HOKU SCIENTIFIC, INC. Common Stock (par value $0.001 per share) EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
HOKU
SCIENTIFIC, INC.
$54,000,000
Common
Stock
(par
value $0.001 per share)
June
12,
2008
UBS
Securities LLC
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Hoku
Scientific, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”)
with
UBS Securities LLC (the “Manager”),
as
follows:
SECTION
1. Description
of Securities.
The
Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager, as sales agent
and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the “Common
Stock”),
having an aggregate offering price of up to $54,000,000 (the “Shares”),
on
the terms set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. The Company agrees that
whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager as principal,
it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms
Agreement”)
in
substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance
with Section 3 of this Agreement.
SECTION
2. Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The
Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Manager that:
1
(a)
A
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-150855) (the “registration
statement”)
has
heretofore become, and is, effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively called the
“Act”);
the
registration statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan
of
distribution of the Shares, and other securities of the Company, and contains
additional information concerning the Company and its business; no stop order
of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
preventing or suspending the use of any Basic Prospectus (as defined below),
the
Prospectus Supplement (as defined below), the Prospectus (as defined below)
or
any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), or the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no proceedings for such
purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge after due inquiry,
are contemplated by the Commission. Except where the context otherwise requires,
“Registration
Statement,”
as
used herein, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such
registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as
such section applies to the Manager, including (1) all documents filed as a
part
thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein,
(2)
any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such
information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to
be
part of the registration statement at the Effective Time, and (3) any
registration statement filed to register the offer and sale of Shares pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Act. Except where the context otherwise requires,
“Basic
Prospectus,”
as
used herein, means the prospectus filed as part of each Registration Statement,
together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the date of this
Agreement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus
Supplement,”
as
used herein, means the final prospectus supplement, relating to the Shares,
filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Act
on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier
time
as may be required under the Act), in the form furnished by the Company to
the
Manager in connection with the offering of the Shares. Except where the context
otherwise requires, “Prospectus,”
as
used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement together with the Basic Prospectus
attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement. “Permitted
Free Writing Prospectuses,”
as
used herein, means the documents, if any, listed on Schedule
A
attached
hereto. Any reference herein to the registration statement, the Registration
Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus
or
any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include
the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated
by reference, therein (the “Incorporated
Documents”),
including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed
as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms
“amend,”
“amendment”
or
“supplement”
with
respect to the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus
Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be
deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder
(collectively, the “Exchange
Act”)
on or
after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date
of
such Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as the case may be, and deemed to
be
incorporated therein by reference.
2
(b)
The
Registration Statement complied when it became effective, complies as of the
date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, at the time of purchase, each
additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus
is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance
with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale
of
Shares, will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the
Act;
the conditions to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering and sale
of the Shares as contemplated hereby have been satisfied; the Registration
Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby
complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Act (including, without
limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)); the Registration Statement did not, as of the
Effective Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; each Basic Prospectus complied or will
comply, at the time it was or will be filed with the Commission, complies as
of
the date hereof (if filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof)
and, at the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and
at
all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered
(whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any
similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares, will comply, in all
material respects, with the requirements of the Act; at no time during the
period that begins on the earlier of the date of such Basic Prospectus and
the
date such Basic Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the time
of
purchase did or will any Basic Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at no time during
such period did or will any Basic Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
together with any combination of one or more of the then issued Permitted Free
Writing Prospectuses, if any, include an untrue statement of a material fact
or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
each of the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus will comply, as of the
date
that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement,
the
time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times
during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether
physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar
rule) in connection with any sale of Shares, in all material respects, with
the
requirements of the Act (in the case of the Prospectus, including, without
limitation, Section 10(a) of the Act); at no time during the period that begins
on the earlier of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and the date the
Prospectus Supplement is filed with the Commission and ends at the later of
the
time of purchase, the latest additional time of purchase, if any, and the end
of
the period during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered
(whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any
similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares did or will any Prospectus
Supplement or the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; at no time during the period that begins on
the
date of such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, and ends at the time
of
purchase did or will any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; provided,
however,
that
the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statement
contained in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus
or
any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with
information concerning the Manager and furnished in writing by or on behalf
of
the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Basic
Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any;
each Incorporated Document, at the time such document was filed with the
Commission or at the time such document became effective, as applicable,
complied, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Exchange Act
and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3
(c)
Prior
to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly,
offered or sold any Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of
the Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection
with the offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Basic
Prospectuses and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; the Company
has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rules 164 and 433 under the
Act; assuming that such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, is so sent
or
given after the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (and after
such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, was, if required pursuant to
Rule 433(d) under the Act, filed with the Commission), the sending or giving,
by
the Manager, of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus will satisfy the
provisions of Rule 164 or Rule 433 (without reliance on subsections (b), (c)
and
(d) of Rule 164); the conditions set forth in one or more of subclauses (i)
through (iv), inclusive, of Rule 433(b)(1) under the Act are satisfied, and
the
registration statement relating to the offering of the Shares contemplated
hereby, as initially filed with the Commission, includes a prospectus that,
other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the Act, satisfies the
requirements of Section 10 of the Act;”; neither the Company nor the Manager is
disqualified, by reason of subsection (f) or (g) of Rule 164 under the Act,
from
using, in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, “free writing
prospectuses” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and
433 under the Act; the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule
405 under the Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of
Rules 164 and 433 under the Act with respect to the offering of the Shares
contemplated by the Registration Statement; the parties hereto agree and
understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433
under the Act) related to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby is
solely the property of the Company.
(d)
[Intentionally Omitted]
4
(e)
As of
the date set forth therein, the Company has an authorized and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the section of the Registration Statement, the
Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock” (and
any similar sections or information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus), and, as of the time of any sale of the Shares in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, as applicable, and
the
Prospectus, the Company shall have an authorized and outstanding capitalization
as set forth in the section of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
entitled “Description of capital stock” (and any similar sections or
information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus)
(subject, in each case, to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise
of stock options and warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration
Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the
Prospectus and the grant of restricted stock or options under existing equity
incentive plans described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits
thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus); all of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock, including the Common Stock, of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities
laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right,
right of first refusal or similar right; the Shares are duly listed, and
admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance,
on
the NASDAQ Global Market (the “Nasdaq”).
(f)
The
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation
in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full corporate
power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business
as described in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses, the
Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, to execute
and
deliver this Agreement and will have, at the time of execution thereof, full
corporate power and authority to enter into any Terms Agreement and to issue,
sell and deliver the Shares as contemplated herein.
(g)
The
Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good
standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the
failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not, individually or
in
the aggregate, either (i) have a material adverse effect on the business,
properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the
Company and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) taken as a whole, (ii) prevent
or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (iii) result in the delisting of shares of Common Stock from the
Nasdaq (the occurrence of any such effect or any such prevention or interference
or any such result described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being
herein referred to as a “Material
Adverse Effect”).
5
(h)
The
Company has no subsidiaries (as defined under the Act) other than Hoku
Materials, Inc., Hoku Solar, Inc., Hoku Materials Holdings, Inc., Hoku Power
Investments, LLC and Hoku Power Project 1, LLC (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”);
the
Company owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or equity
interests, as applicable, of each of the Subsidiaries; other than the capital
stock or equity interests, as applicable, of the Subsidiaries, the Company
does
not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity
interests or long-term debt securities of any corporation, firm, partnership,
joint venture, association or other entity; complete and correct copies of
the
charters and the bylaws or operating agreements, as applicable, of the Company
and each Subsidiary and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the
Manager, and no changes therein will be made on or after the date hereof through
and including the time of purchase or, if later, any additional time of
purchase; each Subsidiary has been duly incorporated or formed and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation,
with full corporate power or limited liability company power, as applicable,
and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
as described in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses, the
Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; each Subsidiary
is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability
company, as applicable, and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where
the
ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good
standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect; all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or equity interests,
as
applicable, of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with
all applicable securities laws, were not issued in violation of any preemptive
right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right and, except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses, the Prospectus
and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are owned by the Company
subject to no security interest, other encumbrance or adverse claims; and no
options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations
to issue or other rights to convert any obligation into shares of capital stock
or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding. The Company has
no
“significant subsidiary,” as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation
S-X under the Act, other than Hoku Materials, Inc.
(i)
The
Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered
against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive
rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights; the Shares,
when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will
be
free of any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof pursuant to the
Company’s charter or bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the
Company is a party.
6
(j)
The
capital stock of the Company, including the Shares, conforms in all material
respects to each description thereof, if any, contained or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus
or
any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; and the certificates for the Shares
meet
the requirements therefor under the Company’s certification of incorporation and
by-laws and under applicable law.
(k)
The
Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and
will have, at the time of execution thereof, full corporate power and authority
to enter into any Terms Agreement. This Agreement has been and any Terms
Agreement will have been, at the time of execution and delivery thereof, duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
This
Agreement constitutes and, in the case of any Terms Agreement, will constitute,
a valid and binding agreement of the Company and is enforceable, and, in the
case of any Terms Agreement, will be enforceable, against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof and thereof
may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and similar
laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally and moratorium laws in effect from time to
time and by equitable principles restricting the availability of equitable
remedies. The Company has not entered into any other sales agency or
distribution agreements or similar arrangements with any agent or other
representative in respect of the Shares and the equity shelf program established
by this Agreement.
(l)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of
or
in default under (nor has any event occurred which, with notice, lapse of time
or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under
or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s
behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all
or a
part of such indebtedness under) (A) its charter or bylaws, or (B) any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other
evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement
or
instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may
be
bound or affected, or (C) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation
or rule, or (D) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization
or
other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation,
the
rules and regulations of the Nasdaq), or (E) any decree, judgment or order
applicable to it or any of its properties,
(1)
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or (2) solely with respect
to clause (B) (other than the Disclosed Contracts, as to which this clause
(2)
shall not apply), except for any such breach, violation or default that would
not, individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
7
(m)
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement,
the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not conflict with, result in any breach or violation
of
or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which, with notice,
lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute
a
default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on
such
holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of
all or a part of such indebtedness under) (or result in the creation or
imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the
Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to) (A) the charter or bylaws of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries, or (B) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
bank
loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license,
lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
of
the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective
properties may be bound or affected, or (C) any federal, state, local or foreign
law, regulation or rule, or (D) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory
organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without
limitation, the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq, or (E) any decree, judgment
or order applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties.
(n)
No
approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state,
local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority
or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other
non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the
Nasdaq, or approval of the stockholders of the Company, is required in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation by
the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) registration
of
the Shares under the Act, which
has
been effected (or, with respect to any registration statement to be filed
hereunder pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, will be effected in accordance
herewith), (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky
laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by
the
Manager or (iii) under the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”).
