SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.1
This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 7, 2017, is entered into by and between Xxxxxx International, Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Typenex Co-Investment, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, its successors and/or assigns (the “Buyer”).
A. The Company and the Buyer are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by the rules and regulations as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
B. The Buyer desires to purchase and the Company desires to issue and sell, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, a Secured Convertible Promissory Note, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, in the original principal amount of $369,000.00 (the “Note”), convertible into shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), upon the terms and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in such Note. This Agreement, the Note, the Secured Buyer Notes (as defined below), the Security Agreement (as defined below), the Pledge Agreement (as defined below), and all other certificates, documents, agreements, resolutions and instruments delivered to any party under or in connection with this Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.”
C. For purposes of this Agreement: “Conversion Shares” means all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all or any portion of the Note; and “Securities” means the Note and the Conversion Shares, as applicable.
NOW THEREFORE, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1. Purchase of Securities. On the Closing Date (as defined below), the Company shall issue and sell to the Buyer and the Buyer agrees to purchase from the Company the Note. In consideration thereof, the Buyer shall pay (i) the amount designated as the initial cash purchase price on the Buyer’s signature page to this Agreement (the “Initial Cash Purchase Price”), and (ii) issue to the Company the Secured Buyer Notes (the sum of the initial principal amount of the Secured Buyer Notes, together with the Initial Cash Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). Subject to Section 1.5, the Secured Buyer Notes shall be secured by the Pledge Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Pledge Agreement”). The Purchase Price is allocated to the Tranches (as defined in the Note) of the Note as set forth in the table attached hereto as Exhibit C.
1.2. Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, (i) the Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price to the Company against delivery of the Note by delivering the following at the Closing: (A) the Initial Cash Purchase Price, which shall be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, in accordance with the Company’s written wiring instructions, (B) Secured Buyer Note #1 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (“Secured Buyer Note #1”); (C) Secured Buyer Note #2 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (“Secured Buyer Note #2”); (D) Secured Buyer Note #3 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (“Secured Buyer Note #3”); (E) Secured Buyer Note #4 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G (“Secured Buyer Note #4”); (F) Secured Buyer Note #5 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H (“Secured Buyer Note #5”); (G) Secured Buyer Note #6 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (“Secured Buyer Note #6”); (H) Secured Buyer Note #7 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit J (“Secured Buyer Note #7”); (I) Secured Buyer Note #8 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K (“Secured Buyer Note #8”); (J) Secured Buyer Note #9 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit L (“Secured Buyer Note #9”); (K) Secured Buyer Note #10 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit M (“Secured Buyer Note #10”); (L) Secured Buyer Note #11 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit N (“Secured Buyer Note #11”); and (M) Secured Buyer Note #12 in the principal amount of $25,000.00 duly executed and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit O (“Secured Buyer Note #12,” and together with Secured Buyer Note #1, Secured Buyer Note #2, Secured Buyer Note #3, Secured Buyer Note #4, Secured Buyer Note #5, Secured Buyer Note #6, Secured Buyer Note #7, Secured Buyer Note #8, Secured Buyer Note #9, Secured Buyer Note #10, and Secured Buyer Note #11, the “Secured Buyer Notes”); and (ii) the Company shall deliver the duly executed Note on behalf of the Company, to the Buyer, against delivery of such Purchase Price.
1.3. Closing Date. Subject to the satisfaction (or written waiver) of the conditions set forth in Section 5 and Section 6 below, the date and time of the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (the “Closing Date”) shall be 12:00 noon, Eastern Time on or about June 7, 2017, or such other mutually agreed upon time. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall occur on the Closing Date at the offices of the Buyer unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.
1.4. Note Collateral. The Note shall be secured by the collateral set forth in that that certain Security Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit P listing the Secured Buyer Notes as security for the Company’s obligations under the Transaction Documents (the “Security Agreement”).
1.5. Secured Buyer Note Collateral. At the Closing, the Buyer shall execute the Pledge Agreement, thereby granting to the Company a security interest in the collateral described therein (the “Collateral”). The Buyer also agrees to file a UCC Financing Statement (Form UCC1) with the Utah Department of Commerce in the manner set forth in the Pledge Agreement in order to perfect the Company’s security interest in the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Transaction Document, the Buyer may, in the Buyer’s sole discretion, add additional collateral to the Collateral covered by the Pledge Agreement, and may substitute Collateral as the Buyer deems fit, provided that the net fair market value of the substituted Collateral may not be less than the aggregate principal balance of the Secured Buyer Notes as of the date of any such substitution. In the event of a substitution of Collateral, the Buyer shall timely execute any and all amendments and documents necessary or advisable in order to properly release the original collateral and grant a security interest upon the substitute collateral in favor of the Company, including without limitation the filing of an applicable UCC Financing Statement Amendment (Form UCC3) with the Utah Department of Commerce. The Company agrees to sign the documents and take such other measures requested by the Buyer in order to accomplish the intent of the Transaction Documents, including without limitation, execution of a Form UCC3 (or equivalent) termination statement against the Collateral within five (5) Trading Days after written request from the Buyer. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Collateral may be encumbered by other monetary liens in priority and/or subordinate positions. The intent of the parties is that the net fair market value of the Collateral (less any other prior liens or encumbrances) will be equal to or greater than the aggregate outstanding balance of the Secured Buyer Notes. To the extent the fair market value of the Collateral (less any other liens or encumbrances) is less than the total outstanding balance of all the Secured Buyer Notes, then the Collateral will be deemed to only secure those Secured Buyer Notes with an aggregate outstanding balance that is less than or equal to such net fair market value of the Collateral, applied in numerical order of the Secured Buyer Notes. By way of example only, if the fair market value of the Collateral is determined by appraisal to be $300,000 and the Collateral is encumbered by $200,000 of prior liens, then the net fair market value for purposes of this section is $100,000 ($300,000 - $200,000). Accordingly, the Collateral will be deemed to secure only Secured Buyer Note #1, Secured Buyer Note #2, Secured Buyer Note #3, and Secured Buyer Note #4, while the remaining Secured Buyer Notes shall be deemed unsecured. If the Collateral is subsequently appraised for $400,000 with all prior liens removed, then the Collateral will automatically be deemed to secure all of the Secured Buyer Notes.
