exercise form attached hereto, in which event the issue to Holder, Shares in accordance with the following formula:
X
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=
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Y(A-B)
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||
A
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Where,
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X
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=
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The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
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Y
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=
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The number of Shares for which the Purchase Option is being exercised;
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||
A
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=
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The fair market value of one Share; and
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||
B
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=
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The Exercise Price.
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For purposes of this Section 2.2, the fair market value of a Share is defined as follows:
(i) if the Company’s common stock is traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices on such exchange or market over the thirty (30) day period ending three (3) days prior to the date of the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Option; or
(ii) if the Company’s common stock is actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices over the thirty (30) day period ending three (3) days prior to the date of the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Option; if there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.
2.3 Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Option shall bear a legend as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"):
"The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") or applicable state law. Neither the securities nor any interest therein may be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state law which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is available."
2.4 No obligation to Net Cash Settle. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Purchase Option, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the exercise of the Purchase Option. The holder of the Purchase Option will not be entitled to exercise the Purchase Option unless it exercises such Purchase Option pursuant to Section 2.2 above or a registration statement relating to the Shares is effective and current, or an exemption from the registration requirements is available at such time and, if the holder is not able to exercise the Purchase Option, the Purchase Option will expire worthless.
3. Transfer.
3.1 General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Option agrees by his, her or its acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Option for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the Registration Statement (“Effective Date”) to anyone other than: (i) Aegis Capital Corp. or an underwriter or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of Aegis Capital Corp. or of any such underwriter or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g)(1), or (b) cause this Purchase Option or the securities issuable hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this Purchase Option or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2). On and after 180 days from the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed, together with the Purchase Option and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five business days transfer this Purchase Option on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option or Purchase Options of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.
3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Option shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing that the opinion of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the availability of an exemption), or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.
4. Registration Rights.
4.1 Demand Registration.
4.1.1 Grant of Right. The Company, upon written demand (a "Demand Notice") of the Holder(s) of at least 51% of the Purchase Options and/or the underlying Shares ("Majority Holders"), agrees to register (the “Demand Registration”), on one occasion, all or any portion of the Shares underlying the Purchase Options (collectively the "Registrable Securities"). On such occasion, the Company will file a registration statement with the SEC covering the Registrable Securities within sixty (60) days after receipt of a Demand Notice and use its reasonable best efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon thereafter as possible, subject to compliance with review by the SEC; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to comply with a Demand Notice if the Company has filed a registration statement with respect to which the Holder is entitled to piggyback registration rights pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof and either: (i) the Holder has elected to participate in the offering covered by such registration statement or (ii) if such registration statement relates to an underwritten primary offering of securities of the Company, until the offering covered by such registration statement has been withdrawn or until thirty (30) days after such offering is consummated (or such other period of time as set forth in the underwriting agreement for such underwritten offering). The demand for registration may be made at any time during a period of four (4) years beginning on the Commencement Date. The Company covenants and agrees to give written notice of its receipt of any Demand Notice by any Holder(s) to all other registered Holders of the Purchase Options and/or the Registrable Securities within ten (10) days from the date of the receipt of any such Demand Notice. Each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 4.1.4.
4.1.2 Effective Registration. A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the registration statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto.
4.1.3 Underwritten Offering. If the Majority Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of the Initial Demand Notice, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Majority Holders.
4.1.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing underwriter or underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other stockholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.
4.1.5 Withdrawal. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the underwriter or underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then the Company does not have to continue its obligations under Section 4.1 with respect to such proposed offering.
4.1.6 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.1.1, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the filing required herein to become effective promptly and remain effective for a period of nine consecutive months from the effective date of such registration statement and to qualify or register the Registrable Securities in such States as are reasonably requested by the Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register the Registrable Securities in a State in which such registration would cause: (i) the Company to be obligated to register or license to do business in such State or submit to general service of process in such State, or (ii) the principal stockholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their shares of capital stock of the Company. The Company shall cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the demand right granted under Section 4.1.1 to remain effective for a period of at least twelve consecutive months from the date that the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement are first given the opportunity to sell all of such securities or until all of the Registrable Securities have been sold. The Holders shall only use the prospectuses provided by the Company to sell the shares covered by such registration statement, and will immediately cease to use any prospectus furnished by the Company if the Company advises the Holder that such prospectus may no longer be used due to a material misstatement or omission.
4.2.1 Grant of Right. In addition to the demand right of registration, described in Section 4.1 hereof the Holder shall have the right, for a period of four (4) years commencing on the Commencement Date, to include the Registrable Securities as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145(a) promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or any equivalent form). If at any time during the above-referenced time period, the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for stockholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 4.1), then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than thirty (30) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within ten (10) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an underwriter or underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.