(o)
Except as described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits
thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) no person has the right,
contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue or sell to it any shares
of Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other equity interests
of the Company, (ii) no person has any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights
of first refusal or other rights to purchase any shares of Common Stock or
shares of any other capital stock of or other equity interests in the Company
and (iii) no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial
advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares;
no
person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to register
under the Act any shares of Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock
of
or other equity interests in the Company, or to include any such shares or
interests in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated
thereby.
8
(p)
Each
of the Company and the Subsidiaries has all necessary licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any
applicable law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, in order to conduct
their respective businesses; neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries
is
in violation of, or in default under, or has received notice of any proceedings
relating to revocation or modification of, any such license, authorization,
consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation
or
rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries, except where such violation, default, revocation or modification
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(q)
There
are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings pending or, to
the
Company’s knowledge, threatened or contemplated to which the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers is or would
be
a party or of which any of their respective properties is or would be subject
at
law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental
or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or before or by
any
self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority
(including, without limitation, the Nasdaq), except any such action, suit,
claim, investigation or proceeding which, if resolved adversely to the Company
or any Subsidiary or any such director or officer, would not, individually
or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
There
are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings pending, or to
the
Company’s knowledge, threatened or contemplated, in each case by the SEC or the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)
to
which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective
directors or officers is or would be a party.
(r)
Ernst
& Young LLP (the “Accountants”)
whose
report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
Subsidiaries is included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectuses and the Prospectus, are independent registered
public accountants as required by the Act and by the rules of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board.
9
(s)
The
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly in
all
material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the
Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company for
the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements
of the Act and Exchange Act and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved;
all pro forma financial statements or data included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus comply with the requirements of the Act and
the Exchange Act, and the assumptions used in the preparation of such pro forma
financial statements and data are reasonable, the pro forma adjustments used
therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances
described therein and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied
to
the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements and data; the
other financial and statistical data contained or incorporated by reference
in
the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus are accurately and fairly presented and
prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and
records of the Company; there are no financial statements (historical or pro
forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not
included or incorporated by reference as required; the Company and the
Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or
contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in
the
Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus
and the Prospectus; and all disclosures contained or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by
the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the
Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act, to the extent
applicable.
(t)
Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted
Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, in each case excluding any amendments or
supplements to the foregoing made after the execution of this Agreement, there
has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development involving
a
prospective material adverse change, in the business, properties, management,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and
the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) any obligation or liability, direct or
contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the
Company or any Subsidiary, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, (iv) any change in the capital stock or outstanding
indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiaries (subject, in the case of capital
stock, to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of stock options
and warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding
the exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus and the grant
of
restricted stock or options under existing equity incentive plans described
in
the Registration Statement in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice (excluding the exhibits thereto)) or (v) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary.
10
(u)
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, and at no time during which a
prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through
compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with
any sale of Shares will either of them be, and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Shares, neither of them will be, an “investment
company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”).
(v)
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Shares, neither will be a “holding company” or a
“subsidiary company” of a “holding company” or an “affiliate” of a “holding
company” or of a “subsidiary company,” as such terms are defined in the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the “Public
Utility Holding Company Act”).”
(w)
The
Company and each of the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all
property (real and personal) described the Registration Statement, any Basic
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as being
owned by any of them, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests
or
other encumbrances, except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement,
any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus;
all the property described in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus,
the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as being held under
lease by the Company or a Subsidiary is held thereby under valid, subsisting
and
enforceable leases.
11
(x)
The
Company and the Subsidiaries own, or have obtained valid and enforceable
licenses for, or other rights to use, the inventions, patent applications,
patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames, service
names, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information described
in
the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as being owned or licensed by them or which
are necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently
conducted or as proposed to be conducted (including the commercialization of
products or services described in the Registration Statement, any Basic
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as under
development), except where the failure to own, license or have such rights
would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
(collectively, “Intellectual
Property”);
(i)
there are no third parties who have or, to the Company’s knowledge, will be able
to establish rights to any Intellectual Property, except for, and to the extent
of, the ownership rights of the owners of the Intellectual Property which the
Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus
and the Prospectus disclose is licensed to the Company; (ii) to the Company’s
knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any Intellectual
Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened
action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in
or to any Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which
could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim;
(iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action,
suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, enforceability
or
scope of any Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts
which could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or
claim; (v) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened
action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any Subsidiary
infringes or otherwise violates, or would, upon the commercialization of any
product or service described in the Registration Statement, any Basic
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as under
development, infringe or violate, any patent, trademark, tradename, service
name, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the
Company is unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any
such
action, suit, proceeding or claim; (vi) the Company and the Subsidiaries have
complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual
Property has been licensed to the Company or any Subsidiary, and all such
agreements are in full force and effect; (vii) to the Company’s knowledge, there
is no patent or patent application that contains claims that interfere with
the
issued or pending claims of any of the Intellectual Property or that challenges
the validity, enforceability or scope of any of the Intellectual Property;
(viii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no prior art that may render any
patent application within the Intellectual Property unpatentable that has not
been disclosed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and (ix) the product
candidates described in the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as under development by
the
Company or any Subsidiary fall within the scope of the claims of one or more
patents owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Company or any
Subsidiary.
(y)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor
practice; except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice
complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no
grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective
bargaining agreements is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, (B)
no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and (C)
no
union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of
the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries, (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, no union
organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of
the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries and (iii) there has been no violation of
any
federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring,
promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”)
or the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries.
12
(z)
The
Company and the Subsidiaries and their respective properties, assets and
operations are in compliance with, and the Company and each of the Subsidiaries
hold all permits, authorizations and approvals required under, Environmental
Laws (as defined below), except to the extent that failure to so comply or
to
hold such permits, authorizations or approvals would not, individually or in
the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; there are no past, present or, to
the
Company’s knowledge, reasonably anticipated future events, conditions,
circumstances, activities, practices, actions, omissions or plans that could
reasonably be expected to give rise to any material costs or liabilities to
the
Company or any Subsidiary under, or to interfere with or prevent compliance
by
the Company or any Subsidiary with, Environmental Laws; except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries (i) is the subject of any investigation,
(ii) has received any notice or claim, (iii) is a party to or affected by any
pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit or proceeding,
(iv) is bound by any judgment, decree or order or (v) has entered into any
agreement, in each case relating to any alleged violation of any Environmental
Law or any actual or alleged release or threatened release or cleanup at any
location of any Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (as used herein,
“Environmental
Law”
means
any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation,
order, decree, judgment, injunction, permit, license, authorization or other
binding requirement, or common law, relating to health, safety or the
protection, cleanup or restoration of the environment or natural resources,
including those relating to the distribution, processing, generation, treatment,
storage, disposal, transportation, other handling or release or threatened
release of Hazardous Materials, and “Hazardous
Materials”
means
any material (including, without limitation, pollutants, contaminants, hazardous
or toxic substances or wastes) that is regulated by or may give rise to
liability under any Environmental Law).
(aa)
In
the ordinary course of their business, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries
conduct periodic reviews of the effect of the Environmental Laws on their
respective businesses, operations and properties, in the course of which they
use all commercially reasonable efforts to identify and evaluate associated
costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating
expenditures required for cleanup, closure of properties or compliance with
the
Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints
on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third
parties).
13
(bb)
All
tax returns required to be filed by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
have
been timely filed other than those returns for which an extension has been
granted by the applicable governmental authority, and all taxes and other
assessments of a similar nature (whether imposed directly or through
withholding) including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable
thereto due or claimed to be due from such entities have been timely paid,
other
than those being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have
been provided.
(cc)
The
Company and each of the Subsidiaries maintain insurance covering their
respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses as the Company
reasonably deems adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks
to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice
to
protect the Company and the Subsidiaries and their respective businesses; all
such insurance is fully in force on the date hereof and will be fully in force
at the time of purchase and any additional time of purchase; neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew
any
such insurance as and when such insurance expires.
(dd)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has sustained since the date
of
the last audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included
or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses
and the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire,
explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or
from
any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree.
(ee)
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has sent or received any communication
regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or
agreements referred to or described in any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus
or
any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or referred to or described in, or filed
as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement or any Incorporated Document (each,
a “Disclosed
Contract”),
and
no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any
Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such Disclosed
Contract. The Disclosed Contracts are valid, binding and enforceable obligations
of the parties thereto (except that such enforceability (A) may be limited
by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (B)
is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered
in
a proceeding in equity or at law)) and are in full force and effect and the
Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with
the
terms of such contracts and agreements. As described in the Prospectus, each
of
the parties to the First Amended & Restated Supply Agreement, dated January
30, 2008, by and between Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., and Hoku Materials, Inc.
and
each of the parties to the Supply Agreement, dated June 18, 2007, by and between
and Global Expertise Wafer Division Ltd. and Hoku Materials, Inc., as amended
by
Amendment No. 1 to Supply Agreement, dated March 4, 2008, by and between Hoku
Materials, Inc., and Global Expertise Wafer Division Ltd. has the right to
terminate such agreement; however, the Company is not in breach or default
under
either of such agreements.
14
(ff)
The
Company and its officers and directors are in compliance with Regulation M
under
the Exchange Act.
(gg)
The
Company and each of the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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.
(hh)
The
Company has established and maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and
procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the
Exchange Act) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is
defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure
controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information
relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known
to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by
others within those entities, and such disclosure controls and procedures are
effective to perform the functions for which they were established; the
Company’s independent auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies, if any,
in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect
the
Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data; and
(ii) all fraud, if any, whether or not material, that involves management or
other employees who have a role in the Company’s internal controls; all material
weaknesses, if any, in internal controls have been identified to the Company’s
independent auditors; since the date of the most recent evaluation of such
disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls, there have been no
significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could
significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses; the
principal executive officers (or their equivalents) and principal financial
officers (or their equivalents) of the Company have made all certifications
required by the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act”)
and
any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, and the
statements contained in each such certification are complete and correct; the
Company, the Subsidiaries and the Company’s directors and officers are each in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions
of
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and
the
Nasdaq
promulgated thereunder.
15
(ii)
Each
“forward-looking statement” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act or
Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or incorporated by reference in
the
Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed with a reasonable basis
and
in good faith.
(jj)
All
statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in
the
Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company
believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written
consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent
required.
(kk)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company
or
any of the Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or
indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder;
and the
Company, the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates
have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure
continued compliance therewith.
(ll)
The
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted
at
all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting
requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970,
as
amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and
regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or
guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental 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 or non-governmental authority involving
the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws
is
pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.
16
(mm)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company
or
any of the Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered
by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department
(“OFAC”);
and
the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering
of
the Shares contemplated hereby, 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.
(nn)
No
Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any
dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such
Subsidiary’s capital stock or equity interests, from repaying to the Company any
loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring
any
of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary
of the Company, except as described in the Registration Statement (excluding
the
exhibits thereto), each Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(oo)
The
issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby will not cause any holder
of any shares of capital stock, securities convertible into or exchangeable
or
exercisable for capital stock or options, warrants or other rights to purchase
capital stock or any other securities of the Company to have any right to
acquire any shares of preferred stock of the Company.
