CONTRAFECT CORPORATION UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
CONTRAFECT CORPORATION
July 28, 2014
MAXIM GROUP LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
As Representative of the Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, ContraFect Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), confirms its agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Underwriting Agreement (this “Agreement”), with each of the underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto (each, an “Underwriter” and collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom Maxim Group LLC is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), to sell and issue to the Underwriters an aggregate of: 6,000,000 Firm Units (as defined below), with each Firm Unit (and each Option Unit, as defined below) consisting of: (i) one (1) share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”); (ii) one Class A warrant of the Company (each, a “Class A Warrant” and collectively, the “Class A Warrants”); and (iii) one Class B warrant (each, a “Class B Warrant” and collectively, the “Class B Warrants” which, collectively with the Class A Warrants are referred to herein as the “Warrants”).
The offering and sale of the Units contemplated by this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) is referred to herein as the “Offering.”
1. Units; Over-Allotment Option; Warrants; Representative Warrant.
(a) Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 6,000,000 Firm Units (the “Firm Units”) at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $5.58 per Firm Unit. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. In addition, the Company shall pay to the Representative a corporate finance fee per Firm Unit equal to two percent (2%) of the public offering price per Firm Unit, or $0.12 per Firm Unit (the “Corporate Finance Fee”). Such corporate finance fee shall be paid to the Representative for services rendered in structuring of the terms of the Offering.
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(b) Firm Unit Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the third (3rd) Business Day (as defined below) following the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined below) (the “Effective Date”) (or the fourth Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:30 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place or manner as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (including remotely via electronic exchange of documentation). The date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is called the “Closing Date,” and such delivery and payment (accompanied by the other documentation required to be delivered hereunder) is referred to herein as the “Closing.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds. Any remaining proceeds (less commissions, the Corporate Finance Fee and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery of the Firm Units through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) for the account of the Underwriters as designated by the Representative. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units. As used in this Agreement, the term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market are not open for business.
(c) Option Units. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units, the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, is hereby granted an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional fifteen percent (15%) of the number of Firm Units, or 900,000 Option Units (the “Option Units”), to be offered by the Company in the Offering. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter, collectively, referred to as the “Units”. The purchase price to be paid per Option Unit (net of discounts and commissions) will be the same price to be paid per Firm Unit. In addition, the Company shall pay to the Representative the Corporate Finance Fee with respect to the Option Units purchased by the Underwriters. The Units, the shares of Common Stock included the Units, the Class A Warrants, the Class B Warrants, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants, and the Representative’s Securities (as hereinafter defined) are referred to as the “Securities.”
(d) Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1(c) hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by
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the giving of written notice to the Company from the Representative by overnight mail or facsimile or e-mail transmission setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, which will not be later than five (5) Business Days or earlier than three (3) Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place or manner as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (including remotely via electronic exchange of documentation). If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the date and time of the closing for such Option Units will be as set forth in the notice (hereinafter, the “Option Closing Date”). Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option in accordance with the delivery of written notice as specified above, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
(e) Payment and Delivery of Option Units. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds of the price per Option Unit to the Company upon delivery to the Underwriters of the Option Units through the full fast transfer facilities of DTC for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be. Payment for the Option Units will be accompanied by delivery to the Representative of the other documentation required to be delivered hereunder. Any remaining proceeds (less commissions, the Corporate Finance Fee and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery of the Option Units.
(f) Separate Trading of Common Stock, Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants. The shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Units will not be separately transferable until the 46th day after the date of the Effective Date, unless (in the event the Over-allotment Option has at such time been exercised in full) the Representative determines in its sole discretion that an earlier date is advisable (the “Unit Separation Date”). As of the Unit Separation Date, the shares of Common Stock, Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants included in the Units will trade separately on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
(g) Terms of the Warrants. Each Class A Warrant entitles its holder, for a period of thirty (30) months from the Closing, to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $4.80. Each Class B Warrant entitles its holder, for a period of fifteen (15) months from the Closing, to purchase one-half (1/2) of a share of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $4.00 per whole share. The other terms and conditions of the Warrants shall be set forth in the Warrant Agreements (as defined below).
(h) Representative Warrant. The Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative (and/or its designees) at the Closing a warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of three percent (3%) of the shares of Common Stock included as a component of the Units sold in
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the Offering (including Units sold as part of the Over-Allotment Option) (the “Representative Warrant”). The Representative Warrant shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing 180 days from the Effective Date and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the Effective Date at an initial exercise price of $7.50 per share, which is equal to one hundred and twenty-five percent (125%) of the initial public offering price per Firm Unit. The Representative Warrant will be in the form filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement. The Representative Warrant and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative Warrant are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.”
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and Option Closing Date (as the case may be), as follows:
(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-195378), and amendments thereto, for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Securities, which registration statement, as so amended (including post-effective amendments, if any), has been declared effective by the Commission and copies of which have heretofore been delivered to the Underwriters. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the prospectus, financial statements, exhibits and other information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at its time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act registering additional Securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission. All of the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered under the Securities Act with the filing of such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Company has responded to all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. Based on communications from the Commission, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of either the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. The Company, if required by the Securities Act and any of the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “Rules and Regulations”), proposes to file the Prospectus (as defined below) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (“Rule 424(b)”). The prospectus, in the form in which it is to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), or, if the prospectus is not to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), the prospectus in the form included as part of the Registration Statement at the time the Registration Statement became effective, is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” except that if any revised prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be provided to the Underwriters by the Company for
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use in connection with the Offering which differs from the Prospectus (whether or not such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement is required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)), the term “Prospectus” shall also refer to such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, as the case may be, from and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use. Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus subject to completion included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act is hereafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the exhibits incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include: (i) the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and together with the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”) after the Effective Date, the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be, which is incorporated therein by reference, and (ii) any such document so filed. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“▇▇▇▇▇”).