4.2.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing underwriter or underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock which the Company desires to sell, taken together with the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 4.2, and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:
(a) If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;
(b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the shares of Common Stock or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively the shares of Common Stock or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.
4.2.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a registration statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 4.2.4.
4.2.4 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.2.1 hereof, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than thirty (30) days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holder. The holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the "piggy-back" rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten (10) days of the receipt of the Company's notice of its intention to file a registration statement. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the above “piggyback” rights to remain effective for at least nine months from the date that the Holders of the Registrable Securities are first given the opportunity to sell all of such securities.
4.3 General Terms.
4.3.1 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters contained in Section 5.1 of the Underwriting Agreement between the Underwriters and the Company, dated as of [_________________], 2011. The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify the Company, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors or assigns, in writing, for specific inclusion in such registration statement to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in Section 5.2 of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to indemnify the Company.
4.3.2 Exercise of Purchase Options. Nothing contained in this Purchase Option shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Purchase Options prior to or after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.
4.3.3 Documents Delivered to Holders. The Company shall furnish to each Holder participating in any of the foregoing underwritten offerings and to each underwriter of any such offering, if any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such Holder or underwriter, of (i) an opinion of counsel to the Company, dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, an opinion dated the date of the closing under any underwriting agreement related thereto), and (ii) a "cold comfort" letter dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, a letter dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement) signed by the independent public accountants who have issued a report on the Company's financial statements included in such registration statement, in each case covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of such accountants' letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer's counsel and in accountants' letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities. The Company shall also deliver promptly to each Holder participating in the offering requesting the correspondence and memoranda described below and to the managing underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the SEC and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the SEC or its staff with respect to the registration statement and permit each Holder and underwriter to do such investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times as any such Holder shall reasonably request.
4.3.4 Underwriting Agreement. The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter(s), if any, selected by any Holders whose Registrable Securities are being registered pursuant to this Section 4, which managing underwriter shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. Such agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, each Holder and such managing underwriters, and shall contain such representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and such other terms as are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing underwriter. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement relating to an underwritten sale of their Registrable Securities and may, at their option, require that any or all the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company to or for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holders. Such Holders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders, their Shares and their intended methods of distribution.
4.3.5 Documents to be Delivered by Holder(s). Each of the Holder(s) participating in any of the foregoing offerings shall furnish to the Company a completed and executed questionnaire provided by the Company requesting information customarily sought of selling security holders.
4.3.6 Damages. Should the registration or the effectiveness thereof required by Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof be delayed by the Company or the Company otherwise fails to comply with such provisions, the Holder(s) shall, in addition to any other legal or other relief available to the Holder(s), be entitled to obtain specific performance or other equitable (including injunctive) relief against the threatened breach of such provisions or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without the necessity of posting bond or other security.
5. New Purchase Options to be Issued.
5.1 Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Option may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Option for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised pursuant to Section 2.1 hereto, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Option of like tenor to this Purchase Option in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Option has not been exercised or assigned.
5.2 Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Option and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Option executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.
6. Adjustments.
6.1 Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares underlying the Purchase Option shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:
6.1.1 Share Dividends; Split Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is increased by a stock dividend payable in Shares or by a split up of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased.
6.1.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3, the number of outstanding Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares.
6.1.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Option shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Option) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Option immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
6.1.4 Changes in Form of Purchase Option. This form of Purchase Option need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 6.1, and Purchase Options issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Shares as are stated in the Purchase Options initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Options reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Commencement Date or the computation thereof.
6.2 Substitute Purchase Option. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Shares), the corporation formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Option providing that the holder of each Purchase Option then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Option) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Option, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Option might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Option shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided for in this Section 6. The above provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share reconstructions or amalgamations.
6.3 Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Shares upon the exercise of the Purchase Option, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the nearest whole number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights.
7. Reservation and Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Purchase Options, such number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Purchase Options and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, in accordance with the terms hereby, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of the Purchase Options and payment of the exercise price therefore, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. As long as the Purchase Options shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Shares issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Options to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all securities exchanges (or, if applicable on the OTC Bulletin Board or any successor trading market) on which the Shares issued to the public in the Offering may then be listed and/or quoted.
8. Certain Notice Requirements.
8.1 Holder's Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a stockholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Options and their exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other stockholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the stockholders.
8.2 Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company(other than in connection with a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.
8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change ("Price Notice"). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
8.4 Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Option shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Option, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx, 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Fax No.:
With a copy to:
Xxxx Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx-Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No.: 000-000-0000
9.1 Amendments. The Company and Aegis Capital Corp. may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Option without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and Aegis Capital Corp. may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and Aegis Capital Corp. deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.