(pp)
The
Company is in compliance with the Marketplace Rules of the Nasdaq, including,
without limitation, the requirements for continued designation of the Common
Stock as a Nasdaq National Market Security and the Company has not received
any
notice from the Nasdaq regarding the delisting of the Common Stock from the
Nasdaq.
(qq)
Except pursuant to this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of the
Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or
agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by
the
Registration Statement.
(rr)
Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor any of their respective
directors, officers, affiliates or controlling persons has taken, directly
or
indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably
be
expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price
of
any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares.
(ss)
To
the Company’s knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between (i)
any member of FINRA and (ii) the Company or any of the Company’s officers,
directors or 5% or greater security holders or any beneficial owner of the
Company’s unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or
after the 180th day immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement
was initially filed with the Commission, except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), the Basic Prospectuses and the
Prospectus.
17
In
addition, any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries and delivered to the Manager or counsel for the Manager in
connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby,
to
the Manager.
SECTION
3. Sale
and Delivery of Securities.
(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained,
but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees
to
issue and sell through the Manager, as sales agent, and the Manager agrees
to
use its reasonable efforts to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares
on the following terms.
(i)
The
Shares are to be sold on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by
the
Company and the Manager on any day that is a trading day for the Nasdaq (other
than a day on which the Nasdaq is scheduled to close prior to its regular
weekday closing time). The Company will designate the maximum amount of the
Shares to be sold by the Manager daily as agreed to by the Manager and in any
event not in excess of the amount available for issuance under the currently
effective Registration Statement. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Manager shall use its reasonable efforts to sell all of the Shares
designated. The gross sales of the Shares sold under this Section 3(a) shall
be
the market price for shares of the Company’s Common Stock sold by the Manager
under this Section 3(a) on the Nasdaq at the time of such sale.
(ii)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may instruct the Manager by telephone
(confirmed promptly by telecopy) not to sell the Shares if such sales cannot
be
effected at or above the price designated by the Company in any such
instruction. Furthermore, the Company shall not authorize the issuance and
sale
of, and the Manager shall not be obligated to use its reasonable efforts to
sell, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated
from
time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors and notified to the Manager in
writing. In addition, the Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other
party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by telecopy), suspend the offering
of the Shares; provided,
however,
that
such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’
respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the
giving of such notice.
18
(iii)
The
Manager hereby covenants and agrees not to make any sales of the Shares on
behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 3(a), other than (A) by means
of
ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the Nasdaq that qualify for
delivery of a Prospectus to the Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 153 under the
Act
(such transactions are hereinafter referred to as “At
the Market Offerings”)
and
(B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity
as
agent of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and the Manager. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that in the event a sale of the Shares on behalf
of the Company would constitute the sale of a “block” under Rule 10b-18(a)(5)
under the Exchange Act or a “distribution” within the meaning of Rule 100 of
Regulation M under the Exchange Act or the Manager reasonably believes it may
be
deemed an “underwriter” under the Act in a transaction that is not an At the
Market Offering, the Company will provide to the Manager, at the Manager’s
request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, on or prior to the
Settlement Date, the opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’
certificates pursuant to Section 5 hereof that the Company would be required
to
provide to the Manager in connection with a sale of the Shares pursuant to
a
Terms Agreement, each dated the Settlement Date, and such other documents and
information as the Manager shall reasonably request.
(iv)
The
compensation to the Manager for sales of the Shares, as an agent of the Company,
shall be 4% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section
3(a), and such rate of compensation shall not apply when the Manager acts as
principal. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction
fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect
of
such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares
(the “Net
Proceeds”).
(v)
The
Manager shall provide written confirmation to the Company following the close
of
trading on the Nasdaq each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section
3(a) setting forth the amount of the Shares sold on such day, the Net Proceeds
to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to the Manager
with
respect to such sales.
(vi)
Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 3(a) will occur
on
the third business day following the date on which such sales are made (each
such day, a “Settlement
Date”).
On
each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through the Manager for settlement on
such
date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Manager against payment
of the Net Proceeds for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares
shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The
Depository Trust Company in return for payments in same day funds delivered
to
the account designated by the Company. If the Company shall default on its
obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall
(A) hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising
from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Manager
any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.
If
the Manager breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver proceeds on any
Settlement Date for the Shares delivered by the Company, the Manager will pay
the Company interest based on the effective overnight Federal Funds rate.
19
(vii)
At
each Settlement Date and Filing Date (as defined below), the Company shall
be
deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this
Agreement. The Company covenants and agrees with the Manager that (A) with
respect to each of the Company’s first three fiscal quarters, on or prior to the
date on which the Company shall be obligated to file a quarterly report on
Form
10-Q in respect of such quarter and (B) with respect to the Company’s fourth
fiscal quarter for fiscal year 2009 and for each year thereafter, on or prior
to
the thirty-fifth day after the end of such quarter in which sales of the Shares
were made by the Manager pursuant to this Section 3(a) (each such date, a
“Filing
Date”),
the
Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the
applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b), which prospectus supplement will set forth,
with regard to such quarter, the number of the Shares sold through the Manager
as agent pursuant to this Section 3(a) in At the Market Offerings, the Net
Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect
to
such sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 3(a) and deliver such number
of copies of each such prospectus supplement to the Nasdaq as are required
by
such exchange. Any obligation of the Manager to use its reasonable efforts
to
sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing
satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 5 of this
Agreement.
(b)
(i)
If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth
in
Section 3(a) of this Agreement (each, a “Placement”),
it
will notify the Manager of the proposed terms of such Placement. If the Manager,
acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline
to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with
the
Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager and the Company will enter
into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement.
(ii)
The
terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or
the
Manager unless and until the Company and the Manager have each executed such
Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the
event
of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms
Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.
(c)
(i)
Under no circumstances shall the number of the Shares sold pursuant to this
Agreement and any Terms Agreement exceed the number set forth in Section 1
or
the number of shares of the Common Stock available for issuance under the
currently effective Registration Statement.
(ii)
[Intentionally Omitted]
20
(d)
Each
sale of the Shares to the Manager shall be made in accordance with the terms
of
this Agreement and, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, which will provide for
the
sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, the Manager. A Terms
Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of
such
Shares by the Manager. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares
pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis
of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall
be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement
shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the Manager pursuant
thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions
relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the
Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time
and date being referred to herein as a “Time
of Delivery”)
and
place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall
also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants' letters
and
officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement and any other
information or documents required by the Manager.
SECTION
4. Covenants
of the Company.
The
Company agrees with the Manager:
(a)
During the period in which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required
to be
delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule
172
under the Act or any similar rule), to notify the Manager promptly of the time
when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement has become effective
or any subsequent supplement to any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus has been filed; to prepare and file with
the
Commission, promptly upon the Manager’s request, any amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus that, in the Manager’s reasonable opinion, may
be necessary or advisable in connection with the offering of the Shares by
the
Manager; and to cause each amendment or supplement to any Basic Prospectus
or
the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the
applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Act or, in the case of any
Incorporated Document, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant
to
the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed.
(b)
To
promptly advise the Manager, confirming such advice in writing, of any request
by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement,
any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus
or
for additional information with respect thereto, or of notice of institution
of
proceedings for, or the entry of a stop order suspending the effectiveness
of
the Registration Statement and, if the Commission should enter a stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as soon
as possible; to promptly advise the Manager of any proposal to amend or
supplement the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus,
and to provide the Manager and its counsel copies of any such documents for
review and comment a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing
and
to file no such amendment or supplement (other than any prospectus supplement
relating to the offering of other securities (including, without limitation,
the
Common Stock) to which the Manager shall object in writing. To promptly notify
the Manager if any of the Disclosed Contracts is terminated or if the other
party thereto threatens to terminate any such agreement or
contract.
21
(c)
To
make available to the Manager, as soon as practicable after this Agreement
becomes effective, and thereafter from time to time to furnish to the Manager,
as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements
thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Manager
may request for the purposes contemplated by the Act, in case the Manager is
required to deliver (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172
under the Act or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares,
a
prospectus after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the
Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Act, the Company
will prepare, at its expense, promptly upon request such amendment or amendments
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit
compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 512(a)
of Regulation S-K under the Act, as the case may be.
(d)
If,
at the
time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary for a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or a Registration
Statement under Rule 462(b) under the Act, to be filed with the Commission
and
become effective before the Shares may be sold, the Company will use its best
efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or such Registration Statement
to
be filed and become effective as soon as possible, and the Company will advise
the Manager promptly and, if requested by the Manager, will confirm such advice
in writing, (i) when such post-effective amendment or such Registration
Statement has become effective, and (ii) if Rule 430A under the Act is used,
when the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Act (which the Company agrees to file in a timely manner in accordance
with
such Rules).
(e)
Subject to Section 4(b) hereof, to file promptly all reports and documents
and
any preliminary or definitive proxy or information statement required to be
filed by the Company with the Commission in order to comply with the Exchange
Act for so long as a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether
physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar
rule) in connection with any sale of Shares; and to provide the Manager, for
its
review and comment, with a copy of such reports and statements and other
documents to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of
the
Exchange Act during such period a reasonable amount of time prior to any
proposed filing, and to file no such report, statement or document to which
the
Manager shall have reasonably objected in writing; and to promptly notify the
Manager of such filing.
22
(f)
To
promptly notify the Manager of the happening of any event within the period
during which a prospectus is required to be delivered (whether physically or
through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in
connection with any sale of Shares, which event could require the making of
any
change in the Prospectus then being used so that the Prospectus would not
include an untrue statement of 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 are made, not misleading, and, during such time,
subject to Section 4(b), to prepare and furnish, at the Company’s expense, to
the Manager promptly such amendments or supplements to such Prospectus as may
be
necessary to reflect any such change.
(g)
To
furnish such information as may be required and otherwise to cooperate in
qualifying the Shares for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky
laws of such states or other jurisdictions as the Manager may designate and
to
maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution
of the Shares; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
consent to the service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction
(except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares);
and to promptly advise the Manager of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares
for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.
(h)
To
make generally available to its security holders, and to deliver to the Manager,
an earnings statement of the Company (which will satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of twelve months beginning after
the
effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) of
the
Act) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the termination of such
twelve-month period but not later than August 14, 2009.
