STANDBY EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT dated as of the ___ day of May, 2005 (the "Agreement")
between CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Investor"), and SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC., a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the Yukon Territory (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained herein, the Company shall issue and sell to the Investor,
from time to time as provided herein, and the Investor shall purchase from the
Company up to Thirty Million U.S. Dollars ($30,000,000) of the Company's common
stock, no par value (the "Common Stock");
WHEREAS, such investments will be made in reliance upon the provisions of:
(i) Regulation D ("Regulation D") of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Securities
Act"), and or upon such other exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act as may be available with respect
to any or all of the investments to be made hereunder; and
(ii) Multilateral Instrument 45-103 adopted by the British Columbia
Securities Commission (the "BCSC"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has engaged Newbridge Securities, Inc. (the
"Placement Agent"), to act as the Company's exclusive placement agent in
connection with the sale of the Company's Common Stock to the Investor hereunder
pursuant to the Placement Agent Agreement dated the date hereof by and among the
Company, the Placement Agent and the Investor (the "Placement Agent Agreement").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
Certain Definitions
Section 1.1. "Advance" shall mean the portion of the Commitment Amount
requested by the Company in the Advance Notice.
Section 1.2. "Advance Date" shall mean the date the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Attorney Trust Account is in receipt of the funds from the Investor and ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., is in possession of free trading shares from the Company and
therefore an Advance by the Investor to the Company can be made and ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. can release the free trading shares to the Investor. The Advance
Date shall be the first (1st) Trading Day after expiration of the applicable
Pricing Period for each Advance.
Section 1.3. "Advance Notice" shall mean a written notice to the Investor
setting forth the Advance amount that the Company requests from the Investor and
the Advance Date.
Section 1.4. "Advance Notice Date" shall mean each date the Company
delivers to the Investor an Advance Notice requiring the Investor to advance
funds to the Company, subject to the terms of this Agreement. No Advance Notice
Date shall be less than five (5) Trading Days after the prior Advance Notice
Date.
Section 1.5. "Bid Price" shall mean, on any date, the closing bid price
(as reported by Bloomberg L.P.) of the Common Stock on the Principal Market or
if the Common Stock is not traded on a Principal Market, the highest reported
bid price for the Common Stock, as furnished by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
Section 1.6. "Closing" shall mean one of the closings of a purchase and
sale of Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.3.
Section 1.7. "Commitment Amount" shall mean the aggregate amount of up to
Thirty Million U.S. Dollars ($30,000,000) which the Investor has agreed to
provide to the Company in order to purchase the Company's Common Stock pursuant
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 1.8. "Commitment Period" shall mean the period commencing on the
earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Date, or (ii) such earlier date as the
Company and the Investor may mutually agree in writing, and expiring on the
earliest to occur of (x) the date on which the Investor shall have made payment
of Advances pursuant to this Agreement in the aggregate amount of Thirty Million
U.S. Dollars ($30,000,000), (y) the date this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to Section 2.4, or (z) the date occurring twenty-four (24) months after the
Effective Date.
Section 1.9. "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock, no par
value.
Section 1.10. "Condition Satisfaction Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 7.2.
Section 1.11. "Damages" shall mean any loss, claim, damage, liability,
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees
and disbursements and costs and expenses of expert witnesses and investigation).
Section 1.12. "Effective Date" shall mean the date on which the SEC first
declares effective a Registration Statement registering the resale of the
Registrable Securities as set forth in Section 7.2(a).
Section 1.13. "Escrow Agreement" shall mean the escrow agreement among the
Company, the Investor, and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., dated the date hereof.
Section 1.14. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 1.15. "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any condition,
circumstance, or situation that would prohibit or otherwise materially interfere
with the ability of the Company to enter into and perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement in any material
respect.
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Section 1.16. "Market Price" shall mean the lowest closing Bid Price of
the Common Stock during the Pricing Period.
Section 1.17. "Maximum Advance Amount" shall be One Million U.S. Dollars
(US$1,000,000) per Advance Notice.