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 Purchase Option.
9.3. Entire Agreement. This Purchase Option (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Option) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.4 Binding Effect. This Purchase Option shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Option or any provisions herein contained.
9.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Purchase Option 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 Purchase Option shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8.4 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefore.
9.6 Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Option or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Option. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
9.7 Execution in Counterparts. This Purchase Option may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Such counterparts may be delivered by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission.
9.8 Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder's receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Option, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Option by Holder, if the Company and Aegis Capital Corp. enter into an agreement ("Exchange Agreement") pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Options will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Option to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the ____ day of _______, 2011.
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
Form to be used to exercise Purchase Option:
Date: , 20___
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Purchase Option for [___] Shares of WhiteSmoke, Inc. and hereby makes payment of $[_________] (at the rate of $[___________] per Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Option representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Option has not been exercised.
or
The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase [___] Shares under the Purchase Option for [___] Shares, as determined in accordance with the following formula:
X
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=
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Y(A-B)
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A
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Where,
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X
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=
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The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
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Y
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=
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The number of Shares for which the Purchase Option is being exercised;
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A
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=
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The fair market value of one Share which is equal to $[____]; and
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B
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=
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The Exercise Price which is equal to $[_____] per share
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The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole discretion.
Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Option representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Option has not been converted.
Signature
Signature Guaranteed
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
Name:
(Print in Block Letters)
Address:
NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Purchase Option without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.
Form to be used to assign Purchase Option:
ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Option):
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchaseShares of WhiteSmoke, Inc. ("Company") evidenced by the Purchase Option and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.
Dated: , 20__
Signature
Signature Guaranteed
NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Purchase Option without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
September __, 0000
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Xxxxx Capital Corp.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the proposed initial public offering (“IPO”) of WhiteSmoke, Inc. (“Company”) pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and Aegis Capital Corp., as representatives (“Representatives”) of the group of underwriters in the offering (the “Underwriters”), to induce the Underwriters to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees to, neither directly nor indirectly, during the “Restricted Period” (as hereinafter defined):
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(1)
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sell or offer or contract to sell or offer, grant any option or warrant for the sale of, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber or dispose of (all being referred to as a “Transfer”) any legal or beneficial interest in any shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, ofthe Company, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock, owned or acquired by the undersigned on or prior to the closing date of the IPO, including any Company directed shares in accordance with FINRA Rule 5131 (the “Restricted Securities”),
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(2)
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enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of (all being referred to as “Hedge Transactions”) any of the Restricted Securities, whether such Hedge Transaction is to be settled by delivery of any Restricted Securities or other securities of any person, in cash or otherwise,
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(3)
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make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock, or
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(4)
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publicly disclose the intention to Transfer, or enter into any Hedge Transaction relating to, any of the Restricted Securities, or make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock.
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As used herein, “Restricted Period” means the period commencing on the date of the Prospectus (as to be defined in the Underwriting Agreement) and ending six (6) months thereafter; provided, however, if (i) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Restricted Period, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Restricted Period, the Restricted Period shall be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless the Representative waives such extension.
Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations, the undersigned may Transfer any Restricted Securities either during the undersigned’s lifetime or on the undersigned’s death, by gift, will or intestate succession, or by judicial decree, provided, that (i) such Transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth in this Agreement for the remainder of the Restricted Period and no filing by the transferor or transferee under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is required or voluntarily made in connection with such Transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period), (ii) such Transfer is pursuant to the exercise by the undersigned of stock options that have been granted by the Company prior to, and are outstanding as of, the first day of the Restricted Period, where the Restricted Securities received upon any such exercise is held by the undersigned, individually or as fiduciary, in accordance with the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement.
Any of the Restricted Securities subject to this Agreement may be released in whole or part from the terms hereof only upon the approval of the Representative; provided, however, the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that, at least two business days before such release, the Representative will notify the Company of such release and announce such release through a major news service. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative to the undersigned shall only be effective two business days after the later of the notice to the Company and the publication date of such press release.
The undersigned hereby authorizes the Company’s transfer agent to apply to any certificates representing Restricted Securities issued to the undersigned the appropriate legend to reflect the existence and general terms of this Agreement.
This agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earlier of (i) an Underwriting Agreement not being executed by December 31, 2011; and (ii) either the Company or the Representatives notifying the other in writing that they are abandoning the IPO. If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.
This Agreement will be legally binding on the undersigned and on the undersigned’s successors and permitted assigns, and is executed as an instrument governed by the law of New York.
[signature page follows]
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AGREEMENT
Signature
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Name:
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Address:
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