(b) At the time of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, when the Prospectus is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), when any supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, when any document filed under the Exchange Act was or is filed, at all other subsequent times until the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities, and at the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements or exhibits thereto complied or will comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and did not and will not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein: (i) in the case of the Registration Statement, not misleading, and (ii) in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the registration statement for the registration of the Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state any 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. No representation and warranty is made in this subsection (c), however, with respect to any information contained in or omitted from the
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Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any related Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of: (i) the names of the several Underwriters appearing in the Prospectus, (ii) the first paragraph of the subsection of the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus captioned “Commissions and Expenses,” and (iii) the third paragraph of the subsection of the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus captioned “Lock-Up Agreements” (the “Underwriters’ Information”).
(c) Neither: (i) any Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Time of Sale (as defined below) and the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below), all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below), nor (iii) any electronic road show or investor presentation (including without limitation any “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act) delivered to and approved by the Underwriters for use in connection with the marketing of the Offering (collectively, the “Marketing Materials”), if any, nor (iv) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, includes or included as of the Time of Sale or as of the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or omitted as of such time or dates to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions based upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information. The Company represents that is has satisfied the conditions set forth in Rule 433 of the Rules to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any Marketing Materials.
(d) Each Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus relating to the Securities or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has notified or will notify promptly the Representative so that any use of such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus may cease until it is promptly amended or supplemented by the Company, at its own expense, to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representative specifically for use therein.
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(e) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other marketing material in connection with the Offering other than the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or other materials permitted by the Securities Act to be distributed by the Company. Unless the Company obtains the prior consent of the Representative, the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, required to be filed with the Commission. The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. The Company has satisfied and will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 under the Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.
(f) Since that date of the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed with the Commission on April 18, 2014 (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined herein)) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.
(g) The Company has not at any time engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and has not authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications (as defined herein), other than those listed on Schedule V hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:
(i) “Time of Sale” means 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.
(ii) “Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus that is
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included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A or 430B shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act.
(iii) “Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, relating to the Securities that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) under the Act because it contains a description of the Securities or of the Offering that does not reflect the final terms or pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) because it is a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Regulations, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Act.
(iv) “Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule C to this Agreement.
(v) “Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus. The term Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus also includes any “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Regulations, that is made available without restriction pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii), even though not required to be filed with the Commission.
(h) The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 001-36577) providing for the registration under the Exchange Act of the shares of Common Stock. The registration of the shares of Common Stock under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
(i) The Company has entered into: (i) a Warrant Agreement, effective as of July 28, 2014, with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), in the form filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Class A Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which the Warrant Agent will act as the Company’s warrant agent for the Class A Warrants and (ii) a separate Warrant Agreement, effective as of July 28, 2014, with the Warrant Agent, in the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (collectively with the Class A Warrant Agreement, the “Warrant Agreements”)), pursuant to which the Warrant Agent will act as the Company’s warrant agent for the Class B Warrants. The
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Warrant Agreements are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, the Warrant Agent is in material breach or default under the Warrant Agreements and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a material breach or default under the Warrant Agreements.
(j) Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”), whose reports relating to the Company are included in the Registration Statement, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and, to the Company’s knowledge, such accountants are not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 (“Sarb-Ox”).
(k) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is presented in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) the Company has not declared, paid or made any dividends or other distributions of any kind on or in respect of its capital stock, and (ii) there has been no material adverse change (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any development which has a material probability of involving a material adverse change in the future), whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in or affecting: (A) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company; (B) the long-term debt or capital stock of the Company; or (C) the Offering or consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (a “Material Adverse Change”). Since the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not incurred or undertaken any liabilities or obligations, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or contingent, matured or unmatured, or entered into any transactions, including any acquisition or disposition of any business or asset, which are material to the Company, except for liabilities, obligations and transactions which are disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(l) As of the dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column headed “Actual” under the section thereof captioned “Capitalization” and, after giving effect to the Offering and the other transactions (excluding the offer and sale of the Over-allotment Units) contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will be as set forth in the column headed “As Adjusted” in such section. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the outstanding warrants of the Company as of the Effective Date, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been duly and validly authorized and issued, in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and not in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that does or will entitle any Person (as defined
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below), upon the issuance or sale of any security, to acquire from the Company any Relevant Security. As used herein, the term “Relevant Security” means any shares of Common Stock or other security of the Company that is convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or equity securities, or that holds the right to acquire any shares of Common Stock or equity securities of the Company or any other such Relevant Security, except for such rights as may have been fully satisfied or waived prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. As used herein, the term “Person” means any foreign or domestic individual, corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other private, governmental or self regulatory entity. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into shares of Common Stock, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell shares of Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
(m) The Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when issued and paid for, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will have been issued in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar right that does or will entitle any Person to acquire any Relevant Security from the Company upon issuance or sale of the Units in the Offering. The Units and the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included therein conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has no outstanding warrants, options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any Relevant Security.