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1.6. Original Issue Discount; Transaction Expenses. The Note carries an original issue discount of $17,500.00 (the “OID”). In addition, the Company agrees to pay $1,500.00 to the Buyer to cover the Buyer’s legal fees, accounting costs, due diligence, monitoring and other transaction costs incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities, all of which amount is included in the initial principal balance of the Note (the “Carried Transaction Expense Amount”). The Purchase Price, therefore, shall be $350,000.00, computed as follows: $369,000.00 original principal balance, less the OID, less the Carried Transaction Expense Amount. The Initial Cash Purchase Price shall be the Purchase Price less the sum of the initial principal amounts of the Secured Buyer Notes.
2. Buyer’s Representations and Warranties. The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that: (i) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized; (ii) this Agreement, the Secured Buyer Notes, and the Pledge Agreement have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Buyer, (iii) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Buyer enforceable in accordance with its terms; and (iv) the Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the 1933 Act.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer that: (i) the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted; (ii) the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary; (iii) the Company has registered its Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and is obligated to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act; (iv) each of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by the Company; (v) this Agreement, the Note, and the Security Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject as to enforceability only to general principles of equity and to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally; (vi) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company, the issuance of Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach by the Company of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under (a) the Company’s formation documents or bylaws, each as currently in effect, (b) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are bound, including any listing agreement for the Common Stock, or (c) to the Company’s knowledge, any existing applicable law, rule, or regulation or any applicable decree, judgment, or order of any court, United States federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency, or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Company’s properties or assets; (vii) no further authorization, approval or consent of any court, governmental body, regulatory agency, self-regulatory organization, or stock exchange or market or the stockholders or any lender of the Company is required to be obtained by the Company for the issuance of the Securities to the Buyer; (viii) none of the Company’s filings with the SEC contained, at the time they were filed, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ix) the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the SEC under the 1934 Act on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such report, schedule, form, statement or other document prior to the expiration of any such extension; (x) the Company is not, nor has it ever been, a “Shell Company,” as such type of “issuer” is described in Rule 144(i)(1) under the 1933 Act; (xi) the Company has taken no action which would give rise to any claim by any person or entity for a brokerage commission, placement agent or finder’s fees or similar payments by the Buyer relating to the Note or the transactions contemplated hereby; (xii) when issued, the Conversion Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid for and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances; and (xiii) except for such fees arising as a result of any agreement or arrangement entered into by the Buyer without the knowledge of the Company (a “Buyer’s Fee”), the Buyer shall have no obligation with respect to such fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other persons for fees of a type contemplated in this subsection that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each of the Buyer, the Buyer’s employees, officers, directors, stockholders, managers, agents, and partners, and their respective affiliates, from and against all claims, losses, damages, costs (including the costs of preparation and attorneys’ fees) and expenses suffered in respect of any such claimed or existing fees (other than a Buyer’s Fee, if any).
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4. Company Covenants. Until all of the Company’s obligations hereunder are paid and performed in full, or within the timeframes otherwise specifically set forth below, the Company shall comply with the following covenants: (i) from the date hereof until the date that is six (6) months after all the Conversion Shares either have been sold by the Buyer, or may permanently be sold by the Buyer without any restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall timely make all filings required to be made by it under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, Rule 144 or any United States securities laws and regulations thereof applicable to the Company or by the rules and regulations of its principal trading market, and such filings shall conform to the requirements of applicable laws, regulations and government agencies, and, unless such filings are publicly available on the SEC’s XXXXX system (via the SEC’s web site at no additional charge), the Company shall provide a copy thereof to the Buyer promptly after such filings; (ii) so long as the Buyer beneficially owns any of the Securities and for at least twenty (20) trading days thereafter, the Company shall file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, and shall take all reasonable action under its control to ensure that adequate current public information with respect to the Company, as required in accordance with Rule 144, is publicly available, and shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would permit such termination; (iii) the Common Stock shall be listed or quoted for trading on any of (a) the NYSE Amex, (b) the New York Stock Exchange, (c) the Nasdaq Global Market, (d) the Nasdaq Capital Market, (e) the OTC Bulletin Board, (f) the OTCQX, (g) the OTCQB, or (h) OTC Pink Current Information; (iv) the Company shall use the net proceeds received hereunder for working capital and general corporate purposes only; provided, however, the Company will not use such proceeds to pay fees payable (A) to any broker or finder relating to the offer and sale of the Securities unless such broker, finder, or other party is a registered investment adviser or registered broker-dealer and such fees are paid in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, or (B) to any other party relating to any financing transaction effected prior to the date hereof; and (v) from and after the date hereof and until all of the Company’s obligations hereunder and the Note are paid and performed in full, the Company shall not transfer, assign, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise alienate or encumber the Secured Buyer Notes in any way without the prior written consent of the Buyer.
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5. Conditions to the Company’s Obligation to Sell. The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Securities to the Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
5.1. The Buyer shall have executed this Agreement, the Secured Buyer Notes, and the Pledge Agreement, and delivered the same to the Company.
5.2. The Buyer shall have delivered the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.2 above.
6. Conditions to the Buyer’s Obligation to Purchase. The obligation of the Buyer hereunder to purchase the Securities at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Buyer at any time in its sole discretion:
6.1. The Company shall have executed this Agreement and delivered the same to the Buyer.
6.2. The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer the duly executed Note in accordance with Section 1.2 above.
6.3. The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a fully executed secretary’s certificate evidencing the Company’s approval of the Transaction Documents substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit Q.
6.4. The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a fully executed share issuance resolution to be delivered to the Company’s transfer agent substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit R.
6.5. The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer fully executed copies of all other Transaction Documents required to be executed by the Company herein or therein.