23
(i)
Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this
Agreement is terminated, to pay all of the Company’s expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, such
costs, expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and
filing of the Registration Statement, each Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus,
each Prospectus Supplement, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies
of
each thereof to the Manager (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii)
the
registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares including any stock or
transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties payable upon the sale, issuance
or
delivery of the Shares to the Manager, (iii) the producing, word processing
and/or printing of this Agreement, any Powers of Attorney and any closing
documents (including compilations thereof) and the reproduction and/or printing
and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Manager (including costs of
mailing and shipment), (iv) the qualification of the Shares for offering and
sale under state laws and the determination of their eligibility for investment
under state or foreign law as aforesaid (including the reasonable legal fees
and
filing fees and other disbursements of counsel for the Manager) and the printing
and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys to the Manager, (v) the listing
of the Shares on any securities exchange or qualification of the Shares for
quotation on the Nasdaq and any registration thereof under the Exchange Act,
(vi) any filing for review of the public offering of the Shares by the NASD,
including the out of pocket reasonable legal fees and other reasonable
disbursements of counsel for the Manager actually incurred relating to NASD
matters, (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with
any
filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority and (viii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company’s
counsel and of the Company’s accountants. In addition, the Company shall
reimburse the Manager for the out of pocket reasonable fees and disbursements
of
the Manager’s counsel actually incurred (x) up to $200,000 if, within six months
of the date of this Agreement, the sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement
result in gross proceeds to the Company of an amount less than $30 million
or
(y) up to $100,000 if, within six months of the date of this Agreement, the
sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement result in gross proceeds to the
Company of an amount greater than $30 million but less than $50 million (it
being agreed that if, within six months of the date of this Agreement, the
sales
of Shares pursuant to this Agreement result in gross proceeds to the Company
of
an amount equal to or greater than $50 million, the Company shall not be
required pursuant to this sentence to reimburse the Manager for any of the
fees
or disbursements of the Manager’s counsel). The Manager will pay all of its
other own out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering
into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including, without limitation, travel, reproduction, printing and similar
expenses.
(j)
To
apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth
under
the caption “Use of proceeds” in the Prospectus
Supplement.
24
(k)
Not
to sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant
any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly
or
indirectly, any shares of the Common Stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for the Common Stock or warrants or other rights
to
purchase the Common Stock or any other securities of the Company that are
substantially similar to the Common Stock or
permit
the registration under the Act of any shares of the Common Stock, except for
(i)
the registration of the Shares and the sales through the Manager pursuant to
this Agreement or to the Manager pursuant to any Terms Agreement, (ii) sales
of
shares through any dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan of the Company
and (iii) shares of restricted stock and options granted pursuant to employee
benefit plans and shares of the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
such
outstanding options during the period from the date of this Agreement through
the final Filing Date for the sale of the Shares pursuant to Section 3(a) of
this Agreement, without (A) giving the Manager at least three business days’
prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date
of
such proposed sale and (B) the Manager suspending activity under this program
for such period of time as requested by the Company.
(l)
Not,
at any time at or after the execution of this Agreement, to offer or sell any
Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act), or use any
“prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or
sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Prospectus.
(m)
The
Company will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries not to, take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed, or which will constitute, or has constituted,
or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in (i) the stabilization
or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
sale
or resale of the Shares or (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall
notify the Manager of any violation of Regulation M by the Company or any
Subsidiary or any of their respective officers or directors promptly after
the
Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such
violation.
(n)
To
use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Common Stock to be listed on the
Nasdaq and to maintain such listing.
(o)
At
any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time,
to advise the Manager immediately after it shall have received notice or obtain
knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any
opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant
to Section 5 herein.
25
(p)
Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, and each time
that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or
supplemented (other than a Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement or relating solely
to
the offering of securities other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with
the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other
than a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless the Manager shall otherwise reasonably
request), (iii) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms
Agreement, or (iv) otherwise as the Manager may reasonable request, to furnish
or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith a certificate dated and
delivered the date of effectiveness of such amendment, the date of filing with
the Commission of such supplement or other document, the Time of Delivery,
or
promptly upon request, as the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory
to
the Manager to the effect that the statements contained in the certificates
referred to in Section 5(e) of this Agreement which were last furnished to
the
Manager are true and correct at the time of such amendment, supplement, filing,
or delivery, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such time (except
that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement
and
the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such
certificate, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates referred to
in
said Section 5(e), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such
certificate.
(q)
Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, and each time
that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or
supplemented (other than a Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement or relating solely
to
the offering of securities other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with
the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other
than a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless the Manager shall otherwise reasonably
request), (iii) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms
Agreement, or (iv) otherwise as the Manager may reasonable request, to furnish
or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager and to counsel to the Manager
a written opinion of Stoel Rives LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company
Counsel”),
or
other counsel satisfactory to the Manager, dated and delivered the date of
effectiveness of such amendment, the date of filing with the Commission of
such
supplement or other document, the Time of Delivery, or promptly upon such
request, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 5(c) of this Agreement,
but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such
opinion.
(r)
Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, and each time
that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or
supplemented (other than a Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement or relating solely
to
the offering of securities other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with
the
Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other
than a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless the Manager shall otherwise reasonably
request), (iii) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms
Agreement, or (iv) otherwise as the Manager shall reasonably request Sidley
Austin LLP, counsel to the Manager, shall deliver a written opinion, dated
and
delivered the date of effectiveness of such amendment, the date of filing with
the Commission of such supplement or other document, the Time of Delivery,
or
promptly upon such request, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Manager.
26
(s)
Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, and each time
that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or
supplemented to include additional amended financial information, (ii) at the
Manager’s oral or written request and upon reasonable advance oral or written
notice to the Company, the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to
a
Terms Agreement, (iii) the Company shall file an annual report on Form 10-K
or
(iv) at the Manager’s request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company,
there is filed with the Commission any document (other than an annual report
on
Form 10-K) incorporated by reference into the Prospectus which contains
additional amended financial information, to cause the Accountants and KPMG
LLP,
or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager, forthwith to
furnish the Manager letters, dated the date of effectiveness of such amendment,
the date of filing of such supplement or other document with the Commission,
or
the Time of Delivery, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to the Manager,
of the same tenor as the letters referred to in Section 5(d) of this Agreement
but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as
amended and supplemented to the date of such letter, provided that the letter
from KPMG LLP to be delivered upon commencement of the offering of Shares under
this Agreement may be delivered promptly after the date of such
commencement.
(t)
Upon
commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement, and each time
that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or
supplemented (other than a Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement or relating solely
to
the offering of securities other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with
the
Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other
than a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless the Manager shall otherwise reasonably
request), (iii) the Shares are delivered to the Manager pursuant to a Terms
Agreement, or (iv) otherwise as the Manager shall reasonably request, to conduct
a due diligence session, in form and substance, satisfactory to the Manager,
which shall include representatives of the management and the accountants of
the
Company.
(u)
That
it consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own
account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the
Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement.
27
(v)
For
three years from the date of this Agreement or of any Terms Agreement, to
furnish to its stockholders within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year,
for so long as the Company shall not be required to file annual and periodic
reports with the Commission under the Exchange Act, audited financial statements
(including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and of
cash flow of the Company for such fiscal year), accompanied by a copy of the
certificate or report thereon of nationally recognized independent certified
public accountants.
(w)
If to
the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 5(a) or
5(g) of this Agreement shall not have been satisfied on the applicable
Settlement Date, to offer to any person who has agreed to purchase the Shares
from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager
the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.
(x)
Not
to at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action intended, or which
might
reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which will constitute,
stabilization of the price of shares of the Common Stock to facilitate the
sale
or resale of any of the Shares; and not invest in futures contracts, options
on
futures contracts or options on commodities, unless the Company is exempt from
the registration requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the
“Commodity
Act”),
or
otherwise complies with the Commodity Act. The Company will not engage in any
activities bearing on the Commodity Act, unless such activities are exempt
from
the Commodity Act or otherwise comply with the Commodity Act.
(y)
To
disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on
Form
10-K the number of the Shares sold through the Manager under this Agreement,
the
Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with
respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant
quarter.
(z)
That
each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder,
and
each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed
to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties
of
the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct
as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made
at
and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties
will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating
to
such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the
case
may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations
and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and
the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
28
SECTION
5. Conditions
of Manager’s Obligations.
The
obligations of the Manager hereunder and under any Terms Agreement are subject
to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of
the Company on the date hereof, any applicable date referred to in
Section 4(p) of this Agreement, the date of any executed Terms Agreement
and as of each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance
by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following
additional conditions precedent.
(a)
(i)
No stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
shall have been issued under the Act or proceedings initiated under Section
8(d)
or 8(e) of the Act, and no order directed at or in relation to any document
incorporated by reference therein and no order preventing or suspending the
use
of the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and no suspension of the
qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or to
the
knowledge of the Company or the Manager of the initiation or threatening of
any
proceedings for any of such purposes, has occurred; (ii) the Registration
Statement and all amendments thereto shall not contain an untrue statement
of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iii) none of the
Basic
Prospectus or the Prospectus, and no amendment or supplement thereto, shall
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; (iv) no Basic
Prospectus or Basic Prospectus, together with any combination of one or more
of
the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and no amendment or supplement
thereto, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and (v) none of
the
Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, shall include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
are
made, not misleading.
(b)
No
material and unfavorable change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred
to in the Registration Statement and Prospectus), in the business, condition
or
prospects of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall
occur or become known and no transaction which is material and unfavorable
to
the Company (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus) shall have been entered into by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(c)
The
Company shall furnish to the Manager, at every date specified in Section 4(q)
of
this Agreement, an opinion of Company Counsel, addressed to the Manager, and
dated as of such date, and in form satisfactory to the Manager, in the form
set
forth in Exhibit
A
hereto.
29
(d)
At
the dates specified in Section 4(s) of this Agreement, the
Manager shall have received from the Accountants letters dated the date of
delivery thereof and addressed to the Manager in form and substance satisfactory
to the Manager.
At the
dates specified in Section 4(s) of this Agreement, the Manager shall have
received from KPMG LLP letters dated the date of delivery thereof and addressed
to the Manager in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager.
(e)
The
Company will deliver to the Manager (A) a certificate, (i) dated as of and
delivered on each Filing Date and (ii) dated as of and delivered on the Time
of
Delivery pursuant to any Terms Agreement, (each, a “Certificate
Date”),
of
two of its executive officers to the effect that (i) the representations and
warranties of the Company as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct
as
of the Certificate Date, (ii) the Company shall perform such of its obligations
under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before each such Certificate
Date, (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 5
have
been met and (iv) that the Shares to be sold on that date have been duly and
validly authorized by the Company and that all corporate action required to
be
taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares on that date has
been validly and sufficiently taken and (B) a certificate from the Xxxxx Xxxx,
Vice President, Business Development and General Counsel of the Company, dated
the Certificate Date, in the form set forth on Exhibit
B
hereto.
(f)
The
Manager shall have received, at every date specified in Section 4(r) of this
Agreement, the favorable opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel to the Manager,
dated as of such date, and in form and substance satisfactory to the
Manager.
(g)
All
filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Act to have been
filed by the Settlement Date or the Time of Delivery, as the case may be, shall
have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing
by
Rule 424.
(h)
The
Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq, subject only to
notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date or the Time of Delivery,
as the case may be.
30
SECTION
6. Indemnification
and Contribution.