(n) The shares of Common Stock underlying (i) all existing warrants of the Company, (ii) the Warrants and (ii) the Representative’s Warrant have been duly authorized for issuance, will conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus and have been validly reserved for future issuance and will, upon exercise of such existing warrants, the Warrants and/or Representative’s Warrant and payment of the exercise price thereof, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. The issuance of such securities is not subject to any statutory preemptive rights under the laws of the State of Delaware or the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws as in effect at the time of issuance, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(o) The Company has no (and since the inception of the Company, the Company has not had any) “subsidiaries” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and holds no (and since the inception of the Company has never held any) ownership or other interest, nominal or beneficial, direct or indirect, in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity.
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(p) To the Company’s knowledge, no director, officer or key employee of the Company named in the Prospectus holds any direct equity, debt or other pecuniary interest in any Person with whom the Company does business or is in privity of contract with, other than, in each case, indirectly through the ownership by such individuals of shares of capital stock of the Company.
(q) The Company has been duly incorporated, formed or organized, and validly exists as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to own, lease and operate its respective properties. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its properties (owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary, except, in each case, for those failures to be so qualified or in good standing which (individually and in the aggregate) would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on: (i) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company whole; (ii) the long-term debt or capital stock of the Company; or (iii) the Offering or consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (any such effect being a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(r) The Company is not: (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents, (ii) in default under, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever (any “Lien”) upon any of its property or assets pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation in any respect of any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, foreign or domestic, except (in the case of clause (ii) above) for any Lien disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) where such violation or default, as the case may be, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(s) The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement. The Company has duly and validly authorized this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and each of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and such other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments have been or will be duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitute or will constitute the legal, valid and
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binding obligations of the Company and are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(t) When issued, the Warrants and the Representative Warrant will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the respective exercise prices therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Warrants and Representative Warrant are and will be enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under foreign, federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the Representative Warrant have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants or Representative Warrant, respectively, and upon payment of the consideration therefor, and when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, such shares will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(u) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreements and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not and will not: (i) conflict with, require consent under or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument, franchise, license or permit to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its properties, operations or assets may be bound or (ii) violate or conflict with any provision of the certificate or of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company, or (iii) violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, directive, judgment, decree or order of any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, except in the case of subsections (i) and (iii) for any default, conflict or violation that would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company validly has and holds all consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications, licenses, filings and permits of, with and from all judicial, regulatory and other legal or governmental agencies and bodies and all third parties, foreign and domestic that are material to the operation of its business (collectively, the “Consents”) as such business is now being conducted or is contemplated to be conducted as
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disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including, without limitation, Investigational New Drug Application as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other authorizations issued by federal, state, local or foreign agencies or bodies engaged in the regulation of pharmaceuticals such as those being developed by the Company). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each such Consent is valid and in full force and effect, except where such failure would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not received notice of any investigation or proceedings which results in or, if decided adversely to the Company, could reasonably be expected to result in, the revocation of, or imposition of a materially burdensome restriction on, any Consent. No Consent contains a materially burdensome restriction not adequately disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(w) The Company is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, judgments, decrees and orders, foreign and domestic, except for any non-compliance the consequences of which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any notice or other information from any regulatory or other legal or governmental agency which could reasonably be expected to result in any breach by the Company of, or any default by the Company under, any such laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, directives, judgments, decrees and orders.
(x) No Consent of, with or from any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body or any third party, foreign or domestic is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or consummation of each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities to be issued, sold and delivered hereunder, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities, which has become effective, and such Consents as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market, where the shares of Common Stock has been approved for listing, and FINRA in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, each of which has been obtained and is in full force and effect.
(y) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no judicial, regulatory, arbitral or other legal or governmental proceeding or other litigation or arbitration, domestic or foreign, pending to which the Company is a party or of which any property, operations or assets of the Company is the subject which, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no such proceeding, litigation or arbitration is threatened or contemplated; and the defense of all such proceedings, litigation and arbitration against or involving the Company would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(z) The financial statements, including the notes thereto, included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position as of the dates indicated and the cash flows and results of operations of the Company for the periods specified. Said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis in all material respects throughout the periods involved, except in the case of unaudited financials which are subject to normal year end adjustments and do not contain certain footnotes. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. The other financial and statistical information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information included therein and have been prepared on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements that are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the books and records of the respective entities presented therein.
(aa) There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission which have not been included as so required. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and include all adjustments necessary to present fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in all material respects the pro forma and as adjusted financial position of the respective entity or entities presented therein at the respective dates indicated and their cash flows and the results of operations for the respective periods specified. The assumptions used in preparing the pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein. The related pro forma and pro forma as adjusted adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions; and the pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts.
(bb) The statistical, industry-related, market-related included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from Company generated information or from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate in all material respects, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.
(cc) The pre-clinical or clinical data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are derived from Company generated information, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.
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(dd) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer. The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Registration Statement, in the General Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.