7. Reservation of Shares. At all times during which the Note is convertible, the Company will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock to provide for the issuance of Common Stock upon the full conversion of the Note. The Company will at all times reserve at least three times the number of shares of Common Stock necessary to convert the total Outstanding Balance (as defined in and determined pursuant to the Note) of the Note, but in any event not less than 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be reserved at all times for such purpose (the “Share Reserve”). The Company further agrees that it will immediately add shares of Common Stock to the Share Reserve in increments of 40,000,000 shares as and when requested by the Buyer in writing from time to time.
8. Governing Law; Miscellaneous. The provisions set forth in this Section 8 shall apply to this Agreement, as well as all other Transaction Documents as if these terms were fully set forth therein.
8.1. Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah for contracts to be wholly performed in such state and without giving effect to the principles thereof regarding the conflict of laws. Subject to Section 8.2 below, each party hereto hereby (a) consents to and expressly submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah in connection with any dispute or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any such dispute or proceeding may only be heard and determined in any such court, (c) expressly submits to the exclusive venue of any such court for the purposes hereof, and (d) waives any claim of improper venue and any claim or objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or any other claim or objection to the bringing of any such proceeding in such jurisdictions or to any claim that such venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper.
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8.2. Arbitration of Disputes. The parties shall submit all Claims (as defined in Exhibit S) arising under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or any other agreement between the parties and their affiliates or any Claim relating to the relationship of the parties to binding arbitration pursuant to the arbitration provisions set forth in Exhibit S attached hereto (the “Arbitration Provisions”). The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the Arbitration Provisions are unconditionally binding on the parties hereto and are severable from all other provisions of this Agreement. By executing this Agreement, Company represents, warrants and covenants that Company has reviewed the Arbitration Provisions carefully, consulted with legal counsel about such provisions (or waived its right to do so), understands that the Arbitration Provisions are intended to allow for the expeditious and efficient resolution of any dispute hereunder, agrees to the terms and limitations set forth in the Arbitration Provisions, and that Company will not take a position contrary to the foregoing representations. Company acknowledges and agrees that Investor may rely upon the foregoing representations and covenants of Company regarding the Arbitration Provisions.
8.3. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. A signature delivered by electronic means (i.e., by “pdf” signature) shall be deemed and original for all purposes.
8.4. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform to such statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
8.5. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
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8.6. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing (unless otherwise specified herein) and shall be deemed effectively given on the earliest of: (a) the date delivered, if delivered by personal delivery as against written receipt therefor or by e-mail to an executive officer, or by confirmed facsimile, (b) the fifth Trading Day after deposit, postage prepaid, in the United States Postal Service by certified mail, or (c) the third Trading Day after mailing by domestic or international express courier, with delivery costs and fees prepaid, in each case, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as such party may designate by ten (10) calendar days’ advance written notice similarly given to each of the other parties hereto):
If to the Company:
Xxxxxx International, Ltd.
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, CFO
0000 Xxxxxxx 00 & Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Buyer:
Typenex Co-Investment, LLC
Attn: Xxxx Xxxx, President
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
With a copy to (which copy shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxxx Black Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx PLLC
Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
8.7. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement or any of the severable rights and obligations inuring to the benefit of or to be performed by the Buyer hereunder may be assigned by the Buyer to a third party, including its financing sources, in whole or in part, but only with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement or delegate its duties hereunder without the prior written consent of the Buyer.
8.8. Survival. The representations and warranties of the Company and the agreements and covenants set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing hereunder notwithstanding any due diligence investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Buyer. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer and all its officers, directors, employees, attorneys, and agents for loss or damage arising as a result of or related to any breach or alleged breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement or any of its covenants and obligations under this Agreement, including advancement of expenses as they are incurred.
8.9. Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.10. Buyer’s Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Liquidated Damages. All rights, remedies, and powers conferred in this Agreement and the Transaction Documents on the Buyer are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies, and shall be in addition to every other right, power, and remedy that the Buyer may have, whether specifically granted in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or existing at law, in equity, or by statute; and any and all such rights and remedies may be exercised from time to time and as often and in such order as the Buyer may deem expedient. The parties agree that the amount of damages for a breach by the Company of the Transaction Documents is difficult to determine at this time and that the fees and charges included in the Transaction Documents are a reasonable estimation of the amount of liquidated damages for any such breach under the circumstances existing at the time this Agreement is entered into and are not penalties. All fees and charges provided for in the Transaction Documents are agreed to by the parties to be based upon the obligations and the risks assumed by the parties as of the Closing Date. The liquidated damages provisions of the Transaction Documents shall not limit or preclude a party from pursuing any other remedy available in law or in equity; provided, however, that the liquidated damages provided for in the Transaction Documents are intended to be in lieu of actual damages.
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8.11. Ownership Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, if at any time the Buyer shall or would be issued shares of Common Stock under any of the Transaction Documents, but such issuance would cause the Buyer (together with its affiliates) to beneficially own a number of shares exceeding the Maximum Percentage (as defined in the Note), then the Company must not issue to the Buyer the shares that would cause the Buyer to exceed the Maximum Percentage. For purposes of this Section, beneficial ownership of Common Stock will be determined under the 1934 Act.
8.12. Attorneys’ Fees and Cost of Collection. In the event of any action at law or in equity to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, the parties agree that the party who is awarded the most money shall be deemed the prevailing party for all purposes and shall therefore be entitled to an additional award of the full amount of the attorneys’ fees and expenses paid by such prevailing party in connection with the litigation and/or dispute without reduction or apportionment based upon the individual claims or defenses giving rise to the fees and expenses. Nothing herein shall restrict or impair a court’s power to award fees and expenses for frivolous or bad faith pleading. If (a) the Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement prior to commencing legal proceedings, or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding, or the Buyer otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under the Note or to enforce the provisions of the Note; or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting the Company’s creditors’ rights and involving a claim under the Note; then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Buyer for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.
8.13. Waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in the form of a writing signed by the party granting the waiver. No waiver of any provision or consent to any prohibited action shall constitute a waiver of any other provision or consent to any other prohibited action, whether or not similar. No waiver or consent shall constitute a continuing waiver or consent or commit a party to provide a waiver or consent in the future except to the extent specifically set forth in writing.