(a)
The
Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Manager, its partners,
directors and officers, and any person who controls the Manager within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the
successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any
loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which the Manager or any such person may incur under the Act,
the
Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage,
expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any
post-effective amendment thereof by the Company) or arises out of or is based
upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises
out
of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in, and in conformity with information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of the Manager to the Company expressly for use in,
the
Registration Statement or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact in the Registration Statement in connection
with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information
and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement
or was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any
Prospectus (the term Prospectus for the purpose of this Section 6 being deemed
to include any Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus
and
any amendments or supplements to the foregoing), in any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act)
of the Company or in any Prospectus together with any combination of one or
more
of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, or arises out of or is
based
upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, except, with respect to such Prospectus
or
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, insofar as any such loss, damage, expense,
liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity
with
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Manager to the Company
expressly for use in, such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus
or
arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact in such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in
connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in
such
information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the
statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
31
If
any
action, suit or proceeding (together, a “Proceeding”)
is
brought against the Manager or any such person in respect of which indemnity
may
be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Manager
or such person shall promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
institution of such Proceeding and the Company shall assume the defense of
such
Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such
indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided,
however,
that
the omission to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any
liability which the Company may have to the Manager or any such person or
otherwise except to the extent the Company was materially prejudiced by such
omission. The Manager or such 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 the Manager or of such person unless the employment of such
counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection
with
the defense of such Proceeding or the Company shall not have, within a
reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to
have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or
parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available
to
it or them which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those
available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right
to
direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or
parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the
Company, and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Company
shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in
addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related
Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who
are parties to such Proceeding). The Company shall not be liable for any
settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled
with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Manager and any such person from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested the Company to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the Company agrees that it shall
be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after
receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request, (ii) the Company shall not
have
reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the
indemnifying party at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle.
The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect
of which any indemnified party is or may be a party and indemnity could have
been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes
an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission
of fault or culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified
party.
(b)
The
Manager agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its directors
and officers, and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors
and
assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage,
expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation)
which, jointly or severally, the Company or any such person may incur under
the
Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss,
damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
and, in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of
the
Manager to the Company expressly for use with reference to the Manager in the
Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any
post-effective amendment thereof by the Company), or arises out of or is based
upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such
Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material
fact
was not contained in such information and which material fact was required
to be
stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information
not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a
material fact contained in, and in conformity with information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of the Manager to the Company expressly for use in,
a
Prospectus or a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or arises out of or is based
upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such
Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in connection with such
information, which material fact was not contained in such information and
which
material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
32
If
any
Proceeding is brought against the Company or any such person in respect of
which
indemnity may be sought against the Manager pursuant to the foregoing paragraph,
the Company or such person shall promptly notify the Manager in writing of
the
institution of such Proceeding and the Manager shall assume the defense of
such
Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such
indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided,
however,
that
the omission to so notify the Manager shall not relieve the Manager from any
liability which the Manager may have to the Company or any such person or
otherwise. The Company or such person shall have the right to employ its own
counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at
the expense of the Company or such person unless the employment of such counsel
shall have been authorized in writing by the Manager in connection with the
defense of such Proceeding or the Manager shall not have, within a reasonable
period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge
of
the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which
are different from or additional to or in conflict with those available to
the
Manager (in which case the Manager shall not have the right to direct the
defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties, but
the Manager may employ counsel and participate in the defense thereof but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Manager),
in
any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Manager and
paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Manager shall not
be
liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any
local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the
same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
Proceeding). The Manager shall not be liable for any settlement of any such
Proceeding effected without the written consent of the Manager but if settled
with the written consent of the Manager, the Manager agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and any such person from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested the Manager to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the Manager agrees that it shall
be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after
receipt by the Manager of the aforesaid request, (ii) the Manager shall not
have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior
to
the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given
the Manager at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. The
Manager shall not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party,
effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified party is a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
33
(c)
If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable to an
indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 6 or
insufficient to hold an indemnified party harmless in respect of any losses,
damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then each
applicable indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable
by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses,
liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager,
on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law,
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company,
on the one hand, and of the Manager, on the other, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses,
liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager,
on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the
total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions
but before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Manager, bear to the
aggregate public offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the
Company, on the one hand, and of the Manager, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Manager and the
parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by
a
party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims
referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other
fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating, preparing to defend or defending any Proceeding.
(d)
The
Company and the Manager agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account
of
the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (c) above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, the Manager shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of commissions received by it under
the Agreement or any amount by which the total price at which the Shares sold
by
the Manager exceeds the amount of any damage which the Manager has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of 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.
34
(e)
The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 and the
covenants, warranties and representations of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Manager, its partners, directors or officers or
any
person (including each partner, officer or director of such person) who controls
the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, or by or on behalf of the Company, its directors or officers
or any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Shares. The
Company and the Manager agree promptly to notify each other of the commencement
of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the Company, against any of
the
Company’s officers or directors in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Shares, or in connection with the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus,
the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.
SECTION
7. Representations
and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
All
representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein or in
certificates delivered pursuant hereto or any Terms Agreement, and the
agreements of the Manager contained in Section 6 of this Agreement, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made
by
or on behalf of the Manager or any controlling persons, or the Company (or
any
of their officers, directors or controlling persons), and shall survive delivery
of and payment for the Shares.
SECTION
8. Termination.
(a)
The
Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified,
to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation
of
offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except
that (i) if the Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company,
then
Sections 4(i) and (w) shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect
to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations of
the
Company, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain
in
full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions
of Section 4(i), Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement shall remain in
full
force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
35
(b)
The
Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified,
to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation
of
offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except
that the provisions of Section 4(i), Section 6 and Section 7 of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c)
This
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant
to
Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties;
provided
that any
such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide
that Section 4(i), Section 6 and Section 7 shall remain in full force and
effect.
(d)
Any
termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such
notice of termination; provided
that
such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the
date
of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may be.
If
such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the
Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section
3(a)(vi) of this Agreement.
(e)
In
the case of any purchase by the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the
obligations of the Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject
to
termination in the absolute discretion of the Manager, if, since the time of
execution of the Terms Agreement or the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectuses, the Prospectus
and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, there shall have occurred
any downgrading, or any notice or announcement shall have been given or made
of
(i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change
that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities
of
or guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized
statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Act or, if, at any time prior to the Time of Delivery, trading in
securities on the Nasdaq shall have been suspended or limitations or minimum
prices shall have been established, trading in the securities of the Company
on
the Nasdaq shall have been suspended, or if a banking moratorium shall have
been
declared either by the United States or New York State authorities, or if the
United States shall have declared war in accordance with its constitutional
processes or there shall have occurred any material outbreak or escalation
of
hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis of such
magnitude in its effect on the financial markets of the United States as, in
the
Manager’s judgment, to make it impracticable to market the Shares. If the
Manager elects to terminate its obligations pursuant to this Section 8(e),
the
Company shall be notified promptly in writing.
36
SECTION
9. Notices.
Except
as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements
under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be in writing and delivered
by hand, overnight courier, mail or facsimile and, if to the Manager, shall
be
sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to UBS Securities LLC,
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000, Attention: Syndicate Department,
Fax No. (000) 000-0000, with a copy for information purposes to UBS Securities
LLC, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxxxx, XX, 00000, Attention: Legal and Compliance
Department, Fax No. (000) 000-0000 and, if to the Company, it shall be
sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to the Company at the offices
of
the Company at Hoku Scientific, Inc., 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
00000 Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fax
No. (000) 000-0000. Each party to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement may
change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement
and
any Terms Agreement written notice of a new address for such
purpose.
SECTION
10. Parties
at Interest.
The
Agreement herein set forth and any Terms Agreement have been and are made solely
for the benefit of the Manager and the Company and to the extent provided in
Section 6 of this Agreement the controlling persons, directors and officers
referred to in such section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs,
personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person,
partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such
purchaser, from the Manager) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue
of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement.
SECTION
11. No
Fiduciary Relationship.
The
Company hereby acknowledges that the Manager is acting solely as sales agent
and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s
securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Manager is 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 Manager
act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management,
stockholders or creditors or any other person in connection with any activity
that the Manager may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the purchase
and sale of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof.
The Manager hereby expressly disclaims 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
Manager 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 Manager 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 Manager 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.
37
SECTION
12. Adjustments
for Stock Splits.
The
parties acknowledge and agree that all share related numbers contained in this
Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any
stock split effected with respect to the Shares.
SECTION
13. Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and any Terms Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersedes
all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written
and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter
hereof.
SECTION
14. Counterparts.
This
Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more
counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among
the parties.
SECTION
15. Law;
Construction.
This
Agreement, any Terms Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any
kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this
Agreement or any Terms Agreement (“Claim”),
directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the internal laws of the State of New York.
SECTION
16. Headings.
The
Section headings in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement have been inserted
as
a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement or
any
Terms Agreement.
SECTION
17. Submission
to Jurisdiction.
Except
as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any
court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and
County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication
of such matters, and the Company consents to the jurisdiction of such courts
and
personal service with respect thereto. The Company hereby consents to personal
jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out
of
or in any way relating to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement is brought
by
any third party against the Manager or any indemnified party. Each of the
Manager and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right
to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon
contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this
Agreement and any Terms Agreement. The Company agrees that a final judgment
in
any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall
be
conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any other courts
to the jurisdiction of which the Company is or may be subject, by suit upon
such
judgment.
SECTION
18. Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Manager and the Company and their successors
and assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the
Company’s and the Manager’s respective businesses and/or assets.
38
SECTION
19. Miscellaneous.
The
Manager, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of UBS AG, is not a bank and
is
separate from any affiliated bank, including any U.S. branch or agency of UBS
AG. Because the Manager is a separately incorporated entity, it is solely
responsible for its own contractual obligations and commitments, including
obligations with respect to sales and purchases of securities. Securities sold,
offered or recommended by the Manager are not deposits, are not insured by
the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, are not guaranteed by a branch or agency,
and are not otherwise an obligation or responsibility of a branch or
agency.
A
lending
affiliate of the Manager may have lending relationships with issuers of
securities underwritten or privately placed by the Manager. To the extent
required under the securities laws, prospectuses and other disclosure documents
for securities underwritten or privately placed by the Manager will disclose
the
existence of any such lending relationships and whether the proceeds of the
issue will be used to repay debts owed to affiliates of the
Manager.
39
If
the
foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the
Manager, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding
agreement between the Company and the Manager. Alternatively, the execution
of
this Agreement by the Company and its acceptance by or on behalf of the Manager
may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic or other written
communications.
Very truly yours, | |
HOKU
SCIENTIFIC, INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
ACCEPTED
as of the date
first
above written
UBS
SECURITIES LLC
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
UBS
SECURITIES LLC
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
Annex
I
HOKU
SCIENTIFIC, INC.