(ee) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Since the date of the Company’s formation, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(ff) The Company’s board of directors has validly appointed an audit committee whose composition satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market and the board of directors and/or audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Neither the board of directors of the Company nor the audit committee thereof has been informed, nor is any director of the Company aware, of: (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(gg) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its “affiliates” (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) (“Affiliates”) has taken, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(hh) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its Affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations with the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, neither Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its Affiliates has sold or issued any Relevant Security during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including but not limited to any sales
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pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation D or S under the Securities Act, other than shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or the employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(ii) To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires completed by each of the Company’s officers and directors prior to the Effective Date and provided to the Representative as well as the biographies of such individuals in the Registration Statement is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by the directors and officers to become inaccurate and incorrect in any material respect.
(jj) To the Company’s knowledge, no director or officer of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his or her ability to be and act in his or her capacity of the Company.
(kk) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holder of any Relevant Security has any rights to require registration of any Relevant Security as part or on account of, or otherwise in connection with, the offer and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby, and any such rights so disclosed have either been fully complied with by the Company or effectively waived by the holders thereof, and any such waivers remain in full force and effect.
(ll) The Company is not and, at all times up to and including consummation of the Offering, and after giving effect to application of the net proceeds of the Offering, will not be, subject to registration as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not and will not be an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of such act.
(mm) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any director, officer, stockholder, customer or supplier of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company has not, in violation of Sarb-Ox directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company.
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(nn) The Company is in material compliance with the applicable provisions of Sarb-Ox and the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by the NASDAQ Stock Market or any other governmental or self regulatory entity or agency, except for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing: (i) all members of the Company’s board of directors who are required to be “independent” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations), including, without limitation, all members of the audit and compensation committees of the Company’s board of directors, meet the qualifications of independence as set forth under applicable laws, rules and regulations and (ii) the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors has at least one member who is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations).
(oo) Except for any agreement between the Company and the Representative, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any Person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or, to the Company’s knowledge, any arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with respect to the Company or any of its officers, directors, shareholders, partners, employees, or Affiliates that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined by FINRA.
(pp) The Company owns no real property of any kind. The Company leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its business as presently operated and as proposed to be operated as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Any real property and buildings held under lease or sublease by the Company are held by the Company under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material to, and do not interfere with, the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company. The Company has not received any notice of any claim against the continued possession of any real property held under lease or sublease by the Company.
(qq) The Company: (i) owns or possesses adequate right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, copyrights, licenses, formulae, products, product candidates, customer lists, and know-how and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of its business as being conducted as of the Effective Date or contemplated to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure and Prospectus and (ii) has no knowledge that the conduct of its business do or will conflict with, and has not received any notice of any claim of conflict with, any such right of
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others. The Company has not granted or assigned to any other Person any right to sell any contemplated products of the Company. To the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any Intellectual Property of the Company; there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.
(rr) The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the foreign, federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder.
(ss) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any Person or Persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation.
(tt) The preclinical studies and contemplated clinical trials (collectively, “Studies”) that are described in, or the results of which are referred to in, the Registration Statement were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with the protocols, procedures and controls designed for such Studies and with standard medical and scientific research procedures. Each description of the results of such Studies is accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly presents the data derived from such Studies, and the
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Company has no knowledge of any other studies the results of which are materially inconsistent with the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not received any notice of, or correspondence from, the FDA or any other governmental authority requiring the termination, hold, suspension or material modification of any Studies that are described or referred to in the Registration Statement.
(uu) The Company has accurately prepared and timely filed all federal, state, foreign and other tax returns that are required to be filed by it and has paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges, including without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns (whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return). No deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s federal, state, local or foreign taxes is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened. The accruals and reserves on the books and records of the Company in respect of tax liabilities for any taxable period not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments and related liabilities for any such period and, since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements appearing in the Prospectus, the Company has not incurred any liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business. There is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company.
(vv) No labor disturbance by the employees of the Company currently exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is likely to occur.
(ww) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has at all times operated its business in material compliance with all Environmental Laws, and no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply therewith. The Company has not received any notice or communication that relates to or alleges any actual or potential violation or failure to comply with any Environmental Laws that will result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, the term “Environmental Laws” means all applicable laws and regulations, including any licensing, permits or reporting requirements, and any action by a federal state or local government entity pertaining to the protection of the environment, protection of public health, protection of worker health and safety, or the handling of hazardous materials, including without limitation, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq., the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1321, et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 690-1, et seq., and the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.
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(xx) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to an “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) which: (i) is subject to any provision of ERISA and (ii) is or was at any time maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company and covers any employee or former employee of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (as defined hereafter). These plans are referred to collectively herein as the “Employee Plans.” For purposes of this Section, “ERISA Affiliate” of any person or entity means any other person or entity which, together with that person or entity, could be treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or is an “affiliate,” whether or not incorporated, as defined in Section 407(d)(7) of ERISA, of the person or entity.
(yy) The Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus identify each employment, severance, retirement or other similar agreement, arrangement or policy and each material plan or arrangement providing for insurance coverage (including any self-insured arrangements), workers’ compensation, disability benefits, severance benefits, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits, retirement benefits or for deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, stock options, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive compensation, or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits which: (i) is not an Employee Plan, (ii) is entered into, maintained or contributed to, as the case may be, by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, and (iii) covers any officer or director or former officer or director of the Company or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates. These contracts, plans and arrangements are referred to collectively in this Agreement as the “Benefit Arrangements.” Each Benefit Arrangement has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and with requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations that are applicable to that Benefit Arrangement.