8.14. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO DEMAND THAT ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PARTIES HERETO BE TRIED BY JURY. THIS WAIVER EXTENDS TO ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO DEMAND A TRIAL BY JURY ARISING UNDER COMMON LAW OR ANY APPLICABLE STATUTE, LAW, RULE OR REGULATION. FURTHER, EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SUCH PARTY IS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVING SUCH PARTY’S RIGHT TO DEMAND TRIAL BY JURY.
8.15. Time of the Essence. Time is expressly made of the essence of each and every provision of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page to follow]
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SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT:
| Principal Amount of Note: | $ | 369,000.00 | ||
| Initial Cash Purchase Price: | $ | 50,000.00 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Buyer and the Company have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| BUYER: | |||
| Typenex co-investment, llc | |||
| By: | Red Cliffs Investments, Inc., its Manager | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx | ||
| Xxxx X. Xxxx, President | |||
| COMPANY: | |||
| Xxxxxx International, Ltd. | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
| Printed Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |||
ATTACHED EXHIBITS:
| Exhibit A | Note |
| Exhibit B | Pledge Agreement |
| Exhibit C | Allocation of Purchase Price |
| Exhibit D | Secured Buyer Note #1 |
| Exhibit E | Secured Buyer Note #2 |
| Exhibit F | Secured Buyer Note #3 |
| Exhibit G | Secured Buyer Note #4 |
| Exhibit H | Secured Buyer Note #5 |
| Exhibit I | Secured Buyer Note #6 |
| Exhibit J | Secured Buyer Note #7 |
| Exhibit K | Secured Buyer Note #8 |
| Exhibit L | Secured Buyer Note #9 |
| Exhibit M | Secured Buyer Note #10 |
| Exhibit N | Secured Buyer Note #11 |
| Exhibit O | Secured Buyer Note #12 |
| Exhibit P | Security Agreement |
| Exhibit Q | Secretary’s Certificate |
| Exhibit R | Share Issuance Resolution |
| Exhibit S | Arbitration Provisions |
[Signature page to Securities Purchase Agreement]
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ARBITRATION PROVISIONS
1. Dispute Resolution. For purposes of this Exhibit S, the term “Claims” means any disputes, claims, demands, causes of action, requests for injunctive relief, requests for specific performance, liabilities, damages, losses, or controversies whatsoever arising from, related to, or connected with the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents and any communications between the parties related thereto, including without limitation any claims of mutual mistake, mistake, fraud, misrepresentation, failure of formation, failure of consideration, promissory estoppel, unconscionability, failure of condition precedent, rescission, and any statutory claims, tort claims, contract claims, or claims to void, invalidate or terminate the Agreement (or these Arbitration Provisions (defined below)) or any of the other Transaction Documents. The term “Claims” specifically excludes a dispute over Calculations (as defined in the Note). The parties to the Agreement (the “parties”) hereby agree that the arbitration provisions set forth in this Exhibit S (“Arbitration Provisions”) are binding on each of them. As a result, any attempt to rescind the Agreement (or these Arbitration Provisions) or declare the Agreement (or these Arbitration Provisions) or any other Transaction Document invalid or unenforceable for any reason is subject to these Arbitration Provisions. These Arbitration Provisions shall also survive any termination or expiration of the Agreement. Any capitalized term not defined in these Arbitration Provisions shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.
2. Arbitration. Except as otherwise provided herein, all Claims must be submitted to arbitration (“Arbitration”) to be conducted exclusively in Salt Lake County, Utah and pursuant to the terms set forth in these Arbitration Provisions. Subject to the arbitration appeal right provided for in Paragraph 5 below (the “Appeal Right”), the parties agree that the award of the arbitrator rendered pursuant to Paragraph 4 below (the “Arbitration Award”) shall be (a) final and binding upon the parties, (b) the sole and exclusive remedy between them regarding any Claims, counterclaims, issues, or accountings presented or pleaded to the arbitrator, and (c) promptly payable in United States dollars free of any tax, deduction or offset (with respect to monetary awards). Subject to the Appeal Right, any costs or fees, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with or incident to enforcing the Arbitration Award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be charged against the party resisting such enforcement. The Arbitration Award shall include default interest (as defined or otherwise provided for in the Note, “Default Interest”) (with respect to monetary awards) at the rate specified in the Note for Default Interest both before and after the Arbitration Award. Judgment upon the Arbitration Award will be entered and enforced by any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah.
3. The Arbitration Act. The parties hereby incorporate herein the provisions and procedures set forth in the Utah Uniform Arbitration Act, U.C.A. § 78B-11-101 et seq. (as amended or superseded from time to time, the “Arbitration Act”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to, and to the maximum extent permitted by, Section 105 of the Arbitration Act, in the event of conflict or variation between the terms of these Arbitration Provisions and the provisions of the Arbitration Act, the terms of these Arbitration Provisions shall control and the parties hereby waive or otherwise agree to vary the effect of all requirements of the Arbitration Act that may conflict with or vary from these Arbitration Provisions.
4. Arbitration Proceedings. Arbitration between the parties will be subject to the following:
4.1 Initiation of Arbitration. Pursuant to Section 110 of the Arbitration Act, the parties agree that a party may initiate Arbitration by giving written notice to the other party (“Arbitration Notice”) in the same manner that notice is permitted under Section 8.6 of the Agreement; provided, however, that the Arbitration Notice may not be given by email or fax. Arbitration will be deemed initiated as of the date that the Arbitration Notice is deemed delivered to such other party under Section 8.6 of the Agreement (the “Service Date”). After the Service Date, information may be delivered, and notices may be given, by email or fax pursuant to Section 8.6 of the Agreement or any other method permitted thereunder. The Arbitration Notice must describe the nature of the controversy, the remedies sought, and the election to commence Arbitration proceedings. All Claims in the Arbitration Notice must be pleaded consistent with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
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4.2 Selection and Payment of Arbitrator.