Common
Stock
TERMS
AGREEMENT
______,
2008
UBS
SECURITIES LLC
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Dear
Sirs:
Hoku
Scientific, Inc. (the “Company”)
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity
Distribution Agreement, dated June 12, 2008 (the “Equity
Distribution Agreement”),
between the Company and UBS Securities LLC, to issue and sell to UBS Securities
LLC the securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased
Securities”)[,
and
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, to grant to UBS Securities
LLC the option to purchase the additional securities specified in the Schedule
hereto (the “Additional
Securities”)]* .
[UBS
Securities LLC shall have the right to purchase from the Company all or a
portion of the Additional Securities as may be necessary to cover
over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Purchased
Securities, at the same purchase price per share to be paid by UBS Securities
LLC to the Company for the Purchased Securities. This option may be exercised
by
UBS Securities LLC at any time (but not more than once) on or before the
thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company.
Such
notice shall set forth the aggregate number of shares of Additional Securities
as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the
Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being herein
referred to as the “Option
Closing Date”);
provided,
however,
that
the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Time of Delivery (as
set
forth in the Schedule hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after
the
date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth
business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised.
Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at
the
Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment
for
the Purchased Securities.]*
*
Include
only if UBS Securities LLC has an over-allotment
option.
Each
of
the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related
to
the solicitation by UBS Securities LLC, as agent of the Company, of offers
to
purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and
shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if
such
provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and
warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of
the
date of this Terms Agreement [and] [,] the Time of Delivery [and any Option
Closing Date]*,
except
that each representation and warranty in Section 2 of the Equity Distribution
Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall
be
deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity
Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement [and] [,] the Time of
Delivery [and any Option Closing Date]*
in
relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the
Purchased Securities.
An
amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity Distribution
Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating
to
the Purchased Securities [and the Additional Securities]*,
in the
form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity Distribution
Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to UBS Securities LLC and the latter agrees to purchase from
the
Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place
and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.
*
Include
only if UBS Securities LLC has an over-allotment option.
I-2
Annex
I
If
the
foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return
to us
a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions
of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall
constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Company.
HOKU
SCIENTIFIC, INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Title: CFO
|
|
ACCEPTED
as of the date
first
above written
UBS
SECURITIES LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title: Executive
Director
|
UBS
SECURITIES LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title: Director
|
Schedule
to Annex I
Title
of
Purchased Securities [and Additional Securities]*:
Common
Stock, par value $.001 per share
Number
of
Shares of Purchased Securities:
[Number
of Shares of Additional Securities:]*
[Price
to
Public:]
Purchase
Price by UBS Securities LLC:
Method
of
and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By
wire
transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day
funds.
Method
of
Delivery:
Free
delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at the Depository Trust Company
in return for payment of the purchase price.
Time
of
Delivery:
Closing
Location:
Documents
to be Delivered:
The
following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall
be
delivered as a condition to the Closing:
(1)
The
opinion referred to in Section 4(q).
(2)
The
opinion referred to in Section 4(r).
(3)
The
accountants’ letters referred to in Section 4(s).
(4)
The
officers’ certificates referred to in Section 4(p).
(5)
Such
other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request.
*Include
only if UBS Securities LLC has an over-allotment option.
Schedule
A
PERMITTED
FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES
“(EXCLUDING
ELECTRONIC ROAD SHOWS)”
None
Schedule
A
FORM
OF
OPINION OF STOEL RIVES LLP
June
12,
2008
UBS
Securities LLC
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Re:
|
Hoku
Scientific, Inc.
|
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
have
acted as legal counsel to Hoku Scientific, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”),
in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the Equity Distribution
Agreement, dated June 12, 2008 (the “Equity
Distribution Agreement”),
between the Company and UBS Securities LLC (the “Manager”),
including the issuance and sale through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or
principal, of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share
(the “Common
Stock”),
having an aggregate offering price of up to $54,000,000 (the “Shares”).
We
are rendering this legal opinion pursuant to Section
5(c)
of the
Equity Distribution Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms
not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Equity
Distribution Agreement.
In
connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
representations and warranties as to factual matters contained in and made
pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement by the various parties. We have
examined originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of such records,
documents, certificates, opinions, memoranda and other instruments as in our
judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions
expressed below.
As
to
certain factual matters, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the
Company and have not sought to verify independently such factual matters. Where
we render an opinion “to our knowledge” or concerning an item “known to us,” our
investigation of the factual basis for such opinion consists solely of (i)
an
inquiry of all attorneys within this firm who have represented the Company,
(ii)
receipt of a certificate executed by officers of the Company covering such
matters, a copy of which is attached as Annex
A
hereto
(the “Officers’
Certificate”),
and
(iii) such other investigation, if any, that we specifically set forth herein,
and such references are intended to mean the current knowledge of such attorneys
within this firm. We have conducted no further investigation with respect to
those factual matters which are qualified in this letter “to our knowledge” or
as “known to us”.
In
rendering this opinion, we have assumed: the genuineness and authenticity of
all
signatures on original documents; the authenticity of all documents submitted
to
us as originals; the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to
us as
copies; the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public
officials; and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents
(except the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company of the
Equity Distribution Agreement), where authorization, execution and delivery
are
prerequisites to the effectiveness of such documents. We have also assumed:
that
all individuals executing and delivering documents in their individual
capacities had the legal capacity to so execute and deliver; that the Equity
Distribution Agreement is an obligation binding upon you; and that there are
no
extrinsic agreements or understandings among the parties to the Equity
Distribution Agreement or to any of the Agreements and Instruments (as defined
below) that would modify or interpret the terms thereof or the respective rights
or obligations of the parties thereunder.
We
are
qualified to practice law in the State of Idaho and we do not express any
opinions in this letter concerning any law other than the laws of the State
of
Idaho, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal
laws
of the United States of America, except that we opine as to New York law with
respect to the opinions set forth in paragraphs 12 and 13 (to the extent the
agreements referenced in those paragraphs are governed by New York law). In
connection with our opinion in paragraph 2 solely with respect to whether the
Subsidiaries have been duly formed, we have assumed that the limited liability
company act of the State of Hawaii is similar to the limited liability company
act of the State of Idaho.
We
are
not rendering any opinion or assurance as to compliance with state securities
or
blue sky laws in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares or clearance
with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)
with
respect to the Manager.
With
regard to our opinions in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 below (i) solely with respect
to
the good standing of the Company and the Subsidiaries, we have relied solely
upon the certificates of the Secretaries of State of the indicated jurisdictions
as of a recent date; and (ii) solely with respect to the qualification of the
Company and the Subsidiaries to do business as a foreign corporation or limited
liability company, as applicable, we have based our opinion solely upon an
examination of certificates of good standing issued by the office of the
Secretaries of State of the indicated jurisdictions as of a recent
date.
With
respect to our opinions in paragraph 6 and 7 below solely with respect to full
payment of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, we have examined and
relied upon the Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the consideration for
all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was received by the
Company in accordance with the provisions of the applicable resolutions of
the
Board of Directors and any plan or agreement relating to the issuance of such
shares.
With
regard to our opinion in paragraph 11 below, our opinion is based solely upon
oral advice from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”)
that
the Registration Statement was declared effective under the Securities Act
of
1933, as amended, and that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and that no proceedings for that purpose
have been initiated or are pending or contemplated by the
Commission.
With
regard to our opinion in paragraph 13 below, (i) with respect to the Agreements
and Instruments, our investigation of the factual basis for such opinion
consists solely of (A) the Officers’ Certificate and (B) an examination of
copies of the Agreements and Instruments which have been filed as exhibits
to
the Incorporated Documents, and (ii) solely with respect to decrees, judgments
or orders, our investigation of the factual basis for such opinion consists
solely of (A) the Officers’ Certificate and (B) an inquiry of all attorneys
within this firm who have represented the Company.
With
regard to our opinion in paragraph 15 below with respect to legal or
governmental proceedings, we have relied upon (i) the Officers’ Certificate,
(ii) an inquiry of all attorneys within this firm who have represented the
Company, and (iii) a review of the records of this firm to ascertain whether
we
are acting as counsel of record for the Company in any such matter.
With
regard to our opinion in paragraph 16 below, we have relied upon a certificate
of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in the form attached as
Annex
B
hereto,
regarding (i) the value of the Company’s investment securities immediately prior
to the receipt of any proceeds from the sale and issuance of the Shares, (ii)
the immediate application by the Company of all proceeds received from the
sale
and issuance of the Shares, and (iii) any intention by the Company to dispose
of
assets as of the date hereof. The terms “value” and “investment securities” have
the meanings ascribed to them in Section 2(a)(41) and Section 3(a)(2),
respectively, of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
On
the
basis of the foregoing, in reliance thereon and with the foregoing
qualifications, we are of the opinion that:
1.
|
The
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
with
full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement (including the Basic Prospectus attached thereto, dated
June 2,
2008, and the documents incorporated by reference therein) and the
Prospectus, to execute and deliver the Equity Distribution Agreement
and
any applicable Terms Agreement and to perform its obligations thereunder,
including, without limitation, to issue, sell and deliver the Shares
as
contemplated by the Equity Distribution
Agreement.
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2.
|
Each
of the Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or formed and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable,
in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation
or
formation, with full corporate power or limited liability company
power,
as applicable, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and
to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement,
the
Basic Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
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3.
|
The
Company and the Subsidiaries are each duly qualified to do business
as a
foreign corporation or limited liability company, as applicable,
and are
in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing
of
their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses
requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified
and in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a
Material Adverse Effect.
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4.
|
The
Equity Distribution Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement
have been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
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5.
|
The
Shares when paid for in accordance with the terms of the Equity
Distribution Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement will be
duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable.
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6.
|
The
Company has an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth
in
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus
as of
the dates stated therein; all of the issued and outstanding shares
of
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued,
are fully paid and non-assessable and are free of statutory preemptive
rights and, to our knowledge, contractual preemptive rights, resale
rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights; the Shares are
free of
statutory preemptive rights and, to our knowledge, contractual preemptive
rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights;
the
certificates for the Shares are in due and proper form.
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7.
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All
of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries
have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), the Basic Prospectus
and the
Prospectus, are owned by the Company, in each case subject to no
security
interest, other encumbrance or adverse claim; the Shares are duly
listed,
and admitted and authorized for trading, on the NASDAQ Global Market
(“Nasdaq”).
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8.
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The
capital stock of the Company, including the Shares, conforms in all
material respects to the description thereof, if any, contained in
the
Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
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9.
|
The
Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus (except
as
to the financial statements and schedules, and other financial data
derived therefrom, contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus and the Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion)
comply
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Act
(including, in the case of the Prospectus, Section 10(a) of the Act);
the
conditions to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering
and sale
of the Shares as contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement
have
been satisfied; the Registration Statement meets, and the offering
and
sale of the Shares as contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement
complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Act; and each
Incorporated Document, at the time such document was filed with the
Commission or at the time such document became effective, as applicable,
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements
of the
Exchange Act (except as to the financial statements and schedules,
and
other financial data derived therefrom, contained in such document,
as to
which we express no opinion).