(zz) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, there is no liability in respect of post-retirement health and medical benefits for retired employees of the Company or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates other than medical benefits required to be continued under applicable law, determined using assumptions that are reasonable in the aggregate, over the fair market value of any fund, reserve or other assets segregated for the purpose of satisfying such liability (including for such purposes any fund established pursuant to Section 401(h) of the Code). With respect to any of the Company’s Employee Plans which are “group health plans” under Section 4980B of the Code and Section 607(1) of ERISA, there has been material compliance with all requirements imposed there under such that the Company or its ERISA Affiliates have no (and will not incur any) loss, assessment, tax penalty, or other sanction with respect to any such plan.
(aaa) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to or subject to any employment contract or arrangement providing for annual future compensation, or the opportunity to earn annual future compensation (whether through fixed salary, bonus, commission, options or otherwise) of more than $120,000 to any officer, or director.
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(bbb) The execution of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Class B Warrants or any other agreement, document or instrument called for hereunder, or consummation of the Offering, does not constitute a triggering event under any Employee Plan or any other employment contract, whether or not legally enforceable, which (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event) will or may result in any payment (of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, increase in vesting, or increase in benefits to any current or former participant, employee or director of the Company other than an event that is not material to the financial condition or business of the Company.
(ccc) No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in either Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of Code), “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or other event of the kind described in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the 30-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred with respect to any employee benefit plan for which the Company would have any liability; each employee benefit plan of the Company is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including (without limitation) ERISA and the Code; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from any “pension plan”; and each employee benefit plan of the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could cause the loss of such qualification.
(ddd) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives has at any time during the last five (5) years: (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for foreign office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, or (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental officer or official or other Person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments that are not prohibited by the laws of the United States of any jurisdiction thereof.
(eee) The Company has not offered the Units, the shares of Common Stock underlying the Units or the Warrants to any Person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (i) a customer, supplier or licensor of the Company to alter the customer’s, supplier’s or licensor’s level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products or services.
(fff) Except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company does not operate within the United States or any state or territory thereof in such a manner so as to subject the Company or its operations or businesses to registration as a foreign company doing business in any state within the United States or to any of the following laws in any material respect: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, (ii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended, (iii) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, (iv) the Currency and Foreign
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Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, (v) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (vi) the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, (vii) the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law, or any judgment, decree or order of any applicable administrative or judicial body relating to such law, and (viii) any corresponding law, rule, regulation, ordinance, judgment, decree or order of any state or territory of the United States or any administrative or judicial body thereof.
(ggg) The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements and money laundering statutes of the United States and, to the Company’s knowledge, all other jurisdictions to which the Company is subject, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any applicable governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(hhh) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not knowingly directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(iii) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer, director or stockholder of the Company (each, an “Insider”) with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriter’s compensation, as determined by FINRA. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180 days prior to the Effective Date. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein. No officer, director or, to the Company’s knowledge, any beneficial owner of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in
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accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA); no Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of FINRA (other than securities purchased on the open market); no Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any member of FINRA; no proceeds from the sale of Shares (excluding underwriting compensation as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus) will be paid to any FINRA member, or any persons associated with or affiliated with any member of FINRA. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company has not issued any warrants or other securities or granted any options, directly or indirectly, to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the Offering or a related person (as defined by FINRA rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement; no person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any member of FINRA; and no FINRA member participating in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” exists when a member of FINRA and/or its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity. “FINRA member participating in the Offering” includes any associated person of a FINRA member that is participating in the Offering, any member of such associated person’s immediate family and any affiliate of a FINRA member that is participating in the Offering.
(jjj) As used in this Agreement, references to matters being “material” with respect to the Company shall mean a material event, change, condition, status or effect related to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business, prospects, operations or results of operations of the Company, as the context requires.
(kkk) As used in this Agreement, the term “knowledge of the Company” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company who are named in the Prospectus, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented (with reference to what is customary and prudent for the applicable individuals in connection with the discharge by the applicable individuals of their duties as officers, directors or managers of the Company).
(lll) Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or to Ellenoff ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Schole LLP, as counsel to the Underwriters (“Underwriters’ Counsel”), shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter listed on Schedule A hereto as to the matters covered thereby.
3. Offering. Upon authorization of the release of the Units by the Representative, the Underwriters propose to offer the Units for sale to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
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4. Covenants of the Company. The Company acknowledges, covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement and any amendments thereto have been declared effective, and if Rule 430A is used or the filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will file the Prospectus (properly completed if Rule 430A has been used) pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the prescribed time period and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely filing.
(b) During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act is no longer required to be provided), in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriter for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects within 24 hours of delivery thereof to the Representative and Underwriters’ Counsel.
(c) After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of any Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)).
