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COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
VIRAGEN, INC.
AND
THE INVESTORS SIGNATORY HERETO
COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of November 24,
1999 (the "Agreement"), between the Investors signatory hereto (each an
"Investor" and together the "Investors"), and Viragen, Inc., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained herein, the Company shall issue and sell to the Investors,
and the Investors shall purchase in the aggregate, (i) up to 4,600,000 shares of
Common Stock (as defined below) and (ii) Warrants (as defined below) to purchase
up to 375,000 shares of the Common Stock (as defined below) at $1.15 per share.
WHEREAS, such investments will be made in reliance upon the provisions
of Section 4(2) ("Section 4(2)") and/or 4(6) of the United States Securities Act
and/or Regulation S ("Regulation S") and the other rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Securities Act"), and/or upon such other exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as may be available
with respect to any or all of the investments in securities to be made
hereunder.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. "CAPITAL SHARES" shall mean the Common Stock and any shares of any
other class of common stock whether now or hereafter authorized, having the
right to participate in the distribution of earnings and assets of the Company.
Section 1.2. "CAPITAL SHARES EQUIVALENTS" shall mean any securities, rights, or
obligations that are convertible into or exchangeable for or give any right to
subscribe for any Capital Shares of the Company or any Warrants, options or
other rights to subscribe for or purchase Capital Shares or any such convertible
or exchangeable securities.
Section 1.3. "CLOSING" shall mean each closing of the purchase and sale of the
Common Stock and Warrants pursuant to Section 2.1.
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Section 1.4. "CLOSING DATE" shall mean the date on which all conditions to the
applicable Closing have been satisfied (as defined in Section 2.1(b) hereto)
and such Closing shall have occurred.
Section 1.5. "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the Company's common stock, $0.01 par
value per share.
Section 1.6. "DAMAGES" shall mean any loss, claim, damage, judgment, penalty,
deficiency, liability, costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorney's fees and disbursements and reasonable costs and expenses
of expert witnesses and investigation).
Section 1.7. "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean the date on which the SEC first
declares effective a Registration Statement registering the resale of the
Registrable Securities as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 1.8. "ESCROW AGENT" shall have the meaning set forth in the Escrow
Agreement.
Section 1.9. "ESCROW AGREEMENT" shall mean the Escrow Agreement in substantially
the form of Exhibit C hereto executed and delivered contemporaneously with this
Agreement.
Section 1.10. "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 1.11. "LEGEND" shall mean the legend set forth in Section 9.1.
Section 1.12. "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean any effect on the business,
operations, properties, prospects or financial condition of the Company that is
material and adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, taken
as a whole, and/or any condition, circumstance, or situation that would prohibit
or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Company to enter into and perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Escrow Agreement, the or the Warrants in any material respect.
Section 1.13. "OUTSTANDING" when used with reference to shares of Common Stock
or Capital Shares (collectively the "Shares"), shall mean, at any date as of
which the number of such Shares is to be determined, all issued and outstanding
Shares, and shall include all such Shares issuable in respect of outstanding
scrip or any certificates representing fractional interests in such Shares;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that "Outstanding" shall not mean any such Shares then
directly or indirectly owned or held by or for the account of the Company.
Section 1.14. "PERSON" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership,
an association, a trust or other entity or organization, including a government
or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
Section 1.15. "PRINCIPAL MARKET" shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the New
York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ National or SmallCap Markets, or the OTC
Bulletin Board, whichever is at the time the principal trading exchange or
market for the Common Stock, based upon share volume.
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Section 1.16. "PURCHASE PRICE" shall mean $0.50 per share of Common Stock for
the first and second Closings and $0.60 for the third Closing, adjusted for any
splits, reverse splits or Common Stock dividends declared by the Company after
the execution hereof.
Section 1.17. "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Shares and the
Warrant Shares until (i) the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC, and all Shares and Warrant Shares have been disposed of pursuant to
the Registration Statement, (ii) all Shares and Warrant Shares have been sold
under circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or
any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") are
met, (iii) all Shares and Warrant Shares have been otherwise transferred to
holders who may trade such shares without restriction under the Securities Act,
and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership
for such securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such time as, in
the opinion of counsel to the Company, all Shares and Warrant Shares may be sold
without any time, volume or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any
similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act.
Section 1.18. "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" shall mean the agreement regarding
the filing of the Registration Statement for the resale of the Registrable
Securities, entered into between the Company and the Investor as of the Closing
Date in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B.
Section 1.19. "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a registration statement on
Form S-1 (or on such other form promulgated by the SEC for which the Company
then qualifies and which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate, and
which form shall be available for the resale by the Investors of the Registrable
Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and in accordance with the intended
method of distribution of such securities), for the registration of the resale
by the Investor of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act.
Section 1.20. "REGULATION S" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of
this Agreement.
Section 1.21. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 1.22. "SECTION 4(2)" AND "SECTION 4(6)" shall have the meanings set
forth in the recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.23. "SECURITIES ACT" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
of this Agreement.
Section 1.24. "SEC DOCUMENTS" shall mean the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 and each report, proxy statement or
registration statement filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the
Exchange Act or the Securities Act since the filing of such Annual Report
through the date hereof.
Section 1.25. "SHARES" shall mean the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant
to this Agreement.
Section 1.26. "TRADING DAY" shall mean any day during which the Principal Market
shall be open for business.
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Section 1.27. "WARRANTS" shall mean the Warrants substantially in the form of
Exhibit A to be issued to the Investors hereunder, which shall be issued on the
basis of one Warrant per ten dollars invested.
Section 1.28. "WARRANT SHARES" shall mean all shares of Common Stock or other
securities issued or issuable pursuant to exercise of the Warrants.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS
Section 2.1. INVESTMENT.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the
Company agrees to sell, and the Investors, severally and not jointly, agree to
purchase the Shares together with the Warrants at the Purchase Price on each
Closing Date as follows:
(i) FIRST CLOSING. Upon satisfaction by the Company of
the Closing conditions set forth in Section 2.1(b),
the Investors purchasing in the first Closing shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent immediately available
funds in the amounts set forth next to their
signatures hereto and the Company shall deliver the
Common Stock certificates representing the Shares so
purchased and the applicable number of Warrants to
the Escrow Agent, to be held by the Escrow Agent
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
(ii) SECOND CLOSING. Upon satisfaction by the Company of
the Closing conditions set forth in Section 2.1(b),
the Investors purchasing in the second Closing shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent immediately available
funds in the amounts set forth next to their
signatures hereto and the Company shall deliver the
Common Stock certificates representing the Shares so
purchased and the applicable number of Warrants to
the Escrow Agent, to be held by the Escrow Agent
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
(iii) THIRD CLOSING. Within five (5) Trading Days of
written notice from the Company to the Investors that
the Registration Statement has been declared
effective, the Investors purchasing in the third
Closing shall deliver to the Escrow Agent immediately
available funds in the amounts set forth next to
their signatures hereto and the Company shall deliver
the Common Stock certificates representing the
remaining Shares so purchased and the applicable
number of Warrants to the Escrow Agent, to be held by
the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
(iv) EACH CLOSING. Upon satisfaction of the conditions set
forth in Section 2.1(b), each Closing ("Closing")
shall occur at the offices of the Escrow Agent at
which the Escrow Agent (x) shall release the Shares
purchased and the Warrants to the appropriate
Investor and (y) shall release the
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Purchase Price (after all fees have been paid as set
forth in the Escrow Agreement), pursuant to the terms
of the Escrow Agreement.
(b) Each Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the party
sought to be benefited thereby of the following conditions:
(i) acceptance and execution by the Company and by the
Investors, of this Agreement and all Exhibits hereto;
(ii) delivery into escrow by each Investor of immediately
available funds in the amount of the Purchase Price
of the Common Stock and the Warrants, as applicable
to each Closing, as more fully set forth in the
Escrow Agreement;
(iii) all representations and warranties of the Investors
contained herein shall remain true and correct as of
the Closing Date (as a condition to the Company's
obligations);
(iv) all representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein shall remain true and correct as of
the Closing Date (as a condition to the Investors'
obligations);
(v) the Company shall have obtained all permits and
qualifications required by any state for the offer
and sale of the Common Stock and Warrants, or shall
have the availability of exemptions therefrom;
(vi) the sale and issuance of the Common Stock and the
Warrants hereunder, and the proposed issuance by the
Company to the Investors of the Common Stock
underlying the Common Stock and the Warrants upon the
conversion or exercise thereof shall be legally
permitted by all laws and regulations to which the
Investors and the Company are subject and there shall
be no ruling, judgment or writ of any court
prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(vii) delivery of the original fully executed Common Stock
certificates and Warrants certificates to the Escrow
Agent;
(viii) delivery to the Escrow Agent of an opinion of Atlas,
Xxxxxxxx, Trop & Borkson, P.A., counsel to the
Company, in the form of Exhibit D hereto;
(ix) delivery to the Escrow Agent of the Irrevocable
Instructions to Transfer Agent in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit E;
(x) delivery to the Escrow Agent of the Registration
Rights Agreement (as to the first Closing); and
(xi) as to the first Closing, the Company shall have
provided counsel for the Investors a draft
Registration Statement, in form and substance
reasonably
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satisfactory to such counsel, and the Company shall
represent to such counsel that it is prepared to file
such Registration Statement within ten calendar days;
as to the second Closing, the Registration Statement
shall have been filed with the SEC, and as to the
third Closing, the Registration Statement shall have
been declared effective by the SEC.