Section 1.18. "NASD" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
Section 1.19. "Person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a
partnership, an association, a trust or other entity or organization, including
a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
Section 1.20. "Placement Agent" shall mean Newbridge Securities Inc., a
registered broker-dealer.
Section 1.21. "Pricing Period" shall mean the five (5) consecutive Trading
Days after the Advance Notice Date.
Section 1.22. "Principal Market" shall mean the Nasdaq National Market,
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the American Stock Exchange, the OTC Bulletin Board
or the New York Stock Exchange, whichever is at the time the principal trading
exchange or market for the Common Stock.
Section 1.23. "Purchase Price" shall be set at ninety eight percent (98%)
of the Market Price during the Pricing Period.
Section 1.24. "Registrable Securities" shall mean the shares of Common
Stock to be issued hereunder (i) in respect of which the Registration Statement
has not been declared effective by the SEC, (ii) which have not been sold under
circumstances meeting all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") or (iii)
which have not been otherwise transferred to a holder who may trade such shares
without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company has delivered a
new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such securities not bearing a
restrictive legend.
Section 1.25. "Registration Rights Agreement" shall mean the Registration
Rights Agreement dated the date hereof, regarding the filing of the Registration
Statement for the resale of the Registrable Securities, entered into between the
Company and the Investor.
Section 1.26. "Registration Statement" shall mean a registration statement
on Form S-1 or SB-2 (if use of such form is then available to the Company
pursuant to the rules of the SEC and, if not, on such other form promulgated by
the SEC for which the Company then qualifies and which counsel for the Company
shall deem appropriate, and which form shall be available for the resale of the
Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, and in
accordance with the intended method of distribution of such securities), for the
registration of the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities under
the Securities Act.
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Section 1.27. "Regulation D" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.28. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 1.29. "Securities Act" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.30. "SEC Documents" shall mean Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB, Current Reports on Form 8-K and Proxy
Statements of the Company as supplemented to the date hereof, filed by the
Company for a period of at least twelve (12) months immediately preceding the
date hereof or the Advance Date, as the case may be, until such time as the
Company no longer has an obligation to maintain the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Section 1.31. "Trading Day" shall mean any day during which the New York
Stock Exchange shall be open for business.
ARTICLE II.
Advances
Section 2.1. Investments.
(a) Advances. Upon the terms and conditions set forth herein
(including, without limitation, the provisions of Article VII hereof), on any
Advance Notice Date the Company may request an Advance by the Investor by the
delivery of an Advance Notice. The number of shares of Common Stock that the
Investor shall receive for each Advance shall be determined by dividing the
amount of the Advance by the Purchase Price. No fractional shares shall be
issued. Fractional shares shall be rounded to the next higher whole number of
shares. The aggregate maximum amount of all Advances that the Investor shall be
obligated to make under this Agreement shall not exceed the Commitment Amount.
Section 2.2. Mechanics.
(a) Advance Notice. At any time during the Commitment Period, the
Company may deliver an Advance Notice to the Investor, subject to the conditions
set forth in Section 7.2; provided, however, the amount for each Advance as
designated by the Company in the applicable Advance Notice, shall not be more
than the Maximum Advance Amount. The aggregate amount of the Advances pursuant
to this Agreement shall not exceed the Commitment Amount. No fractional shares
shall be issued; fractional shares shall be rounded to the next higher whole
number of shares. The Company acknowledges that the Investor may sell shares of
the Company's Common Stock corresponding with a particular Advance Notice on the
day the Advance Notice is received by the Investor. There shall be a minimum of
five (5) Trading Days between each Advance Notice Date.
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(b) Date of Delivery of Advance Notice. An Advance Notice shall be
deemed delivered on (i) the Trading Day it is received by facsimile or otherwise
by the Investor if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon Eastern Time, or
(ii) the immediately succeeding Trading Day if it is received by facsimile or
otherwise after 12:00 noon Eastern Time on a Trading Day or at any time on a day
which is not a Trading Day. No Advance Notice may be deemed delivered on a day
that is not a Trading Day.