(d) (i) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply as far as it is reasonably able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the
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Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the General Disclosure Package, and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package ) would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Representative or Underwriters’ Counsel to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package ) to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the General Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(ii) If at any time following issuance of an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or promptly will notify the Representative and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(e) The Company will promptly deliver to the Underwriters and Underwriters’ Counsel a signed copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed and all amendments thereto, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith, and will maintain in the Company’s files manually signed copies of such documents for at least five (5) years after the date of filing thereof. The Company will promptly deliver to each of the Underwriters such number of copies of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, and all amendments of and supplements to such documents, if any, and all documents which are exhibits to the Registration Statement and Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, as the Underwriters may reasonably request. Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter, the Company will furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) The Company consents to the use and delivery of the Preliminary Prospectus by the Underwriters in accordance with Rule 430 and Section 5(b) of the Securities Act.
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(g) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company shall both file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) and pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111 of the Securities Act by the earlier of: (i) 10:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement, and (ii) the time that confirmations are given or sent, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2).
(h) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Representative, at or prior to the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws relating of such jurisdictions, domestic or foreign, as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualification in effect for so long as required for the distribution thereof; except that in no event shall the Company be obligated in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process or to subject itself to taxation if it is otherwise not so subject.
(i) The Company will make generally available (which includes filings pursuant to the Exchange Act) to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.
(j) Following the Closing Date, the Company and any of the individuals listed on Schedule B hereto (the “Lock-Up Parties”) shall not sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company, whether publicly or privately, during the period that their respective lock-up agreements are in effect. The Company will deliver to the Representative the agreements of Lock-Up Parties to the foregoing effect prior to the Closing Date, which agreements shall be substantially in the form of or contain provisions substantially similar to Annex II attached hereto.
(k) If the Company fails to maintain the listing of its shares of Common stock on a national securities exchange, for a period of three (3) years from the Effective Date, the Company, at its expense, shall obtain and keep current a listing in the Standard & Poor’s Corporation Records Services or the ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Industrial Manual; provided that ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ OTC Industrial Manual is not sufficient for these purposes.
(l) During the period of three (3) years from the Effective Date, the Company will make available to the Underwriters copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to security holders or from time to time publicly disseminated by the Company, and will deliver to the Underwriters copies of any reports, financial statements and proxy or information statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; provided, that any such item which is available on the ▇▇▇▇▇ system (or successor thereto) need not be furnished in physical form.
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(m) The Company will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the first business day following the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, or as required by law.
(n) Prior to the consummation of the Offering, the Company will engage or continue to engage (for no less than two (2) years from the date of the Closing Date) a financial public relations firm mutually acceptable to the Company and the Representative.
(o) The Company has retained American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as transfer agent for the Securities and shall continue to retain such transfer agent (or a transfer agent of similar competence and quality) for a period of three (3) years following the Closing Date.
(p) For so long as the Warrants are outstanding, the Company will maintain the Warrant Agreements in full force and effect with the Warrant Agent or a transfer agent of similar competence and quality.
(q) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus. The Company will not use any proceeds of the Offering to pay outstanding loans from officers, directors or stockholders of the Company.
(r) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock, the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants on the NASDAQ Capital Market for at least three (3) years after the Closing Date.
(s) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations within the time periods required thereby.
(t) The Company will use its best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to the Closing Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Units.
(u) The Company will not take, and will cause its Affiliates not to take, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes or is designed to cause or result in, or which could reasonably be expected to constitute, cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
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(v) The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representative, at its expense, within one (1) Business Day of the effective date of this Agreement as determined pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Securities for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.
(w) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, and the Representative represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses included in Schedule C. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
(x) The Company shall maintain, for a period of no less than three (3) years from the Closing Date, a liability insurance policy affording no less than $5 million in coverage for the acts of its officers and directors.
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(y) Each Underwriter agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) or that would otherwise (without taking into account any approval, authorization, use or reference thereto by the Company) constitute a “free writing prospectus” required to be filed by the Company with the Commission (as defined herein) or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Company hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectuses referenced on Schedule C attached hereto.
5. Consideration; Payment of Expenses.
(a) In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters or their respective designees their pro rata portion (based on the Securities purchased) of the following compensation with respect to the Units which they are offering: (i) an underwriting discount of seven percent (7%) as set forth in Section 1(a) and (c); and (ii) the Corporate Finance Fee as set forth in Section 1(a) and (c), which shall be payable at the Closing. The Company shall also issue the Representative Warrant at the Closing to the Representative or its designees.
(b) The Representative reserves the right to reduce any item of compensation or adjust the terms thereof as specified herein in the event that a determination shall be made by FINRA to the effect that the Underwriters’ aggregate compensation is in excess of FINRA Rules or that the terms thereof require adjustment.
(c) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company hereby agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including the following:
(i) all expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, formatting for ▇▇▇▇▇ and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any and all amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers;
(ii) all fees and expenses in connection with the FINRA’s review of the Offering via its Public Offering System;
(iii) all fees and expenses in connection with filing of the Registration Statement and Prospectus with the Commission;
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(iv) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act and the Offering;
(v) all expenses in connection with the qualifications of the Units for offer and sale under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws, including a one time payment of $5,000 to Underwriters’ Counsel at the Closing;
(vi) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market;
(vii) all travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expense of the Company incurred in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Units;
(viii) any stock transfer taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Offering;
(ix) the cost of preparing stock certificates representing the Securities, if any;
(x) the cost and charges of any transfer agent and registrar and the Warrant Agent for the Securities and of the Warrant Agent;
(xi) any documented expenses and fees reasonably incurred by Underwriters’ Counsel; and
(xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder and to the Offering which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 5.