Section 2.2. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that
the sums payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall constitute
liquidated damages and not penalties. The parties further acknowledge that (a)
the amount of loss or damages likely to be incurred is incapable or is difficult
to precisely estimate, (b) the amounts specified in such Sections bear a
reasonable proportion and are not plainly or grossly disproportionate to the
probable loss likely to be incurred by the Investors in connection with the
failure by the Company to timely cause the registration of the Registrable
Securities and (c) the parties are sophisticated business parties and have been
represented by sophisticated and able legal and financial counsel and negotiated
this Agreement at arm's length.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF INVESTOR
Each Investor, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company
that:
Section 3.1. INTENT. The Investor is entering into this Agreement for its own
account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution
of the Common Stock. The Investor has no present arrangement (whether or not
legally binding) at any time to sell the Shares, the Warrants, or Warrant Shares
to or through any person or entity; provided, however, that by making the
representations herein, the Investor does not agree to hold such securities for
any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the
Shares and Warrant Shares at any time in accordance with federal and state
securities laws applicable to such disposition.
Section 3.2. SOPHISTICATED INVESTOR. The Investor is a non-United States Person
(as defined in Regulation S) and is a sophisticated investor (as described in
Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation D) and an accredited investor (as defined in
Rule 501 of Regulation D), and Investor has such experience in business and
financial matters that it has the capacity to protect its own interests in
connection with this transaction and is capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of an investment in the Common Stock and the Warrants. The Investor
acknowledges that an investment in the Common Stock is speculative and involves
a high degree of risk. The Investor is aware of the restrictions on resale of
the Common Stock, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares imposed by Regulation S,
and subject to its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, agrees to
abide thereby.
Section 3.3. AUTHORITY. This Agreement and each agreement attached as an Exhibit
hereto which is required to be executed by Investor has been duly authorized and
validly executed and delivered by the Investor and is a valid and binding
agreement of the Investor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar
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laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors' rights
and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.
Section 3.4. NOT AN AFFILIATE. The Investor is not an officer, director or
"affiliate" (as that term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of the
Company.
Section 3.5. ABSENCE OF CONFLICTS. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and each agreement which is attached as an Exhibit hereto and executed
by the Investor in connection herewith, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance with the requirements hereof and
thereof by the Investor, will not violate any law, rule, regulation, order,
writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on Investor or (a) violate
any provision of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which Investor is a
party or is subject, or by which Investor or any of its assets is bound; (b)
conflict with or constitute a material default thereunder; (c) result in the
creation or imposition of any lien pursuant to the terms of any such indenture,
instrument or agreement, or constitute a breach of any fiduciary duty owed by
Investor to any third party; or (d) require the approval of any third-party
(which has not been obtained) pursuant to any material contract, agreement,
instrument, relationship or legal obligation to which Investor is subject or to
which any of its assets, operations or management may be subject.
Section 3.6. DISCLOSURE; ACCESS TO INFORMATION. The Investor has received all
documents, records, books and other publicly available information pertaining to
Investor's investment in the Company that have been requested by the Investor.
The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange
Act, and the Investor has reviewed copies of all SEC Documents deemed relevant
by Investor.
Section 3.7. MANNER OF SALE. At no time was Investor presented with or solicited
by or through any leaflet, public promotional meeting, television advertisement
or any other form of general solicitation or advertising.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to the Investors that, except as set forth
in the SEC Documents:
Section 4.1. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY. The Company is a corporation duly
incorporated and existing in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and has all requisite corporate authority to own its properties and to
carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company does not have any
subsidiaries and does not own more that fifty percent (50%) of or control any
other business entity except as set forth in the SEC Documents. The Company is
duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation to do business
in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property
owned by it makes such qualification necessary, other than those in which the
failure so to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.2. AUTHORITY. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and
corporate authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, and the
Warrants and to issue the Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares pursuant
to their respective terms, (ii) the execution, issuance and delivery of this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Common
Stock certificates and the Warrants by the Company and the consummation by it of
the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its
Board of Directors or stockholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Common Stock
certificates representing the Shares, and the Warrants have been duly executed
and delivered by the Company and at each Closing shall constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the
enforcement of, creditors' rights and remedies or by other equitable principles
of general application. The Company has duly and validly authorized and reserved
for issuance shares of Common Stock sufficient in number for the exercise of the
Warrants.
Section 4.3. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 125,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
which 74,555,153 shares are issued and outstanding as of September 24, 1999 and
1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, which are designated as to series and
outstanding as set forth in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
1999. Except for (i) outstanding options and warrants as set forth in the SEC
Documents, and (ii) as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
outstanding Capital Shares Equivalents nor any agreements or understandings
pursuant to which any Capital Shares Equivalents may become outstanding. The
Company is not a party to any agreement granting registration or anti-dilution
rights to any person with respect to any of its equity or debt securities. All
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have been duly and
validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
Section 4.4. COMMON STOCK. The Company has registered its Common Stock pursuant
to Section 12(b) or (g) of the Exchange Act and is in full compliance with all
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and the Company is in compliance
with all requirements for the continued listing or quotation of its Common
Stock, and such Common Stock is currently listed or quoted on, the Principal
Market. As of the date hereof, the Principal Market is the OTC Bulletin Board
and the Company has not received any notice regarding, and to its knowledge
there is no threat, of the termination or discontinuance of the eligibility of
the Common Stock for such listing.
Section 4.5. SEC DOCUMENTS. The Company has made available to the Investors true
and complete copies of the SEC Documents. The Company has not provided to the
Investors any information that, according to applicable law, rule or regulation,
should have been disclosed publicly prior to the date hereof by the Company, but
which has not been so disclosed. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder and the SEC Documents
did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The financial
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statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and
regulations of the SEC or other applicable rules and regulations with respect
thereto at the time of such inclusion. Such financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise
indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto or (ii) in the case
of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they exclude footnotes or may be
condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the
financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of
unaudited interim statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). Neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any material indebtedness, obligations
or liabilities of any kind (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise,
and whether due or to become due) that would have been required to be reflected
in, reserved against or otherwise described in the financial statements or in
the notes thereto in accordance with GAAP, which was not fully reflected in,
reserved against or otherwise described in the financial statements or the notes
thereto included in the SEC Documents or was not incurred in the ordinary course
of business consistent with the Company's past practices since the last date of
such financial statements.
Section 4.6. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION; VALID ISSUANCES. Subject to the
accuracy of the Investors' representations in Article III, the sale of the
Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares will not require registration under
the Securities Act and/or any applicable state securities law. When issued and
paid for in accordance with the Warrants, the Warrant Shares will be duly and
validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. Neither the sales of the Shares,
the Warrants or the Warrant Shares pursuant to, nor the Company's performance of
its obligations under, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement or the Warrants will (i) result in the creation or imposition
by the Company of any liens, charges, claims or other encumbrances upon the
Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares or, except as contemplated herein,
any of the assets of the Company, or (ii) entitle the holders of Outstanding
Capital Shares to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or acquire the
Capital Shares or other securities of the Company. The Shares, the Warrants and
the Warrant Shares shall not subject the Investors to personal liability to the
Company or its creditors by reason of the possession thereof.
Section 4.7. NO GENERAL SOLICITATION OR ADVERTISING IN REGARD TO THIS
TRANSACTION. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates nor, to the knowledge
of the Company, any person acting on its or their behalf (i) has conducted or
will conduct any general solicitation (as that term is used in Rule 502(c) of
Regulation S) or general advertising with respect to the sale of the Shares or
the Warrants, or (ii) made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any
offers to buy any security under any circumstances that would require
registration of the Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares under the
Securities Act.
Section 4.8. NO CONFLICTS. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, including without limitation the issuance of the Shares,
the Warrants and the Warrant Shares, do not and will not (i) result in a
violation of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or (ii)
conflict with, or constitute a material default (or an event that with notice or
lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any
rights of termination,
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amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any material agreement, indenture or
instrument, or any "lock-up" or similar provision of any underwriting or similar
agreement to which the Company is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any
federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
(including federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the
Company or by which any material property or asset of the Company is bound or
affected, nor is the Company otherwise in violation of, conflict with or default
under any of the foregoing (except in each case for such conflicts, defaults,
terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations as would
not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect). The
business of the Company is not being conducted in violation of any law,
ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, except for possible
violations that either singly or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect. The Company is not required under any Federal, state or local
law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or
make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order
for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this
Agreement or issue and sell the Shares or the Warrants in accordance with the
terms hereof (other than any SEC or state securities filings that may be
required to be made by the Company subsequent to Closing, any registration
statement that may be filed pursuant hereto); provided that, for purposes of the
representation made in this sentence, the Company is assuming and relying upon
the accuracy of the relevant representations and agreements of the Investors
herein.
Section 4.9. NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since June 30, 1999, no
Material Adverse Effect has occurred or exists with respect to the Company,
except as disclosed in the SEC Documents.
Section 4.10. NO UNDISCLOSED EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES. Since June 30, 1999, no
event or circumstance has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its
businesses, properties, prospects, operations or financial condition, that,
under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or
announcement prior to the date hereof by the Company but which has not been so
publicly announced or disclosed in the SEC Documents.