(a) Within ten (10) calendar days after the Service Date, Investor shall select and submit to Company the names of three (3) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Services (xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx) (such three (3) designated persons hereunder are referred to herein as the “Proposed Arbitrators”). For the avoidance of doubt, each Proposed Arbitrator must be qualified as a “neutral” with Utah ADR Services. Within five (5) calendar days after Investor has submitted to Company the names of the Proposed Arbitrators, Company must select, by written notice to Investor, one (1) of the Proposed Arbitrators to act as the arbitrator for the parties under these Arbitration Provisions. If Company fails to select one of the Proposed Arbitrators in writing within such 5-day period, then Investor may select the arbitrator from the Proposed Arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to Company.
(b) If Investor fails to submit to Company the Proposed Arbitrators within ten (10) calendar days after the Service Date pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, then Company may at any time prior to Investor so designating the Proposed Arbitrators, identify the names of three (3) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Service by written notice to Investor. Investor may then, within five (5) calendar days after Company has submitted notice of its Proposed Arbitrators to Investor, select, by written notice to Company, one (1) of the Proposed Arbitrators to act as the arbitrator for the parties under these Arbitration Provisions. If Investor fails to select in writing and within such 5-day period one (1) of the three (3) Proposed Arbitrators selected by Company, then Company may select the arbitrator from its three (3) previously selected Proposed Arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to Investor.
(c) If a Proposed Arbitrator chosen to serve as arbitrator declines or is otherwise unable to serve as arbitrator, then the party that selected such Proposed Arbitrator may select one (1) of the other three (3) Proposed Arbitrators within three (3) calendar days of the date the chosen Proposed Arbitrator declines or notifies the parties he or she is unable to serve as arbitrator. If all three (3) Proposed Arbitrators decline or are otherwise unable to serve as arbitrator, then the arbitrator selection process shall begin again in accordance with this Paragraph 4.2.
(d) The date that the Proposed Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Paragraph 4.2 agrees in writing (including via email) delivered to both parties to serve as the arbitrator hereunder is referred to herein as the “Arbitration Commencement Date”. If an arbitrator resigns or is unable to act during the Arbitration, a replacement arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with this Paragraph 4.2 to continue the Arbitration. If Utah ADR Services ceases to exist or to provide a list of neutrals and there is no successor thereto, then the arbitrator shall be selected under the then prevailing rules of the American Arbitration Association.
(e) Subject to Paragraph 4.10 below, the cost of the arbitrator must be paid equally by both parties. Subject to Paragraph 4.10 below, if one party refuses or fails to pay its portion of the arbitrator fee, then the other party can advance such unpaid amount (subject to the accrual of Default Interest thereupon), with such amount being added to or subtracted from, as applicable, the Arbitration Award.
4.3 Applicability of Certain Utah Rules. The parties agree that the Arbitration shall be conducted generally in accordance with the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure and the Utah Rules of Evidence. More specifically, the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply, without limitation, to the filing of any pleadings, motions or memoranda, the conducting of discovery, and the taking of any depositions. The Utah Rules of Evidence shall apply to any hearings, whether telephonic or in person, held by the arbitrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the parties’ intent that the incorporation of such rules will in no event supersede these Arbitration Provisions. In the event of any conflict between the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure or the Utah Rules of Evidence and these Arbitration Provisions, these Arbitration Provisions shall control.
4.4 Answer and Default. An answer and any counterclaims to the Arbitration Notice shall be required to be delivered to the party initiating the Arbitration within twenty (20) calendar days after the Arbitration Commencement Date. If an answer is not delivered by the required deadline, the arbitrator must provide written notice to the defaulting party stating that the arbitrator will enter a default award against such party if such party does not file an answer within five (5) calendar days of receipt of such notice. If an answer is not filed within the five (5) day extension period, the arbitrator must render a default award, consistent with the relief requested in the Arbitration Notice, against a party that fails to submit an answer within such time period.
4.5 Related Litigation. The party that delivers the Arbitration Notice to the other party shall have the option to also commence concurrent legal proceedings with any state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah (“Litigation Proceedings”), subject to the following: (a) the complaint in the Litigation Proceedings is to be substantially similar to the claims set forth in the Arbitration Notice, provided that an additional cause of action to compel arbitration will also be included therein, (b) so long as the other party files an answer to the complaint in the Litigation Proceedings and an answer to the Arbitration Notice, the Litigation Proceedings will be stayed pending an Arbitration Award (or Appeal Panel Award (defined below), as applicable) hereunder, (c) if the other party fails to file an answer in the Litigation Proceedings or an answer in the Arbitration proceedings, then the party initiating Arbitration shall be entitled to a default judgment consistent with the relief requested, to be entered in the Litigation Proceedings, and (d) any legal or procedural issue arising under the Arbitration Act that requires a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction may be determined in the Litigation Proceedings. Any award of the arbitrator (or of the Appeal Panel (defined below)) may be entered in such Litigation Proceedings pursuant to the Arbitration Act.
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4.6 Discovery. Pursuant to Section 118(8) of the Arbitration Act, the parties agree that discovery shall be conducted as follows:
(a) Written discovery will only be allowed if the likely benefits of the proposed written discovery outweigh the burden or expense thereof, and the written discovery sought is likely to reveal information that will satisfy a specific element of a claim or defense already pleaded in the Arbitration. The party seeking written discovery shall always have the burden of showing that all of the standards and limitations set forth in these Arbitration Provisions are satisfied. The scope of discovery in the Arbitration proceedings shall also be limited as follows:
(i) To facts directly connected with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.
(ii) To facts and information that cannot be obtained from another source or in another manner that is more convenient, less burdensome or less expensive than in the manner requested.