Section 2.3. Closings. On each Advance Date, which shall be the first
(1st) Trading Day after expiration of the applicable Pricing Period for each
Advance, (i) the Company shall deliver to ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. (the "Escrow
Agent") shares of the Company's Common Stock, representing the amount of the
Advance by the Investor pursuant to Section 2.1 herein, registered in the name
of the Investor which shall be delivered to the Investor, or otherwise in
accordance with the Escrow Agreement and (ii) the Investor shall deliver to
Escrow Agent the amount of the Advance specified in the Advance Notice by wire
transfer of immediately available funds which shall be delivered to the Company,
or otherwise in accordance with the Escrow Agreement. In addition, on or prior
to the Advance Date, each of the Company and the Investor shall deliver to the
other through the Investor's counsel, all documents, instruments and writings
required to be delivered by either of them pursuant to this Agreement in order
to implement and effect the transactions contemplated herein. Payment of funds
to the Company and delivery of the Company's Common Stock to the Investor shall
occur in accordance with the conditions set forth above and those contained in
the Escrow Agreement; provided, however, that to the extent the Company has not
paid the fees, expenses, and disbursements of the Investor in accordance with
Section 12.4, the amount of such fees, expenses, and disbursements may be
deducted by the Investor from the amount of the Advance with no reduction in the
amount of shares of the Company's Common Stock to be delivered on such Advance
Date. Section 2.4. Termination of Investment. The obligation of the Investor to
make an Advance to the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate
permanently (including with respect to an Advance Date that has not yet
occurred) in the event that (i) there shall occur any stop order or suspension
of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for an aggregate of fifty
(50) Trading Days, other than due to the acts of the Investor, during the
Commitment Period, and (ii) the Company shall at any time fail materially to
comply with the requirements of Article VI and such failure is not cured within
thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the Investor, provided,
however, that this termination provision shall not apply to any period
commencing upon the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement and ending upon the date on which such post effective amendment is
declared effective by the SEC.
Section 2.5. Agreement to Advance Funds. The Investor agrees to advance
the amount specified in the Advance Notice to the Company after the completion
of each of the following conditions and the other conditions set forth in this
Agreement:
(a) the execution and delivery by the Company, and the Investor, of
this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto;
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(b) the Escrow Agent shall have received the shares of Common Stock
applicable to the Advance in accordance with Section 2.3. Such shares shall be
free of restrictive legends.
(c) the Company's Registration Statement with respect to the resale
of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement shall have been declared effective by the SEC;
(d) the Company shall have obtained all material permits and
qualifications required by any applicable U.S. state or Canadian province for
the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities, or shall have the availability
of exemptions therefrom. The sale and issuance of the Registrable Securities
shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company is
subject;
(e) the Company shall have filed with the Commission in a timely
manner all reports, notices and other documents required of a "reporting
company" under the Exchange Act and applicable Commission regulations;
(f) the fees as set forth in Section 12.4 below shall have been paid
or can be withheld as provided in Section 2.3; and
(g) the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 shall have been
satisfied.
Section 2.6. Lock Up Period.
(i) On the date hereof, the Company shall obtain from each
executive officer and director a lock-up agreement, as defined below, in the
form annexed hereto as Schedule 2.6 agreeing to only sell in compliance with the
volume limitation of Rule 144.
Section 2.7. Hardship. In the event the Investor sells shares of the
Company's Common Stock after receipt of an Advance Notice and the Company fails
to perform its obligations as mandated in Section 2.3, and specifically the
Company fails to deliver to the Escrow Agent on the Advance Date the shares of
Common Stock corresponding to the applicable Advance, the Company acknowledges
that the Investor shall suffer financial hardship and therefore shall be liable
for any and all losses, commissions, fees, or financial hardship caused to the
Investor.
ARTICLE III.