Section 4.11. NO INTEGRATED OFFERING. Other than pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act, or pursuant to the issuance or
exercise of employee stock options, or pursuant to its discussion with the
Investors in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company
has not issued, offered or sold its Common Stock, or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock within the six-month period
next preceding the date hereof, and the Company shall not permit any of its
directors, officers or affiliates directly or indirectly to take, any action
(including, without limitation, any offering or sale to any Person of the Shares
or Warrants), so as to make unavailable the exemption from Securities Act
registration being relied upon by the Company for the offer and sale to
Investors of the Shares or the Warrants (and the Warrant Shares) as contemplated
by this Agreement.
Section 4.12. LITIGATION AND OTHER PROCEEDINGS. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Documents, there are no lawsuits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened, against the Company or any subsidiary, nor has the
Company received any written or oral notice of any such action, suit, proceeding
or investigation, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, no judgment, order, writ,
injunction or decree or award has been issued by or, to the knowledge of the
Company, requested of any court, arbitrator or governmental agency which could
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.13. NO MISLEADING OR UNTRUE COMMUNICATION. The Company and, to the
knowledge of the Company, any person representing the Company, or any other
person selling or offering to sell the Shares or the Warrants in connection with
the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, have not made, at any time, any
oral communication in connection with the offer or sale of the same which
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Section 4.14. MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION. The Company has not disclosed to
the Investors any material non-public information that (i) if disclosed, would
reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the price of the Common
Stock or (ii) according to applicable law, rule or regulation, should have been
disclosed publicly by the Company prior to the date hereof but which has not
been so disclosed.
Section 4.15. INSURANCE. The Company and each subsidiary maintains property and
casualty, general liability, workers' compensation, environmental hazard,
personal injury and other similar types of insurance with financially sound and
reputable insurers that is adequate, consistent with industry standards and the
Company's historical claims experience. The Company has not received notice
from, and has no knowledge of any threat by, any insurer (that has issued any
insurance policy to the Company) that such insurer intends to deny coverage
under or cancel, discontinue or not renew any insurance policy presently in
force.
Section 4.16. TAX MATTERS.
(a) The Company and each subsidiary has filed all Tax Returns which it
is required to file under applicable laws; all such Tax Returns are true and
accurate and has been prepared in compliance with all applicable laws; the
Company has paid all Taxes due and owing by it or any subsidiary (whether or not
such Taxes are required to be shown on a Tax Return) and have withheld and paid
over to the appropriate taxing authorities all Taxes which it is required to
withhold from amounts paid or owing to any employee, stockholder, creditor or
other third parties; and since June 30, 1999, the charges, accruals and reserves
for Taxes with respect to the Company (including any provisions for deferred
income taxes) reflected on the books of the Company are adequate to cover any
Tax liabilities of the Company if its current tax year were treated as ending on
the date hereof.
(b) No claim has been made by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction
where the Company does not file tax returns that the Company or any subsidiary
is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no foreign,
federal, state or local tax audits or administrative or judicial proceedings
pending or being conducted with respect to the Company or any subsidiary; no
information related to Tax matters has been requested by any foreign, federal,
state or local taxing authority; and, except as disclosed above, no written
notice indicating an intent to open an audit or other review has been received
by the Company or any subsidiary from any foreign, federal, state or local
taxing authority. There are no material unresolved questions or claims
concerning the Company's Tax liability. The Company (A) has not executed or
entered into a closing agreement pursuant to ss. 7121 of the Internal Revenue
Code or any predecessor provision thereof or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law; or (B) has not agreed to or is required to make any
adjustments pursuant to ss. 481(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or any
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similar provision of state, local or foreign law by reason of a change in
accounting method initiated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has any
knowledge that the IRS has proposed any such adjustment or change in accounting
method, or has any application pending with any taxing authority requesting
permission for any changes in accounting methods that relate to the business or
operations of the Company. The Company has not been a United States real
property holding corporation within the meaning of ss. 897(c)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code during the applicable period specified in ss. 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(c) The Company has not made an election under ss. 341(f) of the
Internal Revenue Code. The Company is not liable for the Taxes of another person
that is not a subsidiary of the Company under (A) Treas. Reg. ss. 1.1502-6 (or
comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law), (B) as a transferee or
successor, (C) by contract or indemnity or (D) otherwise. The Company is not a
party to any tax sharing agreement. The Company has not made any payments, is
obligated to make payments or is a party to an agreement that could obligate it
to make any payments that would not be deductible under ss. 280G of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(d) For purposes of this Section 4.16:
"IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
"TAX" or "TAXES" means federal, state, county, local, foreign,
or other income, gross receipts, ad valorem, franchise,
profits, sales or use, transfer, registration, excise,
utility, environmental, communications, real or personal
property, capital stock, license, payroll, wage or other
withholding, employment, social security, severance, stamp,
occupation, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated and other
taxes of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation,
deficiencies, penalties, additions to tax, and interest
attributable thereto) whether disputed or not.
"TAX RETURN" means any return, information report or filing
with respect to Taxes, including any schedules attached
thereto and including any amendment thereof.
Section 1.17. PROPERTY. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns any
real property. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable
title to all personal property owned by it, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances and defects except such as do not materially affect the value of
such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to
be made of such property by the Company; and to the Company's knowledge any real
property, mineral or water rights, and buildings held under lease by the Company
as tenant are held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with
such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and
intended to be made of such property, mineral or water rights, and buildings by
the Company.
Section 4.18. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries
owns or possesses adequate and enforceable rights to use all patents, patent
applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, service marks,
copyrights, copyright applications, licenses, know-how (including trade secrets
and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures) and other similar rights and proprietary
knowledge (collectively, "Intangibles") necessary for the conduct of its
business as now being
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conducted. To the Company's knowledge, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is infringing upon or in
conflict with any right of any other person with respect to any Intangibles.
Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, no adverse claims have been asserted
by any person to the ownership or use of any Intangibles and the Company has no
knowledge of any basis for such claim.
Section 4.19. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. The Company has all necessary FDA and
European Union permits and licenses and has made all filings to such regulatory
bodies to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, and is not in
material violation of any thereof.
Section 4.20. INTERNAL CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. The Company maintains books and
records and internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that
(i) all transactions to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by
which its properties are bound are executed with management's authorization;
(ii) the recorded accounting of the Company's consolidated assets is compared
with existing assets at regular intervals; (iii) access to the Company's
consolidated assets is permitted only in accordance with management's
authorization; and (iv) all transactions to which the Company or any subsidiary
is a party or by which its properties are bound are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of the financial statements of the Company in accordance with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Section 4.21. PAYMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. Neither the Company, any subsidiary,
nor any of its directors, officers or, to its knowledge, other employees has (i)
used any Company funds for any unlawful contribution, endorsement, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii)
made any direct or indirect unlawful payment of Company funds to any foreign or
domestic government official or employee; (iii) violated or is in violation of
any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv)
made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other similar
payment to any person with respect to Company matters.
Section 4.22. NO MISREPRESENTATION. The representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement, any schedule, annex or exhibit hereto and
any agreement, instrument or certificate furnished by the Company to the
Investors pursuant to this Agreement, do not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE INVESTORS
Each Investor, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company
that:
Section 5.1. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Investor's trading activities with respect
to shares of the Company's Common Stock will be in compliance with all
applicable state and federal securities laws, rules and regulations and rules
and regulations of the Principal Market on which the Company's Common Stock is
listed.
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ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.1. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Company shall cause the Registration
Rights Agreement to remain in full force and effect and the Company shall comply
in all material respects with the terms thereof and shall use best efforts to
timely prepare and file the Registration Statement.
Section 6.2. RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK. As of the date hereof, the Company has
reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all
times, free of preemptive rights, shares of Common Stock for the purpose of
enabling the Company to issue the Shares at each Closing and the Warrant Shares
pursuant to any exercise of the Warrants. The number of shares so reserved from
time to time, as theretofore increased or reduced as hereinafter provided, may
be reduced by the number of shares actually delivered pursuant to any exercise
of the Warrants and the number of shares so reserved shall be increased or
decreased to reflect potential increases or decreases in the Common Stock that
the Company may thereafter be obligated to issue by reason of adjustments to the
Warrants.
Section 6.3. LISTING OF COMMON STOCK. The Company hereby agrees to maintain the
listing of the Common Stock on a Principal Market, and as soon as reasonably
practicable following the Closing to list the Shares and the Warrant Shares on
the Principal Market. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have
the Common Stock traded on any other Principal Market, it will include in such
application the Shares and the Warrant Shares, and will take such other action
as is necessary or desirable in the opinion of the Investors to cause the Shares
and Warrant Shares to be listed on such other Principal Market as promptly as
possible. The Company will take all action to continue the listing and trading
of its Common Stock on a Principal Market (including, without limitation,
maintaining sufficient net tangible assets) and will comply in all respects with
the Company's reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules
of the Principal Market and shall provide Investors with copies of any
correspondence to or from such Principal Market which questions or threatens
delisting of the Common Stock, within three (3) Trading Days of the Company's
receipt thereof, until the Investors have disposed of all of their Registrable
Securities.