(d) It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 5, and Sections 6, 7 and 11(d) hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5, in the event the Offering is successfully completed, the Company will pay up to a maximum of $125,000 (less the $50,000 advance previously paid to the Representative) and in the event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 5 or 11(b) hereof, or subsequent to a Material Adverse Change, the Company will pay up to $100,000 (less the $50,000 advance previously paid to the Representative), of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Underwriters (including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection herewith which shall be limited to expenses which are actually incurred as allowed under FINRA Rule 5110(f).
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6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Units or Option Units, as the case may be, as provided herein shall be subject to: (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained in all material respects (with regard to the effects of “double materiality”), as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (ii) the absence from any certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Representative or to Underwriters’ Counsel pursuant to this Section 6 of any material misstatement or omission (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and (iv) each of the additional conditions set out in this Section 6. For purposes of this Section 6, the terms “Closing Date” and “Closing” shall refer to the Closing Date for the Firm Units or Option Units, as the case may be, and each of the foregoing and following conditions must be satisfied as of each Closing.
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective and all necessary regulatory or listing approvals shall have been received not later than 5:30 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement, or at such later time and date as shall have been consented to in writing by the Representative. If the Company shall have elected to rely upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act, the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms hereof and a form of the Prospectus containing information relating to the description of the Securities and the method of distribution and similar matters shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period; and, at or prior to the Closing Date or the actual time of the Closing, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Representative’s satisfaction; and FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(b) The Representative shall not have reasonably determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Representative’s reasonable opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Representative’s reasonable opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) The Company shall have delivered to the Representative or its designees the Representative Warrant, duly executed by the Company.
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(d) The Representative shall have received the written opinion and negative assurance letter of Shearman & Sterling LLP, legal counsel for the Company, dated as of the Closing Date addressed to the Representative, in a customary form reasonably satisfactory to such counsel and the Representative.
(e) The Representative shall have received the written opinion and negative assurance statement of ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, P.C., special FDA legal counsel for the Company, dated as of the Closing Date addressed to the Representative, in a customary form reasonably satisfactory to such counsel and the Representative.
(f) The Representative shall have received the written opinion and negative assurance statement of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.C., special intellectual property legal counsel for the Company, dated as of the Closing Date addressed to the Representative, in a customary form reasonably satisfactory to such counsel and the Representative.
(g) The Representative shall have received a customary negative assurance letter from Underwriters’ Counsel.
(h) The Representative shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of each Closing Date to the effect that: (i) the condition set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 6 has been satisfied, (ii) as of the date hereof and as of the applicable Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement are accurate in all material respects, (iii) as of the applicable Closing Date, all agreements, conditions and obligations of the Company to be performed or complied with hereunder on or prior thereto have been duly performed or complied with in all material respects, (iv) the Company has not sustained any material loss or interference with their respective businesses, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, (v) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof has been issued and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, (vi) there are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations which are not so included or incorporated by reference, and (vii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus there has not been any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
(i) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a “cold comfort” letter from E&Y as of the date of delivery and addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and Underwriters’
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Counsel, confirming that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and stating, as of the date of delivery (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three (3) days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters relating to the Registration Statement covered by such letter.
(j) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any change or development involving a change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties or prospects of the Company, including but not limited to any negative developments between the Company and the FDA or the occurrence of any fire, flood, storm, explosion, accident, act of war or terrorism or other calamity, the effect of which, in any such case described above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the Offering on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement).
(k) The Representative shall have received a lock-up agreement from each Lock-Up Party, duly executed by the applicable Lock-Up Party, in each case substantially in the form attached as Annex I.
(l) The Units, the Common Stock, the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants shall have been approved for quotation on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
(m) FINRA shall have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(n) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.
(o) The Company shall have furnished the Underwriters and Underwriters’ Counsel with such other certificates, opinions or other documents as they may have reasonably requested.
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If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Representative or to Underwriters’ Counsel pursuant to this Section 6 shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and to Underwriters’ Counsel, all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled by the Representative at, or at any time prior to, the consummation of the Closing. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing, or by telephone. Any such telephone notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing.
7. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters and each Person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Marketing Materials or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, including any road show or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), 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, and will reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; or (ii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials or Testing-the-Waters Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information.
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(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the directors of the Company, each of the officers of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement, and each other Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, as originally filed or any amendment thereof, or any related Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof 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, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Securities to be purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. The parties agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative consists solely of the material referred to in the last sentence of Section 1(b) hereof.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of any claims or the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the claim or the commencement thereof (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 to the extent that it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability that such indemnifying party may have otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement hereunder). In case any such claim or action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at its own expense in the defense of such action, and to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the written consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in
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connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, (iii) the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, or (iv) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying parties. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened claim, investigation, action or proceeding in respect of which indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought by an indemnified party under this Section 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party thereto), unless (x) such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, investigation, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or any failure to act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party, and (y) the indemnifying party confirms in writing its indemnification obligations hereunder with respect to such settlement, compromise or judgment.