(b) No party shall be allowed (i) more than fifteen (15) interrogatories (including discrete subparts), (ii) more than fifteen (15) requests for admission (including discrete subparts), (iii) more than ten (10) document requests (including discrete subparts), or (iv) more than three (3) depositions (excluding expert depositions) for a maximum of seven (7) hours per deposition. The costs associated with depositions will be borne by the party taking the deposition. The party defending the deposition will submit a notice to the party taking the deposition of the estimated attorneys’ fees that such party expects to incur in connection with defending the deposition. If the party defending the deposition fails to submit an estimate of attorneys’ fees within five (5) calendar days of its receipt of a deposition notice, then such party shall be deemed to have waived its right to the estimated attorneys’ fees. The party taking the deposition must pay the party defending the deposition the estimated attorneys’ fees prior to taking the deposition, unless such obligation is deemed to be waived as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence. If the party taking the deposition believes that the estimated attorneys’ fees are unreasonable, such party may submit the issue to the arbitrator for a decision. All depositions will be taken in Utah.
(c) All discovery requests (including document production requests included in deposition notices) must be submitted in writing to the arbitrator and the other party. The party submitting the written discovery requests must include with such discovery requests a detailed explanation of how the proposed discovery requests satisfy the requirements of these Arbitration Provisions and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. The receiving party will then be allowed, within five (5) calendar days of receiving the proposed discovery requests, to submit to the arbitrator an estimate of the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with responding to such written discovery requests and a written challenge to each applicable discovery request. After receipt of an estimate of attorneys’ fees and costs and/or challenge(s) to one or more discovery requests, consistent with subparagraph (c) above, the arbitrator will within three (3) calendar days make a finding as to the likely attorneys’ fees and costs associated with responding to the discovery requests and issue an order that (i) requires the requesting party to prepay the attorneys’ fees and costs associated with responding to the discovery requests, and (ii) requires the responding party to respond to the discovery requests as limited by the arbitrator within twenty-five (25) calendar days of the arbitrator’s finding with respect to such discovery requests. If a party entitled to submit an estimate of attorneys’ fees and costs and/or a challenge to discovery requests fails to do so within such 5-day period, the arbitrator will make a finding that (A) there are no attorneys’ fees or costs associated with responding to such discovery requests, and (B) the responding party must respond to such discovery requests (as may be limited by the arbitrator) within twenty-five (25) calendar days of the arbitrator’s finding with respect to such discovery requests. Any party submitting any written discovery requests, including without limitation interrogatories, requests for production subpoenas to a party or a third party, or requests for admissions, must prepay the estimated attorneys’ fees and costs, before the responding party has any obligation to produce or respond to the same, unless such obligation is deemed waived as set forth above.
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(d) In order to allow a written discovery request, the arbitrator must find that the discovery request satisfies the standards set forth in these Arbitration Provisions and the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. The arbitrator must strictly enforce these standards. If a discovery request does not satisfy any of the standards set forth in these Arbitration Provisions or the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, the arbitrator may modify such discovery request to satisfy the applicable standards, or strike such discovery request in whole or in part.
(e) Each party may submit expert reports (and rebuttals thereto), provided that such reports must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the Arbitration Commencement Date. Each party will be allowed a maximum of two (2) experts. Expert reports must contain the following: (i) a complete statement of all opinions the expert will offer at trial and the basis and reasons for them; (ii) the expert’s name and qualifications, including a list of all the expert’s publications within the preceding ten (10) years, and a list of any other cases in which the expert has testified at trial or in a deposition or prepared a report within the preceding ten (10) years; and (iii) the compensation to be paid for the expert’s report and testimony. The parties are entitled to depose any other party’s expert witness one (1) time for no more than four (4) hours. An expert may not testify in a party’s case-in-chief concerning any matter not fairly disclosed in the expert report.
4.6 Dispositive Motions. Each party shall have the right to submit dispositive motions pursuant Rule 12 or Rule 56 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure (a “Dispositive Motion”). The party submitting the Dispositive Motion may, but is not required to, deliver to the arbitrator and to the other party a memorandum in support (the “Memorandum in Support”) of the Dispositive Motion. Within seven (7) calendar days of delivery of the Memorandum in Support, the other party shall deliver to the arbitrator and to the other party a memorandum in opposition to the Memorandum in Support (the “Memorandum in Opposition”). Within seven (7) calendar days of delivery of the Memorandum in Opposition, as applicable, the party that submitted the Memorandum in Support shall deliver to the arbitrator and to the other party a reply memorandum to the Memorandum in Opposition (“Reply Memorandum”). If the applicable party shall fail to deliver the Memorandum in Opposition as required above, or if the other party fails to deliver the Reply Memorandum as required above, then the applicable party shall lose its right to so deliver the same, and the Dispositive Motion shall proceed regardless.
4.7 Confidentiality. All information disclosed by either party (or such party’s agents) during the Arbitration process (including without limitation information disclosed during the discovery process or any Appeal (defined below)) shall be considered confidential in nature. Each party agrees not to disclose any confidential information received from the other party (or its agents) during the Arbitration process (including without limitation during the discovery process or any Appeal) unless (a) prior to or after the time of disclosure such information becomes public knowledge or part of the public domain, not as a result of any inaction or action of the receiving party or its agents, (b) such information is required by a court order, subpoena or similar legal duress to be disclosed if such receiving party has notified the other party thereof in writing and given it a reasonable opportunity to obtain a protective order from a court of competent jurisdiction prior to disclosure, or (c) such information is disclosed to the receiving party’s agents, representatives and legal counsel on a need to know basis who each agree in writing not to disclose such information to any third party. Pursuant to Section 118(5) of the Arbitration Act, the arbitrator is hereby authorized and directed to issue a protective order to prevent the disclosure of privileged information and confidential information upon the written request of either party.
4.8 Authorization; Timing; Scheduling Order. Subject to all other portions of these Arbitration Provisions, the parties hereby authorize and direct the arbitrator to take such actions and make such rulings as may be necessary to carry out the parties’ intent for the Arbitration proceedings to be efficient and expeditious. Pursuant to Section 120 of the Arbitration Act, the parties hereby agree that an Arbitration Award must be made within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the Arbitration Commencement Date. The arbitrator is hereby authorized and directed to hold a scheduling conference within ten (10) calendar days after the Arbitration Commencement Date in order to establish a scheduling order with various binding deadlines for discovery, expert testimony, and the submission of documents by the parties to enable the arbitrator to render a decision prior to the end of such 120-day period.