Section 6.4. EXCHANGE ACT REGISTRATION. The Company will cause its Common Stock
to continue to be registered under Section 12(b) or (g) of the Exchange Act,
will use its best efforts to comply in all respects with its reporting and
filing obligations under the Exchange Act, and will not take any action or file
any document (whether or not permitted by the Exchange Act or the rules
thereunder) to terminate or suspend such registration or to terminate or suspend
its reporting and filing obligations under said Act until the Investors have
disposed of all of their Registrable Securities.
Section 6.5. LEGENDS. The certificates evidencing the Registrable Securities
shall be free of legends, except as set forth in Article IX.
Section 6.6. CORPORATE EXISTENCE; CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company will take
all steps necessary to preserve and continue the corporate existence of the
Company. The Company shall
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not enter into any agreement, the terms of which agreement would restrict or
impair the right or ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement or any of the other agreements attached as exhibits hereto.
Section 6.7. CONSOLIDATION; MERGER. The Company shall not, at any time after the
date hereof, effect any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into, or
a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to, another
entity (a "Consolidation Event") unless the resulting successor or acquiring
entity (if not the Company) assumes by written instrument or by operation of law
the obligation to deliver to the Investors such shares of stock and/or
securities as the Investors are entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement
and the Warrants.
Section 6.8. ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK AND WARRANT SHARES. The sale of the Shares
and the Warrants and the issuance of the Warrant Shares pursuant to exercise of
the Warrants shall be made in accordance with the provisions and requirements of
Section 4(2), 4(6) or Regulation S and any applicable state securities law. The
Company shall make any necessary SEC and "blue sky" filings required to be made
by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Investors as
required by all applicable laws, and shall provide a copy thereof to the
Investors promptly after such filing.
Section 6.9. LIMITATION ON FUTURE FINANCING. The Company agrees that it will not
enter into any sale of its securities for cash at a discount to its then-current
bid price until 90 days after the effective date of the Registration Statement
(so long as such securities are not registered for resale before 150 days after
the effective date of the Registration Statement) except for any sales (i)
pursuant to any presently existing employee benefit plan which plan has been
approved by the Company's stockholders, (ii) pursuant to any compensatory plan
for a full-time employee or key consultant, or (iii) with the prior approval of
a majority in interest of the Investors, which will not be unreasonably
withheld, in connection with a strategic partnership or other business
transaction, the principal purpose of which is not simply to raise money.
ARTICLE VII
SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1. SURVIVAL. The representations, warranties and covenants made by
each of the Company and each Investor in this Agreement, the annexes, schedules
and exhibits hereto and in each instrument, agreement and certificate entered
into and delivered by them pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the Closing
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. In the event of a
breach or violation of any of such representations, warranties or covenants, the
party to whom such representations, warranties or covenants have been made shall
have all rights and remedies for such breach or violation available to it under
the provisions of this Agreement, irrespective of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such party on or prior to the Closing Date.
Section 7.2. INDEMNITY. (a) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Investors, their respective Affiliates and their respective
officers, directors, partners and members (collectively, the "Investor
Indemnitees"), from and against any and all Damages, and
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agrees to reimburse the Investor Indemnitees for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), in each
case promptly as incurred by the Investor Indemnitees and to the extent arising
out of or in connection with:
(i) any misrepresentation, omission of fact or breach of any
of the Company's representations or warranties contained in this
Agreement, the annexes, schedules or exhibits hereto or any instrument,
agreement or certificate entered into or delivered by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; or
(ii) any failure by the Company to perform in any material
respect any of its covenants, agreements, undertakings or obligations
set forth in this Agreement, the annexes, schedules or exhibits hereto
or any instrument, agreement or certificate entered into or delivered
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement; or
(iii) any action instituted against the Investors, or any of
them, by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of an
Investor, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(b) Each Investor, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Affiliates and their respective
officers, directors, partners and members (collectively, the "Company
Indemnitees"), from and against any and all Damages, and agrees to reimburse the
Company Indemnitees for reasonable all out-of-pocket expenses (including the
reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), in each case promptly as
incurred by the Company Indemnitees and to the extent arising out of or in
connection with any misrepresentation, omission of fact, or breach of any of the
Investor's representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, the
annexes, schedules or exhibits hereto or any instrument, agreement or
certificate entered into or delivered by the Investor pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 7.3. NOTICE. Promptly after receipt by either party hereto seeking
indemnification pursuant to Section 7.2 (an "Indemnified Party") of written
notice of any investigation, claim, proceeding or other action in respect of
which indemnification is being sought (each, a "Claim"), the Indemnified Party
promptly shall notify the party from whom indemnification pursuant to Section
7.2 is being sought (the "Indemnifying Party") of the commencement thereof; but
the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any
liability that it otherwise may have to the Indemnified Party, except to the
extent that the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such omission or
delay. In connection with any Claim as to which both the Indemnifying Party and
the Indemnified Party are parties, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof. Notwithstanding the assumption of the defense of any
Claim by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to
employ separate legal counsel and to participate in the defense of such Claim,
and the Indemnifying Party shall bear the reasonable fees, out-of-pocket costs
and expenses of such separate legal counsel to the Indemnified Party if (and
only if): (x) the Indemnifying Party shall have agreed to pay such fees,
out-of-pocket costs and expenses, (y) the Indemnified Party reasonably shall
have concluded that representation of the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party by the same legal counsel would not be appropriate due to actual or, as
reasonably determined by legal counsel to the
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Indemnified Party, potentially differing interests between such parties in the
conduct of the defense of such Claim, or if there may be legal defenses
available to the Indemnified Party that are in addition to or disparate from
those available to the Indemnifying Party, or (z) the Indemnifying Party shall
have failed to employ legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of
such Claim. If the Indemnified Party employs separate legal counsel in
circumstances other than as described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) above, the
fees, costs and expenses of such legal counsel shall be borne exclusively by the
Indemnified Party. Except as provided above, the Indemnifying Party shall not,
in connection with any Claim in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees
and expenses of more than one firm of legal counsel for the Indemnified Party
(together with appropriate local counsel). The Indemnifying Party shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall
not unreasonably be withheld), settle or compromise any Claim or consent to the
entry of any judgment that does not include an unconditional release of the
Indemnified Party from all liabilities with respect to such Claim or judgment.
Section 7.4. DIRECT CLAIMS. In the event one party hereunder should have a claim
for indemnification that does not involve a claim or demand being asserted by a
third party, the Indemnified Party promptly shall deliver notice of such claim
to the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnified Party disputes the claim, such
dispute shall be resolved by mutual agreement of the Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party or by binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the
procedures and rules of the American Arbitration Association as set forth in
Article X. Judgment upon any award rendered by any arbitrators may be entered in
any court having competent jurisdiction thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW; NON-DISCLOSURE OF NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION.
Section 8.1. DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW. Subject to Section 8.2, the Company shall
make available for inspection and review by the Investors, advisors to and
representatives of the Investors (who may or may not be affiliated with the
Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company), any underwriter
participating in any disposition of the Registrable Securities on behalf of the
Investors pursuant to the Registration Statement, any such registration
statement or amendment or supplement thereto or any blue sky, Nasdaq or other
filing, all SEC Documents and other filings with the SEC, and all other publicly
available corporate documents and properties of the Company as may be reasonably
necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all such publicly available information
reasonably requested by the Investors or any such representative, advisor or
underwriter in connection with such Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or
submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and
effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the
Investors and such representatives, advisors and underwriters and their
respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due
diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of the Registration
Statement.
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Section 8.2. NON-DISCLOSURE OF NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION.
(a) The Company shall not disclose material non-public information to
the Investors, advisors to or representatives of the Investors unless prior to
disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being
non-public information and provides the Investors, such advisors and
representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such
non-public information for review. Other than disclosure of any comment letters
received from the SEC staff with respect to the Registration Statement, the
Company may, as a condition to disclosing any non-public information hereunder,
require the Investors' advisors and representatives to enter into a
confidentiality agreement in form and content reasonably satisfactory to the
Company and the Investors.
(b) Nothing herein shall require the Company to disclose material
non-public information to the Investors or their advisors or representatives,
and the Company represents that it does not disseminate material non-public
information to any investors who purchase stock in the Company in a public
offering, to money managers or to securities analysts, provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will, as
hereinabove provided, promptly notify the advisors and representatives of the
Investors and, if any, underwriters, of any event or the existence of any
circumstance (without any obligation to disclose the specific event or
circumstance) of which it becomes aware, constituting material non-public
information (whether or not requested of the Company specifically or generally
during the course of due diligence by such persons or entities), which, if not
disclosed in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement would cause
such prospectus to include a material misstatement or to omit a material fact
required to be stated therein in order to make the statements, therein in light
of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. Nothing contained
in this Section 8.2 shall be construed to mean that such persons or entities
other than the Investors (without the written consent of the Investors prior to
disclosure of such information as set forth in Section 8.2(a)) may not obtain
non-public information in the course of conducting due diligence in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and nothing herein shall prevent any such
persons or entities from notifying the Company of their opinion that based on
such due diligence by such persons or entities, that the Registration Statement
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact
required to be stated in the Registration Statement or necessary to make the
statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.
ARTICLE IX
LEGENDS; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS
Section 9.1. LEGENDS. Unless otherwise provided below, each certificate
representing Registrable Securities will bear the following legend or equivalent
(the "Legend"):
THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION
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REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS
SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE SOLD, ASSIGNED,
TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO
AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO A
TRANSACTION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION.