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10.
|
To
our knowledge, the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in
Rule 405 under the Act) as of the eligibility determination date
for
purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act with respect to the offering
of the Shares contemplated by the Registration
Statement.
|
11.
|
The
Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to
our
knowledge, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto are pending
or
threatened under the Act, and any required filing of the Prospectus
and
any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424 or Rule 430B under the
Act has
been made in the manner and within the time period required by such
Rule
424
and in compliance with Rule 430B under the
Act.
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12.
|
No
approval, authorization, consent or order under any federal law,
the laws
of the State of New York or under the Delaware General Corporation
Law or
approval, authorization, consent of or filing with any New York or
Delaware governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority
or
agency, or approval of the stockholders of the Company, is required
in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company
of the
transactions contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement and
any
applicable Terms Agreement other than registration of the Shares
under the
Act (except that we express no opinion as to any necessary qualification
under the state securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions
in which the Shares are being offered by the Manager and we express
no
opinion with respect to the Conduct Rules of FINRA as applicable
to the
Manager).
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13.
|
The
execution, delivery and performance of the Equity Distribution Agreement
and any applicable Terms Agreement by the Company, the issuance and
sale
of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the
Equity Distribution Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement
do not
and will not result in any breach or violation of or constitute a
default
under (nor constitute any event which, with notice, lapse of time
or both,
would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default
under
or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such
holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or
repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (or result
in the
creation or imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property
or
assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to) (i) the charter or
bylaws or operating agreements of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries,
as applicable, or (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank
loan
or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license,
lease, contract or other agreement or instrument (collectively,
“Agreements
and Instruments”)
which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any
Incorporated Document, or (iii) federal laws, the laws of the State
of New
York or the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) any decree,
judgment
or order applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or
any of
their respective properties, which decree, judgment or order is known
to
us, or (v) the rules and regulations of
Nasdaq.
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14.
|
To
our knowledge, there are no contracts, licenses, agreements, leases
or
documents of a character which are required to be described in the
Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus or
to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated
Document which have not been so described or filed as
required.
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15.
|
To
our knowledge, (i) the Company is not a party to any legal or governmental
action or proceeding that challenges the validity or enforceability,
or
seeks to enjoin the performance, of the Equity Distribution Agreement
and
any applicable Terms Agreement; and (ii) there are no actions, suits,
claims, investigations or proceedings pending, threatened or contemplated
to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective
directors or officers is or would be a party or to which any of their
respective properties is or would be subject at law or in equity,
before
or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
commission, board, body, authority or agency which are required to
be
described in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or
the
Prospectus but are not so described as
required.
|
16.
|
Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, after giving effect to the
offering
and sale of the Shares, neither will be an “investment company” “or an
entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined
in the Investment Company Act
|
17.
|
The
statements in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and
the
Prospectus under the heading “Description of Capital Stock,” insofar as
such statements constitute summaries of documents or legal proceedings
or
refer to matters of law or legal conclusions, present fairly, to
the
extent required by the Act and the rules thereunder, in all material
respects, such legal matters and proceedings or
documents.
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18.
|
No
person has the right, pursuant to the terms of any contract, agreement
or
other instrument described in or filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement or any Incorporated Document or otherwise known to us,
to cause
the Company to register under the Act any shares of Common Stock
or shares
of any other capital stock or other equity interest in the Company
or to
include any such shares or interest in the Registration Statement
or the
offering contemplated thereby.
|
19. | To our knowledge, the contracts listed on Annex C hereto are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto (except that such enforceability (A) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (B) is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)) and are in full force and effect. |
In
addition, we have participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public
accountants of the Company and representatives of the Manager at which the
contents of the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus
were discussed and, although we are not passing upon and do not assume
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus
(except as and to the extent stated in subparagraphs 6, 8 and 17 above), on
the
basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to our attention that cause us to
believe that (i) the Registration Statement, at the Effective Time, contained
an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(ii) the Prospectus, as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement, or as of
the
date hereof, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or (iii) the Basic Prospectus, as of its date, the date
of
the Equity Distribution Agreement or the date hereof, in each case together
with
the information relating to the public offering price of the Shares as set
forth
on the cover page of the Prospectus, included or includes an untrue statement
of
a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading (it being understood that we express no opinion
in this paragraph with respect to the financial statements and schedules, and
other financial data derived therefrom, included in the Registration Statement,
the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus).
*******************************
This
opinion letter and the opinion contained herein are as of the date set forth
above, and we do not undertake to advise you of matters that may come to our
attention subsequent to the date hereof and that may affect our opinion
expressed herein. One or more of the attorneys responsible for the preparation
of this opinion letter is a member of the bar of the State of New York and,
notwithstanding that we do not maintain an office in the State of New York
(or
in the State of Delaware), our opinion in this opinion letter is to be
interpreted as if, and the standard of care to which we shall be accountable
is
to be the same as if, this letter were rendered by New York counsel located
in
the State of New York.
This
opinion letter is furnished to you pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement
and is intended solely for your information in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Equity Distribution Agreement. Accordingly, neither this
letter nor the opinion expressed herein are to be relied upon by any other
person or entity, or for any other purpose, or used, circulated, quoted in
whole
or in part or otherwise referred to in any document or (except as required
by
judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of law) filed with
any governmental or other administrative agency or other person or by any other
person or entity or for any other purpose whatsoever, without in each instance
our express, prior written consent.
Respectfully
submitted,
Annex
A
OFFICERS’
CERTIFICATE
The
undersigned, Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
and
Xxxxx
Xxxx,
hereby
certify that they are the President
and
Chief
Executive Officer,
the
Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer
and
Secretary,
and
Vice
President, Business Development
and
General
Counsel,
respectively, of Hoku
Scientific, Inc.,
a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
that the facts set forth below are true, complete and correct as of the date
hereof.
This
Certificate is made with the knowledge that the Company’s counsel, Stoel Rives
llp
(“Counsel”),
will
rely on it solely with respect to the factual representations set forth herein
in rendering an opinion relating to certain matters (the “Opinion”)
to UBS
Securities LLC (the “Manager”),
as
provided under Section
5(c)
of that
certain Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2008 (the
“Equity
Distribution Agreement”),
relating to the issuance and sale, under a registration statement on Form S-3
(File No. 333-150855) (the “Registration
Statement”),
through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”),
having an aggregate offering price of up to $54,000,000 (the “Shares”).
Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in
the
Equity Distribution Agreement.
1.
|
The
statements, lists, exhibits, descriptions, representations and warranties
contained or referred to in this Officer’s Certificate are true, correct
and complete, do not set forth facts that are false or misleading,
and do
not omit to set forth facts the absence of which would make such
statements, lists, exhibits and descriptions false or
misleading.
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2.
|
All
records and documents of the Company presented to Counsel for review
in
connection with the preparation of the Opinion, including the Company’s
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the
Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware on August 10, 2005 (the “Restated
Certificate”),
the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, and the minutes of meetings and
actions by written consent of the Company’s Board of Directors and
committees thereof (the “Board”),
are true, correct and complete, and such minutes and actions accurately
reflect all actions taken by the same through the date hereof. No
other
Board actions have taken place other than those reflected in the
minutes
and actions by written consent.
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3.
|
Attached
hereto as annex
a
is
a correct and complete copy of the Restated Certificate as currently
in
effect. Attached hereto as annex
b
is
a correct and complete copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of
the
Company as currently in effect. No corporate document related to
the
Company has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware since August 10, 2005. No action or proceeding for the merger,
consolidation, sale of assets or business, or liquidation or dissolution
of the Company has been commenced or is threatened or is currently
contemplated by the Company.
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4.
|
Attached
hereto as annex
c
and annex
d
are correct and complete copies of the resolutions adopted by the
Board of
Directors on May 5, 2008 and June 9, 2008, respectively. No other
resolutions have been adopted relating to the subject matter hereof
by the
Board or any committee of the Board and such resolutions have not
been
revoked, modified or amended, and are in full force and effect as
of the
date hereof.
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5.
|
The
Company is a Delaware corporation and is qualified to do business
in the
State of Hawaii. The undersigned are familiar with the character
of the
property owned or leased by and the nature of the business conducted
by
the Company; and the Company has no assets or properties owned or
leased
by it situated in, or employees resident in, or representatives authorized
to bind it by contract in U.S. jurisdictions other than Hawaii. The
Company does not conduct its business in U.S. jurisdictions other
than
Hawaii and Delaware. The Company has not been requested by the authorities
of any U.S. state (other than Hawaii) to qualify as a foreign corporation
for the transaction of business in that
state.
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6.
|
Hoku
Solar, Inc. (“Hoku
Solar”),
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and is a Delaware corporation
and is qualified to do business in the State of Hawaii. The undersigned
are familiar with the character of the property owned or leased by
and the
nature of the business conducted by Hoku Solar; and Hoku Solar has
no
assets or properties owned or leased by it situated in, or employees
resident in, or representatives authorized to bind it by contract
in U.S.
jurisdictions other than Hawaii. Hoku Solar does not conduct its
business
in U.S. jurisdictions other than Hawaii and Delaware. Hoku Solar
has not
been requested by the authorities of any U.S. state (other than Hawaii)
to
qualify as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business
in that
state.
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7.
|
Hoku
Materials, Inc. (“Hoku
Materials”),
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and is a Delaware corporation
and is qualified to do business in the State of Idaho. The undersigned
are
familiar with the character of the property owned or leased by and
the
nature of the business conducted by Hoku Materials; and Hoku Materials
has
no assets or properties owned or leased by it situated in, or employees
resident in, or representatives authorized to bind it by contract
in U.S.
jurisdictions other than Idaho. Hoku Materials does not conduct its
business in U.S. jurisdictions other than Idaho and Delaware. Hoku
Materials has not been requested by the authorities of any U.S. state
(other than Idaho) to qualify as a foreign corporation for the transaction
of business in that state.
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8.
|
Hoku
Materials Holdings, Inc. (“Hoku
Materials Holdings”),
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and is a Delaware corporation
and is qualified to do business in the State of Idaho. The undersigned
are
familiar with the character of the property owned or leased by and
the
nature of the business conducted by Hoku Materials Holdings; and
Hoku
Materials Holdings has no assets or properties owned or leased by
it
situated in, or employees resident in, or representatives authorized
to
bind it by contract in U.S. jurisdictions other than Idaho. Hoku
Materials
Holdings does not conduct its business in U.S. jurisdictions other
than
Idaho and Delaware. Hoku Materials Holdings has not been requested
by the
authorities of any U.S. state (other than Idaho) to qualify as a
foreign
corporation for the transaction of business in that
state.
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9.
|
Hoku
Power Investments LLC and Hoku Power Project 1 LLC (collectively,
the
“Hoku
LLCs”)
are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, and are Hawaii limited
liability companies. The undersigned are familiar with the character
of
the property owned or leased by and the nature of the business conducted
by the Hoku LLCs; and the Hoku LLCs have no assets or properties
owned or
leased by it situated in, or employees resident in, or representatives
authorized to bind it by contract in U.S. jurisdictions other than
Hawaii.