4.9 Relief. The arbitrator shall have the right to award or include in the Arbitration Award (or in a preliminary ruling) any relief which the arbitrator deems proper under the circumstances, including, without limitation, specific performance and injunctive relief, provided that the arbitrator may not award exemplary or punitive damages.
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4.10 Fees and Costs. As part of the Arbitration Award, the arbitrator is hereby directed to require the losing party (the party being awarded the least amount of money by the arbitrator, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be determined without regard to any statutory fines, penalties, fees, or other charges awarded to any party) to (a) pay the full amount of any unpaid costs and fees of the Arbitration, and (b) reimburse the prevailing party for all reasonable attorneys’ fees, arbitrator costs and fees, deposition costs, other discovery costs, and other expenses, costs or fees paid or otherwise incurred by the prevailing party in connection with the Arbitration.
5. Arbitration Appeal.
5.1 Initiation of Appeal. Following the entry of the Arbitration Award, either party (the “Appellant”) shall have a period of thirty (30) calendar days in which to notify the other party (the “Appellee”), in writing, that the Appellant elects to appeal (the “Appeal”) the Arbitration Award (such notice, an “Appeal Notice”) to a panel of arbitrators as provided in Paragraph 5.2 below. The date the Appellant delivers an Appeal Notice to the Appellee is referred to herein as the “Appeal Date”. The Appeal Notice must be delivered to the Appellee in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4.1 above with respect to delivery of an Arbitration Notice. In addition, together with delivery of the Appeal Notice to the Appellee, the Appellant must also pay for (and provide proof of such payment to the Appellee together with delivery of the Appeal Notice) a bond in the amount of 110% of the sum the Appellant owes to the Appellee as a result of the Arbitration Award the Appellant is appealing. In the event an Appellant delivers an Appeal Notice to the Appellee (together with proof of payment of the applicable bond) in compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph 5.1, the Appeal will occur as a matter of right and, except as specifically set forth herein, will not be further conditioned. In the event a party does not deliver an Appeal Notice (along with proof of payment of the applicable bond) to the other party within the deadline prescribed in this Paragraph 5.1, such party shall lose its right to appeal the Arbitration Award. If no party delivers an Appeal Notice (along with proof of payment of the applicable bond) to the other party within the deadline described in this Paragraph 5.1, the Arbitration Award shall be final. The parties acknowledge and agree that any Appeal shall be deemed part of the parties’ agreement to arbitrate for purposes of these Arbitration Provisions and the Arbitration Act.
5.2 Selection and Payment of Appeal Panel. In the event an Appellant delivers an Appeal Notice to the Appellee (together with proof of payment of the applicable bond) in compliance with the provisions of Paragraph 5.1 above, the Appeal will be heard by a three (3) person arbitration panel (the “Appeal Panel”).
(a) Within ten (10) calendar days after the Appeal Date, the Appellee shall select and submit to the Appellant the names of five (5) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Services (xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx) (such five (5) designated persons hereunder are referred to herein as the “Proposed Appeal Arbitrators”). For the avoidance of doubt, each Proposed Appeal Arbitrator must be qualified as a “neutral” with Utah ADR Services, and shall not be the arbitrator who rendered the Arbitration Award being appealed (the “Original Arbitrator”). Within five (5) calendar days after the Appellee has submitted to the Appellant the names of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators, the Appellant must select, by written notice to the Appellee, three (3) of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators to act as the members of the Appeal Panel. If the Appellant fails to select three (3) of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators in writing within such 5-day period, then the Appellee may select such three (3) arbitrators from the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to the Appellant.
(b) If the Appellee fails to submit to the Appellant the names of the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators within ten (10) calendar days after the Appeal Date pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, then the Appellant may at any time prior to the Appellee so designating the Proposed Appeal Arbitrators, identify the names of five (5) arbitrators that are designated as “neutrals” or qualified arbitrators by Utah ADR Service (none of whom may be the Original Arbitrator) by written notice to the Appellee. The Appellee may then, within five (5) calendar days after the Appellant has submitted notice of its selected arbitrators to the Appellee, select, by written notice to the Appellant, three (3) of such selected arbitrators to serve on the Appeal Panel. If the Appellee fails to select in writing within such 5-day period three (3) of the arbitrators selected by the Appellant to serve as the members of the Appeal Panel, then the Appellant may select the three (3) members of the Appeal Panel from the Appellant’s list of five (5) arbitrators by providing written notice of such selection to the Appellee.
(c) If a selected Proposed Appeal Arbitrator declines or is otherwise unable to serve, then the party that selected such Proposed Appeal Arbitrator may select one (1) of the other five (5) designated Proposed Appeal Arbitrators within three (3) calendar days of the date a chosen Proposed Appeal Arbitrator declines or notifies the parties he or she is unable to serve as an arbitrator. If at least three (3) of the five (5) designated Proposed Appeal Arbitrators decline or are otherwise unable to serve, then the Proposed Appeal Arbitrator selection process shall begin again in accordance with this Paragraph 5.2; provided, however, that any Proposed Appeal Arbitrators who have already agreed to serve shall remain on the Appeal Panel.
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(d) The date that all three (3) Proposed Appeal Arbitrators selected pursuant to this Paragraph 5.2 agree in writing (including via email) delivered to both the Appellant and the Appellee to serve as members of the Appeal Panel hereunder is referred to herein as the “Appeal Commencement Date”. No later than five (5) calendar days after the Appeal Commencement Date, the Appellee shall designate in writing (including via email) to the Appellant and the Appeal Panel the name of one (1) of the three (3) members of the Appeal Panel to serve as the lead arbitrator in the Appeal proceedings. Each member of the Appeal Panel shall be deemed an arbitrator for purposes of these Arbitration Provisions and the Arbitration Act, provided that, in conducting the Appeal, the Appeal Panel may only act or make determinations upon the approval or vote of no less than the majority vote of its members, as announced or communicated by the lead arbitrator on the Appeal Panel. If an arbitrator on the Appeal Panel ceases or is unable to act during the Appeal proceedings, a replacement arbitrator shall be chosen in accordance with Paragraph 5.2 above to continue the Appeal as a member of the Appeal Panel. If Utah ADR Services ceases to exist or to provide a list of neutrals, then the arbitrators for the Appeal Panel shall be selected under the then prevailing rules of the American Arbitration Association.