Section 9.2. TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS. Upon the execution and delivery
hereof, the Company is issuing to the transfer agent for its Common Stock (and
to any substitute or replacement transfer agent for its Common Stock upon the
Company's appointment of any such substitute or replacement transfer agent)
instructions substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto. Such instructions
shall be irrevocable by the Company from and after the date hereof or from and
after the issuance thereof to any such substitute or replacement transfer agent,
as the case may be.
Section 9.3. NO OTHER LEGEND OR STOCK TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. No legend other
than the one specified in Section 9.1 has been or shall be placed on the share
certificates representing the Registrable Securities and no instructions or
"stop transfer orders," "stock transfer restrictions," or other restrictions
have been or shall be given to the Company's transfer agent with respect thereto
other than as expressly set forth in this Article IX.
Section 9.4. INVESTORS' COMPLIANCE. Nothing in this Article shall affect in any
way each Investor's obligations to comply with all applicable securities laws
upon resale of the Common Stock.
ARTICLE X
CHOICE OF LAW; ARBITRATION
Section 10.1. GOVERNING LAW/ARBITRATION. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York City and without
regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute under this Agreement
shall be submitted to arbitration under the American Arbitration Association
(the "AAA") in New York City, New York, and shall be finally and conclusively
determined by the decision of a board of arbitration consisting of three (3)
members (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Arbitration") selected
according to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of Arbitration shall meet on
consecutive business days in New York City, New York, and shall reach and render
a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of the members of the Board of
Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any, which the losing party is
required to pay to the other party in respect of a claim filed. In connection
with rendering its decisions, the Board of Arbitration shall adopt and follow
the laws of the State of New York unless the matter at issue is the corporation
law of the company's state of incorporation, in which event the corporation law
of such jurisdiction shall govern such issue. To the extent practical, decisions
of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no more than thirty (30) calendar
days following commencement of proceedings
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with respect thereto. The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision
to be delivered to all parties involved in the dispute. Any decision made by the
Board of Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty
(30) calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties
to the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by
law and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Board of Arbitration
shall be authorized and is hereby directed to enter a default judgment against
any party failing to participate in any proceeding hereunder within the time
periods set forth in the AAA rules. The non-prevailing party to any arbitration
(as determined by the Board of Arbitration) shall pay the expenses of the
prevailing party, including reasonable attorney's fees, in connection with such
arbitration. Any party shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief from a
court in any case where such relief is available.
ARTICLE XI
ASSIGNMENT
Section 11.1. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any rights of the Investors
or the Company hereunder may be assigned by either party to any other person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the provisions of this Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, any permitted transferee of any of the
Shares or Warrants purchased or acquired by any Investor hereunder with respect
to the Shares or Warrants held by such person, and (b) upon the prior written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or
delayed, each Investor's interest in this Agreement may be assigned at any time,
in whole or in part, to any other person or entity (including any Affiliate of
the Investor) who agrees to make the representations and warranties contained in
Article III and who agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICES
Section 12.1. NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and
other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and,
unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) hand delivered, (ii) deposited
in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
(iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv)
transmitted by facsimile, addressed as set forth below or to such other address
as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice
or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be
deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate
confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or
number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business
hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following
such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business
hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the first business day
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following the date of sending by reputable courier service, fully prepaid,
addressed to such address, or (c) upon actual receipt of such mailing, if
mailed. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company: Viragen, Inc.
000 XX 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to (shall not constitute
notice): Atlas, Xxxxxxxx, Trop & Borkson, P.A.
000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
if to the Investors: As set forth on the signature pages
hereto
with a copy to: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
(shall not constitute notice) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Green, P.C.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Either party hereto may from time to time change its address or facsimile number
for notices under this Section 12.1 by giving written notice of such changed
address or facsimile number to the other party hereto as provided in this
Section 12.1.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.1. COUNTERPARTS/ FACSIMILE/ AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be
executed in multiple counterparts, each of which may be executed by less than
all of the parties and shall be deemed to be an original instrument which shall
be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts and all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Except as
otherwise stated herein, in lieu of the original documents, a facsimile
transmission or copy of the original documents shall be as effective and
enforceable as the original. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing
executed by all parties.
Section 13.2. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the agreements attached as
Exhibits hereto, which include, but are not limited to the Warrants, the Escrow
Agreement, and the Registration Rights Agreement, set forth the entire agreement
and understanding of the parties relating to the
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subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements,
negotiations and understandings between the parties, both oral and written
relating to the subject matter hereof. The terms and conditions of all Exhibits
to this Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference and shall constitute
part of this Agreement as is fully set forth herein.
Section 13.3. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement
becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal,
unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect
without said provision; provided that such severability shall be ineffective if
it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party.
Section 13.4. HEADINGS. The headings used in this Agreement are used for
convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this
Agreement.
Section 13.5. NUMBER AND GENDER. There may be one or more Investors parties to
this Agreement, which Investors may be natural persons or entities. All
references to plural Investors shall apply equally to a single Investor if there
is only one Investor, and all references to an Investor as "it" shall apply
equally to a natural person.
Section 13.6. REPLACEMENT OF CERTIFICATES. Upon (i) receipt of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a certificate representing the Shares or Warrants or any Warrant
Shares and (ii) in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of such
certificate, upon delivery of an indemnity agreement or security reasonably
satisfactory in form to the Company (which shall not include the positing of any
bond) or (iii) in the case of any such mutilation, on surrender and cancellation
of such certificate, the Company at its expense will execute and deliver, in
lieu thereof, a new certificate of like tenor.
Section 13.7. FEES AND EXPENSES. Each of the Company and the Investors agrees to
pay its own expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder,
except that the Company shall pay the fees, expenses and disbursements of
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Green, P.C., counsel to the Investors, in an amount equal to
$20,000 all as set forth in the Escrow Agreement.
Section 13.8. BROKERAGE. Each of the parties hereto represents that it has had
no dealings in connection with this transaction with any finder or broker who
will demand payment of any fee or commission from the other party except for the
fees described in the Escrow Agreement. The Company on the one hand, and the
Investors, on the other hand, agree to indemnify the other against and hold the
other harmless from any and all liabilities to any person claiming brokerage
commissions or finder's fees on account of services purported to have been
rendered on behalf of the indemnifying party in connection with this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 13.9. PUBLICITY. The Company agrees that it will not issue any press
release or other public announcement of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement without the prior consent of the Investors, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld nor delayed by more than two (2) Trading Days from their
receipt of such proposed release. No release shall name the Investors without
their express consent.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Purchase
Agreement to be executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, as of
the date first set forth above.
Viragen, Inc.
By:
--------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
Address: c/o Ultra Finanz AG AMRO International, S.A.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 0
Xxxxxx, XX-0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Fax: 000-000-000-0000 By:
First Tranche Investment: --------------------------------------
$500,000 X. X. Xxxxxxxx, Director
Second Tranche Investment:
$500,000
Address: Suite 7B and 0X Xxxxxxx Holdings Limited
50 Town Range
Gibraltar
Fax: 000-000-00000 By:
First Tranche Investment: --------------------------------------
$150,000 J. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Authorized Signatory
Second Tranche Investment:
$150,000
Address: Tashdale Ltd.
By:
Third Tranche Investment: --------------------------------------
$1,200,000
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EXHIBIT A
NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT")
OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM
THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH OTHER SECURITIES
LAWS. NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF MAY BE
SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT
TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR IN A
TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS.
STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
To Purchase xx,000 Shares of Common Stock of
Viragen, Inc.
THIS CERTIFIES that, for value received, [PURCHASER] (the
"Holder"), is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on
exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after
November 30, 1999 (the "Initial Exercise Date") and on or prior to the close of
business on November 30, 2002 (the "Termination Date") but not thereafter, to
subscribe for and purchase from Viragen, Inc., a corporation incorporated in
Delaware (the "Company"), up to XXX Thousand (xx,000) shares (the "Warrant
Shares") of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The
purchase price of one share of Common Stock (the "Exercise Price") under this
Warrant shall be $1.15. The Exercise Price and the number of shares for which
the Warrant is exercisable shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. In
the event of any conflict between the terms of this Warrant and the Common Stock
and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of November 24, 1999 pursuant to which
this Warrant has been issued (the "Purchase Agreement"), the Purchase Agreement
shall control. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Purchase Agreement.
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1. TITLE TO WARRANT. Prior to the Termination Date and subject to
compliance with applicable laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are
transferable, in whole or in part, at the office or agency of the Company by the
holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
Warrant together with the Assignment Form annexed hereto properly endorsed.
2. AUTHORIZATION OF SHARES. The Company covenants that all shares of
Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of rights represented by this
Warrant will, upon exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all
taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in
respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
3. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4 herein, exercise of the purchase
rights represented by this Warrant may be made at any time or times on or after
the Initial Exercise Date, and before the close of business on the Termination
Date by the surrender of this Warrant and the Notice of Exercise Form annexed
hereto duly executed, at the office of the Company (or such other office or
agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered
holder hereof at the address of such holder appearing on the books of the
Company) and upon payment of the Exercise Price of the shares thereby purchased
by wire transfer or cashier's check drawn on a United States or Canadian bank,
the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the
number of shares of Common Stock so purchased. Certificates for shares purchased
hereunder shall be delivered to the holder hereof within three (3) Trading Days
after the date on which this Warrant shall have been exercised as aforesaid.