The Hoku LLCs do not conduct their business in U.S. jurisdictions
other
than Hawaii. The Hoku LLCs have not been requested by the authorities
of
any U.S. state (other than Hawai) to qualify as a foreign limited
liability company for the transaction of business in that
state.
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10.
|
The
Company has received full consideration for all outstanding shares
of
capital stock of the Company in accordance with the provisions of
the
applicable Board and/or stockholder resolutions and any plans or
agreements relating to the issuance of such stock. As of April 30,
2008,
not including the sale of any Shares pursuant to the Equity Distribution
Agreement, 19,797,420 shares of the Company’s Common Stock are issued and
outstanding, and no shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock are issued and
outstanding.
|
11.
|
To
the undersigned’s knowledge, the holders of outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company are not entitled to preemptive rights, rights
of
first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for the Shares
to be
issued in the Offering.
|
12.
|
No
holders of securities of the Company have rights as to the registration
of
shares of Common Stock or other securities because of the filing
of the
Registration Statement by the Company or the Offering contemplated
by the
Equity Distribution Agreement or rights to notice thereof. To the
undersigned’s knowledge, no holders of securities of the Company have
rights to acquire the registration of such securities for
resale.
|
13.
|
The
Securities and Exchange Commission has not requested any additional
information with respect to the Registration Statement since the
effective
date of the Registration Statement on June 2,
2008.
|
14.
|
No
notices for stop orders have been received in connection with the
Registration Statement to the date hereof, suspending the effectiveness
of
such Registration Statement or preventing the use of the Prospectus,
and
no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
or, to
the best of the undersigned’s knowledge and belief, threatened by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
15.
|
To
the undersigned’s knowledge, there are no pending or threatened actions,
suits, proceedings or judgments by or before any governmental agency,
authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its
property
that have not been disclosed to Counsel or that conflict with the
sale of
securities or the obligations of the Company under the Equity Distribution
Agreement, or the Registration Statement or Prospectus. At present,
no
litigation or proceeding is pending that involves a director or officer
of
the Company regarding which indemnification is sought, and to the
undersigned’s knowledge, there is no threatened litigation that may result
in claims for indemnification of a director or officer of the Company.
|
16.
|
The
representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Equity
Distribution Agreement are true and correct in all material respects
as of
the date hereof.
|
In
Witness Whereof,
the
undersigned have executed this Officers’ Certificate on behalf of the Company as
of the date set forth above.
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
|
Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
Vice
President, Business Development and
|
Annex
B
Officers’
Certificate
Investment
Company Representation
The
undersigned, Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx,
hereby
certifies that he is the Chief
Financial Officer,
Treasurer
and
Secretary
of
Hoku
Scientific, Inc.,
a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
that the facts set forth below are true, complete and correct as of the date
hereof.
This
Certificate is made with the knowledge that the Company’s counsel, Stoel Rives
llp
(“Counsel”),
will
rely on it in rendering an opinion relating to certain matters (the
“Opinion”)
to UBS
Securities LLC (the “Manager”),
as
provided under Section
5(c)
of that
certain Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2008 (the
“Equity
Distribution Agreement”),
relating to the issuance and sale, under a registration statement on Form S-3
(File No. 333-150855) (the “Registration
Statement”),
through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”),
having an aggregate offering price of up to $54,000,000 (the “Shares”).
Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in
the
Equity Distribution Agreement.
As
of the
date hereof, the Company does not hold itself out as being engaged in the
business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, and it is not
a
special situation investment company.1
1.
|
The
Company is primarily engaged in (i) the installation of photovoltaic
(“PV”)
systems, and (ii) the procurement, construction and development of
a plant
for the production of polysilicon, to be located in Pocatello, Idaho
(the
“Production
Facility”),
and does not hold itself out as being engaged in the business of
investing, reinvesting or trading in securities; and it is not a
special
situation investment company. Officers of the Company spend less
than 1%
of their time managing investments for the
Company.
|
2.
|
The
Board of Directors of the Company has adopted a written investment
policy
with respect to the Company’s capital preservation investments. The
Company invests its excess cash in investment securities for the
purpose
of preserving capital until the Company needs to use its cash resources
for work capital purposes.
|
1
The
Investment Company Act does not define “special situation investment company,”
but in the release proposing Rule 3a-1, however, the SEC indicated that they
are
“companies which secure control of other companies primarily for the purpose
of
making a profit in the sale of the controlled company’s securities. Certain
Prima Facie Investment Companies, Release No. 1C – 10937, 18 S.E.C. Docket
948, 1979 WL 173174 (Nov. 13, 1979).
3.
|
The
total amount of expenses related to the Company’s PV system installation
business, and the procurement, construction and development of the
Production Facility in the last four quarters ended March 31, 2008
were a
substantial portion of the Company’s total operating expenses for the
period.
|
4.
|
The
total amount of expenses related to the Company’s PV system installation
business, and the procurement, construction and development of the
Production Facility in the last four quarters ended March 31, 2008,
exceeded 50% of the Company’s net investment income over the same
period.
|
5.
|
The
Company’s expenses related to the management of the Company’s investments
in the last four quarters ended March 31, 2008, did not exceed 5%
of its
total operating expenses over such
period.
|
6.
|
In
excess of 90% of the Company’s investments are in instruments designed to
preserve capital and liquidity until such capital and liquidity is
required in the operation of the Company’s
business.
|
[Signature
Page Follows]
In
Witness Whereof, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate this
11th
day of
June, 2008.
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
Chief
Financial Officer,Treasurer
and
Secretary
|
Annex
C
LIST
OF CONTRACTS
1.
|
First
Amended and Restated Supply Agreement, dated January 30, 2008,
by and
between Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. and Hoku Materials,
Inc.
|
2.
|
Supply
Agreement, dated June 18, 2007, by and between Global Expertise
Wafer
Division Ltd. and Hoku Materials, Inc., as amended by Amendment
No. 1,
dated March 4, 2008.
|
3.
|
First
Amended & Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2008, by and
between Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd. and Hoku Materials,
Inc.
|
4.
|
Second
Amended and Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2008,
by and
between Solarfun Power Hong Kong Limited and Hoku Materials,
Inc.
|
5.
|
Amendment
and Restatement of Contract, dated October 15, 2007, by and between
Xxxxxxx Engineering Consultants GmbH and MSA Apparatus Construction
for
Chemical Equipment Ltd., and Hoku Materials, Inc.
|
6.
|
Phase
II Contract, dated as of March 19, 2008, between GEC Xxxxxxx Engineering
Consultants GmbH Germany and Hoku Materials, Inc.
|
7.
|
Agreement
for Engineering of Hoku Electric Substation and Associated Facilities,
dated June 14, 2007, by and between Idaho Power Co. and Hoku Materials,
Inc.
|
8.
|
Agreement
for Construction of Hoku Electric Substation and Associated Facilities,
dated December 28, 2007, by and between Idaho Power Company and
Hoku
Materials, Inc.
|
9.
|
Cost
Plus Incentive Construction Contract, dated August 8, 2007, by
and between
XX Xxxxx LLC and Hoku Materials, Inc., as amended by Change Order
No. 2,
dated April 7, 2008.
|
10.
|
Engineering,
Procurement and Construction Management Agreement, dated August
7, 2007,
by and between Stone & Xxxxxxx, Inc. and Hoku Materials, Inc., as
amended by Change Order No. 2, dated April 8, 2008.
|
11.
|
Engineering
Services and Technology Transfer Agreement, dated October 6, 2007,
by and
between Dynamic Engineering Inc. and Hoku Materials, Inc., as amended
by
Amendment No. 1, dated April 4, 2008.
|
12.
|
Equipment
Purchase & Sale Agreement, dated March 4, 2008, by and between Saft
Power Systems USA and Hoku Materials,
Inc.
|
12.
|
Equipment
Purchase & Sale Agreement, dated April 8, 2008, by and between PVA
Tepla Danmark and Hoku Materials, Inc.
|
14.
|
Purchase
Order, dated February 9, 2007, issued by Hoku Materials, Inc. to
Chemical
Design, Inc., and acceptance, dated May 29, 2007, issued by Chemical
Design, Inc. to Hoku Materials,
Inc.
|
Exhibit
B
CERTIFICATE
OF GENERAL COUNSEL
I,
Xxxxx
Xxxx, the Vice President, Development and General Counsel of Hoku Scientific,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to the Equity
Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2008 (the “Agreement”), between the
Company and UBS Securities LLC, hereby certify as of June 12, 2008 as
follows:
To
my knowledge, the contracts listed on Annex A hereto are valid,
binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto (except
that
such enforceability (A) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating
to
the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (B) is subject to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered
in a
proceeding in equity or at law)) and are in full force and
effect.
|
Capitalized
terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to them in the Agreement.
Annex
A
Supply
Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2007, between Global Expertise Wafer Division,
Ltd.,
and
Hoku Materials, Inc., as amended March 4, 2008.
First
Amended & Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2008, between
Sanyo
Electric Co., Ltd., and Hoku Materials, Inc.
First
Amended & Restated Supply Agreement, dated as of May 12, 2008, between Wuxi
Suntech
Power Co., Ltd., and Hoku Materials, Inc.
Second
Amended & restated Supply Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2008, between
Solarfun
Power Honk Kong Limited and Hoku Materials, Inc.
Engineering
Procurement & Construction Management Agreement, dated as of August 7,
2007,
between Stone & Xxxxxxx, Inc., and Hoku Materials, Inc., as modified by
Hoku
Change Order No. 1, dated October 3, 2007, and Hoku Change Order No. 2,
dated
April 1, 2008.
Cost
Plus
Incentive Construction Contract, dated as of August 8, 2007, between XX Xxxxx
LLC
and
Hoku Materials, Inc., as modified by Hoku Change Order No. 1, dated October
3, 2007, and Hoku Change Order No. 2, dated April 7, 2008.
Engineering
Services & Technology Transfer Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2007,
between
Dynamic Engineering, Inc., and Hoku Materials, Inc., as amended April
4,
2008.
Amended
& Restated Contract, dated as of October 15, 2007, among MSA Apparatus
Construction
for Chemical Equipment Ltd., GEC Xxxxxxx Engineering Consultants
GmbH Germany and Hoku Materials, Inc.
Phase
II
Contract, dated as of March 19, 2008, between GEC Xxxxxxx Engineering
Consultants
GmbH Germany and Hoku Materials, Inc.
Equipment
Purchase & Sale Agreement, dated as of March 4, 2008, between Saft Power
Systems
USA, Inc., and Hoku Materials, Inc.
Equipment
Purchase & Sale Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2008, between PVA Tepla
Denmark
and Hoku Materials, Inc.
Purchase
Order, dated February 9, 2007, issued by Hoku Materials, Inc. to Chemical
Design,
Inc., and acceptance, dated May 29, 2007, issued by Chemical Design,
Inc.
to
Hoku Materials, Inc.