(d) Subject to Paragraph 5.7 below, the cost of the Appeal Panel must be paid entirely by the Appellant.
5.3 Appeal Procedure. The Appeal will be deemed an appeal of the entire Arbitration Award. In conducting the Appeal, the Appeal Panel shall conduct a de novo review of all Claims described or otherwise set forth in the Arbitration Notice. Subject to the foregoing and all other provisions of this Paragraph 5, the Appeal Panel shall conduct the Appeal in a manner the Appeal Panel considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the Appeal, may hold one or more hearings and permit oral argument, and may review all previous evidence and discovery, together with all briefs, pleadings and other documents filed with the Original Arbitrator (as well as any documents filed with the Appeal Panel pursuant to Paragraph 5.4(a) below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the Appeal, the Appeal Panel shall not permit the parties to conduct any additional discovery or raise any new Claims to be arbitrated, shall not permit new witnesses or affidavits, and shall not base any of its findings or determinations on the Original Arbitrator’s findings or the Arbitration Award.
5.4 Timing.
(a) Within seven (7) calendar days of the Appeal Commencement Date, the Appellant (i) shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Appeal Panel copies of the Appeal Notice, all discovery conducted in connection with the Arbitration, and all briefs, pleadings and other documents filed with the Original Arbitrator (which material Appellee shall have the right to review and supplement if necessary), and (ii) may, but is not required to, deliver to the Appeal Panel and to the Appellee a Memorandum in Support of the Appellant’s arguments concerning or position with respect to all Claims, counterclaims, issues, or accountings presented or pleaded in the Arbitration. Within seven (7) calendar days of the Appellant’s delivery of the Memorandum in Support, as applicable, the Appellee shall deliver to the Appeal Panel and to the Appellant a Memorandum in Opposition to the Memorandum in Support. Within seven (7) calendar days of the Appellee’s delivery of the Memorandum in Opposition, as applicable, the Appellant shall deliver to the Appeal Panel and to the Appellee a Reply Memorandum to the Memorandum in Opposition. If the Appellant shall fail to substantially comply with the requirements of clause (i) of this subparagraph (a), the Appellant shall lose its right to appeal the Arbitration Award, and the Arbitration Award shall be final. If the Appellee shall fail to deliver the Memorandum in Opposition as required above, or if the Appellant shall fail to deliver the Reply Memorandum as required above, then the Appellee or the Appellant, as the case may be, shall lose its right to so deliver the same, and the Appeal shall proceed regardless.
(b) Subject to subparagraph (a) above, the parties hereby agree that the Appeal must be heard by the Appeal Panel within thirty (30) calendar days of the Appeal Commencement Date, and that the Appeal Panel must render its decision within thirty (30) calendar days after the Appeal is heard (and in no event later than sixty (60) calendar days after the Appeal Commencement Date).
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5.5 Appeal Panel Award. The Appeal Panel shall issue its decision (the “Appeal Panel Award”) through the lead arbitrator on the Appeal Panel. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the Appeal Panel Award shall (a) supersede in its entirety and make of no further force or effect the Arbitration Award (provided that any protective orders issued by the Original Arbitrator shall remain in full force and effect), (b) be final and binding upon the parties, with no further rights of appeal, (c) be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any Claims, counterclaims, issues, or accountings presented or pleaded in the Arbitration, and (d) be promptly payable in United States dollars free of any tax, deduction or offset (with respect to monetary awards). Any costs or fees, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with or incident to enforcing the Appeal Panel Award shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, be charged against the party resisting such enforcement. The Appeal Panel Award shall include Default Interest (with respect to monetary awards) at the rate specified in the Note for Default Interest both before and after the Arbitration Award. Judgment upon the Appeal Panel Award will be entered and enforced by a state or federal court sitting in Salt Lake County, Utah.
5.6 Relief. The Appeal Panel shall have the right to award or include in the Appeal Panel Award any relief which the Appeal Panel deems proper under the circumstances, including, without limitation, specific performance and injunctive relief, provided that the Appeal Panel may not award exemplary or punitive damages.
5.7 Fees and Costs. As part of the Appeal Panel Award, the Appeal Panel is hereby directed to require the losing party (the party being awarded the least amount of money by the arbitrator, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be determined without regard to any statutory fines, penalties, fees, or other charges awarded to any party) to (a) pay the full amount of any unpaid costs and fees of the Arbitration and the Appeal Panel, and (b) reimburse the prevailing party (the party being awarded the most amount of money by the Appeal Panel, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be determined without regard to any statutory fines, penalties, fees, or other charges awarded to any part) the reasonable attorneys’ fees, arbitrator and Appeal Panel costs and fees, deposition costs, other discovery costs, and other expenses, costs or fees paid or otherwise incurred by the prevailing party in connection with the Arbitration (including without limitation in connection with the Appeal).
6. Miscellaneous.
6.1 Severability. If any part of these Arbitration Provisions is found to violate or be illegal under applicable law, then such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision enforceable under applicable law, and the remainder of the Arbitration Provisions shall remain unaffected and in full force and effect.
6.2 Governing Law. These Arbitration Provisions shall be governed by the laws of the State of Utah without regard to the conflict of laws principles therein.
6.3 Interpretation. The headings of these Arbitration Provisions are for convenience of reference only and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, these Arbitration Provisions.
6.4 Waiver. No waiver of any provision of these Arbitration Provisions shall be effective unless it is in the form of a writing signed by the party granting the waiver.
6.5 Time is of the Essence. Time is expressly made of the essence with respect to each and every provision of these Arbitration Provisions.
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