This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such certificate or
certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person
so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of
record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been
exercised by payment to the Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required
to be paid by Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 5 prior to the issuance of
such shares, have been paid.
(b) If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing
Warrant Shares, deliver to Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of Holder
to purchase the unpurchased shares of Common Stock called for by this Warrant,
which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
(c) If no registration statement is effective permitting the resale
of the shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of this Warrant at any time
commencing one year after the issuance date hereof, then this Warrant shall also
be exercisable by means of a "cashless exercise" in which the holder shall be
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entitled to receive a certificate for the number of shares equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
(A) = the average of the high and low trading prices per share of Common Stock
on the Trading Day preceding the date of such election on the Nasdaq Stock
Market, or if the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market, then
the principal market in terms of volume, and converted into US Dollars;
(B) = the Exercise Price of the Warrants; and
(X) = the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance
with the terms of this Warrant.
4. NO FRACTIONAL SHARES OR SCRIP. No fractional shares or scrip
representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this
Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise be entitled
to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in
respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to the Exercise Price.
5. CHARGES, TAXES AND EXPENSES. Issuance of certificates for shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to
the holder hereof for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in
respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses
shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name
of the holder of this Warrant or in such name or names as may be directed by the
holder of this Warrant; provided, however, that in the event certificates for
shares of Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than the name of the
holder of this Warrant, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be
accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the holder
hereof; and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a
sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.
6. CLOSING OF BOOKS. The Company will not close its shareholder books
or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant.
7. TRANSFER, DIVISION AND COMBINATION. (a) Subject to compliance with
any applicable securities laws, transfer of this Warrant and all rights
hereunder, in whole or in part, shall be registered on the books of the Company
to be maintained for such purpose, upon surrender of this Warrant at the
principal office of the Company, together with a written assignment of this
Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by Holder or its
agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon
the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment,
the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of
the assignee or assignees and in the denomination or denominations specified in
such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant
evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall
promptly be cancelled. A Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a
new holder for the purchase of shares of Common Stock without having a new
Warrant issued.
(b) This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon
presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a
written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are
to be issued, signed by Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance
with Section 7(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or
combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new
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Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or
combined in accordance with such notice.
(c) The Company shall prepare, issue and deliver at its own expense
(other than transfer taxes) the new Warrant or Warrants under this Section 7.
(d) The Company agrees to maintain, at its aforesaid office, books
for the registration and the registration of transfer of the Warrants.
8. NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER UNTIL EXERCISE. This Warrant does not
entitle the holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder
of the Company prior to the exercise hereof. Upon the surrender of this Warrant
and the payment of the aggregate Exercise Price, the Warrant Shares so purchased
shall be and be deemed to be issued to such holder as the record owner of such
shares as of the close of business on the later of the date of such surrender or
payment.
9. LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT. The Company
covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory
to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant certificate
or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss,
theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it
(which shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and
cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated
as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.
10. SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYS, ETC. If the last or appointed day for
the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted
herein shall be a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then such action may be
taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day not a Saturday,
Sunday or legal holiday.
11. ADJUSTMENTS OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES.
(a) STOCK SPLITS, ETC. The number and kind of securities purchasable upon the
exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time upon the happening of any of the following. In case the
Company shall (i) pay a dividend in shares of Common Stock or make a
distribution in shares of Common Stock to holders of its outstanding Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares of Common Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock or (iv) issue any shares
of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock, then the number
of Warrant Shares purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior
thereto shall be adjusted so that the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled
to receive the kind and number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the
Company which he would have owned or have been entitled to receive had such
Warrant been exercised in advance thereof. Upon each such adjustment of the kind
and number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company which are
purchasable hereunder, the holder of this Warrant shall thereafter be entitled
to purchase the number of Warrant Shares or other securities resulting from such
adjustment at an Exercise Price per Warrant Share or other security obtained by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment by
the number of Warrant Shares
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purchasable pursuant hereto immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing by
the number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company resulting from
such adjustment. An adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall become
effective immediately after the effective date of such event retroactive to the
record date, if any, for such event.
(b) REORGANIZATION, RECLASSIFICATION, MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR
DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. In case the Company shall reorganize its capital,
reclassify its capital stock, consolidate or merge with or into another
corporation (where the Company is not the surviving corporation or where there
is a change in or distribution with respect to the Common Stock of the Company),
or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all its property,
assets or business to another corporation and, pursuant to the terms of such
reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of
assets, shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation, or any
cash, shares of stock or other securities or property of any nature whatsoever
(including warrants or other subscription or purchase rights) in addition to or
in lieu of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation ("Other
Property"), are to be received by or distributed to the holders of Common Stock
of the Company, then Holder shall have the right thereafter to receive, upon
exercise of this Warrant, the number of shares of common stock of the successor
or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation,
and Other Property receivable upon or as a result of such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets by a holder of
the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable
immediately prior to such event. In case of any such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets, the successor
or acquiring corporation (if other than the Company) shall expressly assume the
due and punctual observance and performance of each and every covenant and
condition of this Warrant to be performed and observed by the Company and all
the obligations and liabilities hereunder, subject to such modifications as may
be deemed appropriate (as determined in good faith by resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Company) in order to provide for adjustments of shares of
Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable which shall be as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 11.
For purposes of this Section 11, "common stock of the successor or acquiring
corporation" shall include stock of such corporation of any class which is not
preferred as to dividends or assets over any other class of stock of such
corporation and which is not subject to redemption and shall also include any
evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock or other securities which are
convertible into or exchangeable for any such stock, either immediately or upon
the arrival of a specified date or the happening of a specified event and any
warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any such stock. The
foregoing provisions of this Section 11 shall similarly apply to successive
reorganizations, reclassifications, mergers, consolidations or disposition of
assets.
12. VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENT BY THE COMPANY. The Company may at any time
during the term of this Warrant, reduce the then current Exercise Price to any
amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors
of the Company.
13. NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT. Whenever the number of Warrant Shares or
number or kind of securities or other property purchasable upon the exercise of
this Warrant or the Exercise Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the Company
shall promptly mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
to the holder of this Warrant notice of such adjustment or adjustments setting
forth the number of Warrant Shares (and other securities or property)
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29
purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price of such
Warrant Shares (and other securities or property) after such adjustment, setting
forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment and setting forth
the computation by which such adjustment was made. Such notice, in the absence
of manifest error, shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of such
adjustment.
14. NOTICE OF CORPORATE ACTION. If at any time:
(a) the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common
Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other
distribution, or any right to subscribe for or purchase any evidences of its
indebtedness, any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or
property, or to receive any other right, or
(b) there shall be any capital reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the Company or any
consolidation or merger of the Company with, or any sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all the property, assets or business of the
Company to, another corporation or,
(c) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Company;
then, in any one or more of such cases, the Company shall give to Holder (i) at
least 30 days' prior written notice of the date on which a record date shall be
selected for such dividend, distribution or right or for determining rights to
vote in respect of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger,
consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, liquidation or winding up, and (ii)
in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation,
sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, at least 30
days' prior written notice of the date when the same shall take place. Such
notice in accordance with the foregoing clause also shall specify (i) the date
on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to any such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and
character thereof, and (ii) the date on which any such reorganization,
reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up is to take place and the time, if any
such time is to be fixed, as of which the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities or other
property deliverable upon such disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding
up. Each such written notice shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Holder
at the last address of Holder appearing on the books of the Company and
delivered in accordance with Section 16(d).
15. AUTHORIZED SHARES. The Company covenants that during the period the
Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common
Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant
Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company
further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full
authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock
certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant
Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company
will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such
Warrant Shares may be issued as
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provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any
requirements of the Principal Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed.
The Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation,
amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization,
transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of
securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance
or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in
good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all
such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder
against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company will (a) not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the amount payable therefor
upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (b) take all
such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (c) use its best efforts to obtain all
such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body
having jurisdiction thereof as may be necessary to enable the Company to perform
its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the
number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the
Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions
thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory
body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
16. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) JURISDICTION. This Warrant shall be binding upon any successors
or assigns of the Company. This Warrant shall constitute a contract under the
laws of New York, without regard to its conflict of law, principles or rules,
and be subject to arbitration pursuant to the terms set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
(b) RESTRICTIONS. The holder hereof acknowledges that the Warrant
Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have
restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
(c) NONWAIVER AND EXPENSES. No course of dealing or any delay or
failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a
waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder's rights, powers or remedies,
notwithstanding all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date. If the
Company fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, the Company shall
pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and
expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, including
those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due
pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies
hereunder.
(d) NOTICES. Any notice, request or other document required or
permitted to be given or delivered to the holder hereof by the Company shall be
delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
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31
(e) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. No provision hereof, in the absence of
affirmative action by Holder to purchase shares of Common Stock, and no
enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder hereof, shall give rise
to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a
stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or
by creditors of the Company.
(f) REMEDIES. Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to
waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law
would be adequate.