8. Contribution. In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is for any reason held to be unavailable from any indemnifying party or is insufficient to hold harmless a party indemnified thereunder, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnification provision (including any investigation, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting in the case of losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses suffered by the Company, any contribution received by the Company from Persons, other than the Underwriters, who may also be liable for contribution, including Persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company) as incurred to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject, in such proportions as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters from the Offering or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportions as are appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the Offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to (y) the underwriting discount or commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of each of the Company and of the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other
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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 or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any judicial, regulatory or other legal or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8: (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the discounts and commissions applicable to the Units underwritten by it and distributed to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) 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. For purposes of this Section 8, each Person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses (i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties, notify each party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have under this Section 8 or otherwise. The obligations of the Underwriters to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Units to be purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.
9. Underwriter Default.
(a) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligation to purchase Firm Units hereunder, and if the Firm Units with respect to which such default relates (the “Default Units”) do not (after giving effect to arrangements, if any, made by the Representative pursuant to subsection (b) below) exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units, each non-defaulting Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase
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from the Company that number of Default Units that bears the same proportion of the total number of Default Units then being purchased as the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Units set forth opposite the names of the non-defaulting Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make.
(b) In the event that the aggregate number of Default Units exceeds 10% of the number of Firm Units, the Representative may in their discretion arrange for themselves or for another party or parties (including any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters who so agree) to purchase the Default Units on the terms contained herein. In the event that within five calendar days after such a default the Representative do not arrange for the purchase of the Default Units as provided in this Section 9, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of the Company with respect thereto (except in each case as provided in Sections 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11(d)) or the Underwriters, but nothing in this Agreement shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters of its or their liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and the Company for damages occasioned by its or their default hereunder.
(c) In the event that any Default Units are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period, not exceeding five (5) business days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which, in the reasonable opinion of Underwriters’ Counsel, may thereby be made necessary or advisable. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 9 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Firm Units.
10. Survival of Representations and Agreements. All representations and warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, including the agreements contained in Section 5, the indemnity agreements contained in Section 7 and the contribution agreements contained in Section 8 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling Person thereof or by or on behalf of the Company, any of its officers and directors or any controlling Person thereof, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Units to and by the Underwriters. The representations contained in Section 2 hereof and the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 4, 5, 7, 8, this Section 10 and Sections 14 and 15 hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement, including termination pursuant to Section 9 or 11 hereof.
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11. Effective Date of Agreement; Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of: (i) receipt by the Representative and the Company of notification of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or (ii) the mutual execution of this Agreement by the Company and the Representative. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 11 and of Sections 1, 4, 6, 7 and 12 through 16, inclusive, shall remain in full force and effect at all times after the execution hereof.
(b) The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the consummation of the Closing if: (i) any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Representative will in the immediate future materially disrupt, the market for the Company’s securities or securities in general; or (ii) trading on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market shall have been suspended or been made subject to material limitations, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) a banking moratorium has been declared by any state or federal authority or if any material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services shall have occurred; or (iv) (A) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States or there is a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (B) there shall have been any other calamity or crisis or any change in political, financial or economic conditions if the effect of any such event in (A) or (B), in the judgment of the Representative, is so material and adverse that such event makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale and delivery of the Firm Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.
(c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be in writing.
(d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (other than pursuant to Section 9(b) hereof), or if the sale of the Units provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, the Company will, subject to demand by the Representative, reimburse the Underwriters for only those out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) actually incurred by the Underwriters in connection herewith.
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12. Notices. All communications hereunder, except as may be otherwise specifically provided herein, shall be in writing, and:
(a) if sent to the Representative or any Underwriter, shall be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed in writing, to Maxim Group LLC, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Executive Managing Director of Investment Banking, with a copy to Underwriters’ Counsel at Ellenoff ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Schole LLP, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.; and
(b) if sent to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed in writing to the Company and its counsel at the addresses set forth in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance facsimile to the Representative, which address will be supplied to any other party hereto by the Representative upon request. Any such notices and other communications shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.
13. Parties; Limitation of Relationship. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling Persons, directors, officers, employees and agents referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other Person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and said controlling Persons and their respective successors, officers, directors, heirs and legal Representative, and it is not for the benefit of any other Person. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of Units from any of the Underwriters.
14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered in New York and both this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed as to validity, interpretation, construction, effect, and in all other respects by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws principals thereof (other than Section 5-1401 of The New York General Obligations Law). Each of the Underwriters and the Company: (a) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (b) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (c) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Underwriters and the Company further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or
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proceeding in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address or delivered by Federal Express via overnight delivery shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Underwriters mailed by certified mail to the Underwriters’ address or delivered by Federal Express via overnight delivery shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Underwriter, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.
15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the schedule and exhibits attached hereto and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, contains the entire agreement among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and there are no other or further agreements outstanding not specifically mentioned herein.
16. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the performance thereof shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
17. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
18. Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
19. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the Offering. The Company further acknowledge that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis and in no event do the
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parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the Offering, either before or after the date hereof,. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understanding that no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including any negotiation related to the pricing of the Units; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
21. Headings. The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
22. Time is of the Essence. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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If the foregoing correctly sets forth your understanding, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among us.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| CONTRAFECT CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
Accepted by the Representative, acting for themselves and as Representative of the Underwriters named on Schedule A attached hereto, as of the date first written above:
| MAXIM GROUP LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | |
| Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ | ||
| Title: Head of IB | ||