(g) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Subject to applicable securities laws,
this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors
and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to
be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall be
enforceable by any such Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
(h) INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless Holder from and against any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses
and disbursements of any kind which may be imposed upon, incurred by or asserted
against Holder in any manner relating to or arising out of any failure by the
Company to perform or observe in any material respect any of its covenants,
agreements, undertakings or obligations set forth in this Warrant; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Company will not be liable hereunder to the extent that any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
claims, costs, attorneys' fees, expenses or disbursements are found in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court to have resulted from Holder's negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct in its capacity as a stockholder or
warrantholder of the Company.
(i) AMENDMENT. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the
provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
(j) SEVERABILITY. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent
of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such
provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
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(k) HEADINGS. The headings used in this Warrant are for the
convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part
of this Warrant.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be
executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: November , 1999
Viragen, Inc
By:
-------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
To: Viragen, Inc.
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ shares of
Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), of Viragen, Inc. pursuant to the terms of the
attached Warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full,
together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said
shares of Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as
is specified below:
----------------------------------------
(Name)
----------------------------------------
(Address)
----------------------------------------
Dated:
---------------------------------
Signature
34
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing warrant, execute
this form and supply required information.
Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced
thereby are hereby assigned to
whose address is
-----------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
-------------,-----
Holder's Signature:
---------------------------
Holder's Address:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Signature Guaranteed:
-------------------------------
NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it
appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers
of corporations and those acting in an fiduciary or other representative
capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing
Warrant.
35
EXHIBIT B
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 24,
1999 between the investor or investors signatory hereto (each an "Investor" and
together the "Investors"), and Viragen, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company").
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Investors are committing to purchasing from the Company,
pursuant to a Common Stock and Warrants Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof
(the "Purchase Agreement"), up to 4,600,000 shares of Common Stock and Warrants
to purchase up to 375,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock (terms not
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase
Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Investors the
registration rights set forth herein with respect to the Shares purchased
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants (hereinafter referred to as the "Stock" or "Securities"
of the Company).
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
Section 1. REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. As used herein the term
"Registrable Security" means the Securities until (i) the Registration Statement
has been declared effective by the Commission, and all Securities have been
disposed of pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Securities have
been sold under circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of
Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act
("Rule 144") are met, (iii) all Securities have been otherwise transferred to
holders who may trade such Securities without restriction under the Securities
Act, and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of
ownership for such Securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such time
as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, all Securities may be sold without
any time, volume or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar
provision then in effect) under the Securities Act. The term "Registrable
Securities" means any and/or all of the securities falling within the foregoing
definition of a "Registrable Security." In the event of any merger,
reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization or other change in corporate
structure affecting the Common Stock, such adjustment shall be deemed to be made
in the definition of "Registrable Security" as is appropriate in order to
prevent any dilution or enlargement of the rights granted pursuant to this
Agreement.
Section 2. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Each Investor
acknowledges and understands that prior to the registration of the Securities as
provided herein, the Securities are "restricted securities" as defined in Rule
144 promulgated under the Act. Each Investor understands that no disposition or
transfer of the Securities may be made by Investor in the absence of (i) an
opinion of counsel to the Investor, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, that such transfer may be made without registration
under the Securities Act or (ii) such registration.
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With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits
of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of
the Commission that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of
the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees
to:
(a) comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of Rule
144; and
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports
and other documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section
13 or 15(d) under the Exchange Act by companies subject to either of such
sections, irrespective of whether the Company is then subject to such reporting
requirements.
Section 3. REGISTRATION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES.
(a) The Company agrees that it will prepare and deliver to
counsel for the Investors within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date a
registration statement (on Form S-1, or other appropriate registration statement
form) under the Securities Act (the "Registration Statement"), and then within
ten (10) calendar days of approval of such Registration Statement by such
counsel, file with the Securities and Conversion Commission ("Commission"), at
the sole expense of the Company (except as provided in Section 3(c) hereof), in
respect of the Investors, so as to permit a public offering and resale of all of
the Securities under the Act by the Investors as selling stockholders and not as
underwriters.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective within one hundred (100) days from
the Closing Date, or, if earlier, within five (5) days of SEC clearance to
request acceleration of effectiveness. The Company will notify the Investors of
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement within one Trading Day of such
event. In the event that the number of shares so registered shall for any reason
prove to be insufficient to register the resale of all of the Securities, then
the Company shall be obligated to file, within thirty (30) days of notice from
any Investor, a further Registration Statement registering such remaining shares
and shall use diligent best efforts to prosecute such additional Registration
Statement to effectiveness within ninety (90) days of the date of such notice.
(b) The Company will maintain the Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment filed under this Section 3 effective under the
Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date that none of the Securities
covered by such Registration Statement are or may become issued and outstanding,
(ii) the date that all of the Securities have been sold pursuant to such
Registration Statement, (iii) the date the Investors receive an opinion of
counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Investors, that the Securities may be sold under the provisions of Rule 144
without limitation as to volume, (iv) all Securities have been otherwise
transferred to persons who may trade such shares without restriction under the
Securities Act, and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other
evidence of ownership for such securities not bearing a restrictive legend, or
(v) all Securities may be sold without any time, volume or manner limitations
pursuant to Rule 144(k) or any similar provision then in
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effect under the Securities Act in the opinion of counsel to the Company, which
counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Investor (the "Effectiveness
Period").
(c) All fees, disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses and
costs incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of
the Registration Statement under subparagraph 3(a) and in complying with
applicable securities and Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, all
attorneys' fees of the Company) shall be borne by the Company. The Investors
shall bear the cost of underwriting and/or brokerage discounts, fees and
commissions, if any, applicable to the Securities being registered and the fees
and expenses of their counsel. The Investors and their counsel shall have a
reasonable period, not to exceed five (5) Trading Days, to review the proposed
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, prior to filing with the
Commission, and the Company shall provide each Investor with copies of any
comment letters received from the Commission with respect thereto within two (2)
Trading Days of receipt thereof. The Company shall qualify any of the securities
for sale in such states as any Investor reasonably designates and shall furnish
indemnification in the manner provided in Section 6 hereof. However, the Company
shall not be required to qualify in any state which will require an escrow or
other restriction relating to the Company and/or the sellers, or which will
require the Company to qualify to do business in such state or require the
Company to file therein any general consent to service of process. The Company
at its expense will supply the Investors with copies of the applicable
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and other related
documents in such quantities as may be reasonably requested by the Investors.
(d) The Company shall not be required by this Section 3 to
include an Investor's Securities in any Registration Statement which is to be
filed if, in the opinion of counsel for both the Investor and the Company (or,
should they not agree, in the opinion of another counsel experienced in
securities law matters acceptable to counsel for the Investor and the Company)
the proposed offering or other transfer as to which such registration is
requested is exempt from applicable federal and state securities laws and would
result in all purchasers or transferees obtaining securities which are not
"restricted securities", as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
(e) In the event that (i) the Registration Statement to be
filed by the Company pursuant to Section 3(a) above is not delivered to
Investors' counsel within thirty (30) days from the first Closing Date or then
not filed with the Commission within ten (10) days from the approval of such
counsel, (ii) such Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
Commission within the earlier of one hundred (100) days from the filing date or
five (5) days of clearance by the Commission to request effectiveness, (iii)
such Registration Statement is not maintained as effective by the Company for
the period set forth in Section 3(b) above or (iv) the additional Registration
Statement referred to in Section 3(a) is not filed within thirty (30) days or
declared effective within ninety (90) days as set forth therein (each a
"Registration Default") then the Company will pay Investor (pro rated on a daily
basis), as liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty two and
one-half percent (2.5%) of the purchase price of the shares of Common Stock
purchased from the Company and held by the Investor for each month until such
Registration Statement has been filed, and in the event of late effectiveness
(in case of clause (ii) above) or lapsed effectiveness (in the case of clause
(iii) above), two and one-half
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percent (2.5%) of the purchase price of the shares of Common Stock purchased
from the Company and held by the Investor for each month (regardless of whether
one or more such Registration Defaults are then in existence) until such
Registration Statement has been declared effective. Such payment of the
liquidated damages shall be made to the Investors in cash or in shares of Common
Stock, as elected by each Investor in is discretion, within five (5) calendar
days of demand, provided, however, that the payment of such liquidated damages
shall not relieve the Company from its obligations to register the Securities
pursuant to this Section. The market value of the Common Stock for this purpose
shall be the closing price (or last trade, if so reported) on the Principal
Market for each day during such Registration Default.
If the Company does not remit the payment to the Investors
as set forth above, the Company will pay the Investors reasonable costs of
collection, including attorneys' fees, in addition to the liquidated damages.
The registration of the Securities pursuant to this provision shall not affect
or limit the Investors' other rights or remedies as set forth in this Agreement.
(f) No provision contained herein shall preclude the Company
from selling securities pursuant to any Registration Statement in which it is
required to include Securities pursuant to this Section 3.
(g) If at any time or from time to time after the effective
date of any Registration Statement, the Company notifies the Investors in
writing of the existence of a Potential Material Event (as defined in Section
3(h) below), the Investors shall not offer or sell any Securities or engage in
any other transaction involving or relating to Securities, from the time of the
giving of notice with respect to a Potential Material Event until the Investors
receive written notice from the Company that such Potential Material Event
either has been disclosed to the public or no longer constitutes a Potential
Material Event; provided, however, that the Company may not so suspend the right
to such holders of Securities for more than twenty (20) days in the aggregate
during any twelve month period, during the period the Registration Statement is
required to be in effect, and if such period is exceeded, such event shall be a
Registration Default. If a Potential Material Event shall occur prior to the
date a Registration Statement is required to be filed, then the Company's
obligation to file such Registration Statement shall be delayed without penalty
for not more than twenty (20) days, and such delay or delays shall not
constitute a Registration Default. The Company must, if lawful, give the
Investors notice in writing at least two (2) Trading Days prior to the first day
of the blackout period.
(h) "Potential Material Event" means any of the following:
(a) the possession by the Company of material information not ripe for
disclosure in a registration statement, as determined in good faith by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that disclosure of
such information in a Registration Statement would be detrimental to the
business and affairs of the Company; or (b) any material engagement or activity
by the Company which would, in the good faith determination of the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, be adversely
affected by disclosure in a registration statement at such time, which
determination shall be accompanied by a good faith determination by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that the
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applicable Registration Statement would be materially misleading absent the
inclusion of such information.
Section 4. COOPERATION WITH COMPANY. The Investors will
cooperate with the Company in all respects in connection with this Agreement,
including timely supplying all information reasonably requested by the Company
(which shall include all information regarding the Investors and proposed manner
of sale of the Registrable Securities required to be disclosed in any
Registration Statement) and executing and returning all documents reasonably
requested in connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable
Securities and entering into and performing their obligations under any
underwriting agreement, if the offering is an underwritten offering, in usual
and customary form, with the managing underwriter or underwriters of such
underwritten offering. Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate any Investor to
consent to be named as an underwriter in any Registration Statement. The
obligation of the Company to register the Registrable Securities shall be
absolute and unconditional as to those Securities which the Commission will
permit to be registered without naming the Investors as underwriters. Any delay
or delays caused by the Investors by failure to cooperate as required hereunder
shall not constitute a Registration Default.
Section 5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. If and whenever the
Company is required by any of the provisions of this Agreement to effect the
registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Act, the Company
shall (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement), as expeditiously as
possible, subject to the Investors' assistance and cooperation as reasonably
required with respect to each Registration Statement:
(a) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments
and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
effective and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the sale
or other disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement
whenever the Investors shall desire to sell or otherwise dispose of the same
(including prospectus supplements with respect to the sales of securities from
time to time in connection with a registration statement pursuant to Rule 415
promulgated under the Act) and (ii) take all lawful action such that each of (A)
the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes
effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading and (B) the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement,
and any amendment or supplement thereto, does not at any time during the
Registration Period include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(b) (i) prior to the filing with the Commission of any
Registration Statement (including any amendments thereto) and the distribution
or delivery of any prospectus (including any supplements thereto), provide draft
copies thereof to the Investors as required by Section 3(c) and reflect in such
documents all such comments as the Investors (and their counsel) reasonably may
propose and (ii) furnish to each Investor such numbers of copies of a prospectus
including a preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any
prospectus, as
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applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and such other
documents, as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
public sale or other disposition of the securities owned by such Investor;
(c) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of
such jurisdictions as the Investors shall reasonably request (subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 3(c) above), and do any and all other acts and
things which may be necessary or advisable to enable each Investor to consummate
the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdiction of the securities
owned by such Investor;
(d) list such Registrable Securities on the Principal
Market, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under
the rules of such Principal Market;
(e) notify each Investor at any time when a prospectus
relating thereto covered by the Registration Statement is required to be
delivered under the Act, of the happening of any event of which it has knowledge
as a result of which the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as
then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then
existing, and the Company shall prepare and file a curative amendment under
Section 5(a) as quickly as commercially possible;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in
the event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order or other suspension of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest possible time and
take all lawful action to effect the withdrawal, recession or removal of such
stop order or other suspension;
(g) cooperate with the Investors to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates for the Registrable Securities to be
offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates for
the Registrable Securities to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case
may be, as the Investors reasonably may request and registered in such names as
the Investors may request; and, within three (3) Trading Days after a
Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is declared
effective by the Commission, deliver and cause legal counsel selected by the
Company to deliver to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Investors) an appropriate instruction and, to the extent
necessary, an opinion of such counsel;
(h) take all such other lawful actions reasonably necessary
to expedite and facilitate the disposition by the Investors of their Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended methods therefor provided in the
prospectus which are customary for issuers to perform under the circumstances;
(i) in the event of an underwritten offering, promptly
include or incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to
the Registration
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Statement such information as the managers reasonably agree should be included
therein and to which the Company does not reasonably object and make all
required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as
soon as practicable after it is notified of the matters to be included or
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and
(j) maintain a transfer agent and registrar for its Common
Stock.
Section 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investors and each person, if any, who
controls an Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act (each a
"Distributing Investor") against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several (which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but
not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), to which the Distributing Investor may
become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any Registration Statement, or any related final prospectus or
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent, and
only to the extent, that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus,
final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the
Distributing Investor, its counsel, affiliates or any underwriter, specifically
for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each
Distributing Investor agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, and each officer and director of the Company or person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (which shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) to which the
Company or any such officer, director or controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, or any related final prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case
only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in such Registration Statement, final
prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by such
Distributing Investor, its counsel, affiliates or any underwriter, specifically
for
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use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
any liability which the Distributing Investor may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action against such
indemnified party, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is
to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the
indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent
the failure of the indemnified party to provide such written notification
actually prejudices the ability of the indemnifying party to defend such action.
In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish,
jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, assume the defense
thereof, subject to the provisions herein stated and after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified
party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying party shall not
pursue the action to its final conclusion. The indemnified parties as a group
shall have the right to employ one separate counsel in any such action and to
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall not be at the expense of the indemnifying party if the indemnifying party
has assumed the defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, or (ii) the named
parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to the indemnifying party different from or in conflict with any legal
defenses which may be available to the indemnified party or any other
indemnified party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right
to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party, it
being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall, in connection with
any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable only for the reasonable fees and expenses of one
separate firm of attorneys for the indemnified party, which firm shall be
designated in writing by the indemnified party). No settlement of any action
against an indemnified party shall be made without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld so long
as such settlement includes a full release of claims against the indemnified
party.
Section 7. CONTRIBUTION. In order to provide for just and
equitable contribution under the Securities Act in any case in which (i) the
indemnified party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 6 hereof
but is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a
court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the
denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that the express provisions of
Section 6 hereof provide for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution
under the Securities Act may be required on the
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part of any indemnified party, then the Company and the applicable Distributing
Investor shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which they may be subject (which shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), in either such
case (after contribution from others) on the basis of relative fault as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand
or the applicable Distributing Investor on the other hand, and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Distributing Investor
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to in this Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7, in no event shall any (i)
Investor be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 7
for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such
Investor from the sale of such Investor's Registrable Securities (after
deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) pursuant to
any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities are
registered under the Securities Act and (ii) underwriter be required to
undertake liability to any person hereunder for any amounts in excess of the
aggregate discount, commission or other compensation payable to such underwriter
with respect to the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
Section 8. NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests, consents,
approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
Section 9. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement is binding upon and
inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns. The rights granted the Investors under this
Agreement may be assigned to any purchaser of substantially all of the
Registrable Securities (or the rights thereto) from an Investor, as otherwise
permitted by the Purchase Agreement.
Section 10. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company
agrees that at such time as it otherwise meets the requirements for the use of
Securities Act Registration Statement on Form S-3 for the purpose of registering
the Registrable Securities, it shall file all reports and information required
to be filed by it with the Commission in a timely manner and take all such other
action so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of such form.
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Section 11. COUNTERPARTS/FACSIMILE. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original, but all of which, when together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties. In lieu of the
original, a facsimile transmission or copy of the original shall be as effective
and enforceable as the original.
Section 12. REMEDIES. The remedies provided in this Agreement
are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term,
provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result
as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.
Section 13. CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this
Agreement or otherwise prevents the Company from complying with all of its
obligations hereunder.
Section 14. HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 15. GOVERNING LAW, ARBITRATION. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York
City and without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute
under this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration under the American
Arbitration Association (the "AAA") in New York City, New York, and shall be
finally and conclusively determined by the decision of a board of arbitration
consisting of three (3) members (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of
Arbitration") selected as according to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of
Arbitration shall meet on consecutive business days in New York City, New York,
and shall reach and render a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of
the members of the Board of Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any,
which the losing party is required to pay to the other party in respect of a
claim filed. In connection with rendering its decisions, the Board of
Arbitration shall adopt and follow the laws of the State of New York. To the
extent practical, decisions of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no
more than thirty (30) calendar days following commencement of proceedings with
respect thereto. The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be
delivered to all parties involved in the dispute. Any decision made by the Board
of Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty (30)
calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties to
the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law
and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Board of Arbitration
shall be authorized and is hereby directed to enter a default judgment against
any party failing to participate in any proceeding hereunder within the time
periods set forth in the AAA rules. The non-prevailing party to any arbitration
(as determined by the
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Board of Arbitration) shall pay the expenses of the prevailing party, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, in connection with such arbitration. Any party shall
be entitled to obtain injunctive relief from a court in any case where such
relief is available.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed, on the day and year first
above written.
Viragen, Inc.
By:
--------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
AMRO International, S.A.
By:
-----------------------------------
X. X. Xxxxxxxx, Director
Markham Holdings Limited
By:
-----------------------------------
J. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Authorized Signatory
Tashdale Ltd.
By:
-----------------------------------
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