Representations and Warranties of Investor
Investor hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company
that the following are true and as of the date hereof and as of each Advance
Date:
Section 3.1. Organization and Authorization. The Investor is duly
incorporated or organized and validly existing in the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and has all requisite power and authority to
purchase and hold the securities issuable hereunder. The decision to invest and
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Investor, the performance
by such Investor of its obligations hereunder and the consummation by such
Investor of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and
requires no other proceedings on the part of the Investor. The undersigned has
the right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all
other instruments (including, without limitations, the Registration Rights
Agreement), on behalf of the Investor. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Investor and, assuming the execution and delivery hereof and
acceptance thereof by the Company, will constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with
its terms.
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Section 3.2. Evaluation of Risks. The Investor has such knowledge and
experience in financial tax and business matters as to be capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of, and bearing the economic risks entailed by, an
investment in the Company and of protecting its interests in connection with
this transaction. It recognizes that its investment in the Company involves a
high degree of risk.
Section 3.3. No Legal Advice From the Company. The Investor acknowledges
that it had the opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement with his or its own legal counsel and investment
and tax advisors. The Investor is relying solely on such counsel and advisors
and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its
representatives or agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to
this investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
securities laws of any jurisdiction.
Section 3.4. Investment Purpose. The securities are being purchased by the
Investor for its own account, for investment and without any view to the
distribution, assignment or resale to others or fractionalization in whole or in
part. The Investor agrees not to assign or in any way transfer the Investor's
rights to the securities or any interest therein and acknowledges that the
Company will not recognize any purported assignment or transfer except in
accordance with applicable Federal and state securities laws. No other person
has or will have a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the securities. The
Investor agrees not to sell, hypothecate or otherwise transfer the Investor's
securities unless the securities are registered under Federal and applicable
state securities laws or unless, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the
Company, an exemption from such laws is available.
Section 3.5. Accredited Investor. The Investor is an "Accredited Investor"
as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D of the Securities Act
and, in Multilateral Instrument 45 103 adopted by the BCSC.
Section 3.6. Reliance on Exemptions. The Investor understands that the
Common Stock is being offered and sold to it pursuant to this Agreement in
reliance on specific exemptions from registration requirements of United States
and federal, state, and provincial securities laws and that the Company is
relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Investor's compliance
with, the representations, warranties, acknowledgements and understandings of
the Investor set forth herein and in the questionnaires in order to determine
the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Investor to
acquire such securities. The Company has advised the Investor that the Company
is relying on an exemption from the requirements to provide the Investor with a
prospectus and that sales of the Common Stock in Canada must be made through a
person registered to sell securities under the Securities Act (British Columbia)
(the "B.C. Act").
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Section 3.7. Information. The Investor and its advisors (and its counsel),
if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business,
finances and operations of the Company and information it deemed material to
making an informed investment decision. The Investor and its advisors, if any,
have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its
management. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations
conducted by such Investor or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall
modify, amend or affect the Investor's right to rely on the Company's
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. The Investor
understands that its investment involves a high degree of risk. The Investor is
in a position regarding the Company, which, based upon employment, family
relationship or economic bargaining power, enabled and enables such Investor to
obtain information from the Company in order to evaluate the merits and risks of
this investment. The Investor has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice,
as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with
respect to this transaction.
Section 3.8. Receipt of Documents. The Investor and its counsel have
received and read in their entirety: (i) this Agreement and the Exhibits annexed
hereto; (ii) all due diligence and other information necessary to verify the
accuracy and completeness of such representations, warranties and covenants;
(iii) the Company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended July 31, 2004 and Form 10-QSB
for the periods ended January 31, 205 and October 31, 2004; and (iv) answers to
all questions the Investor submitted to the Company regarding an investment in
the Company; and the Investor has relied on the information contained therein
and has not been furnished any other documents, literature, memorandum or
prospectus.
Section 3.9. Registration Rights Agreement and Escrow Agreement. The
parties have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement and the Escrow
Agreement, each dated the date hereof.
Section 3.10. No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any
form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of
Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of
the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
Section 3.11. Not an Affiliate. The Investor is not an officer, director
or a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company or any
"Affiliate" of the Company (as that term is defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act).
Section 3.12. Trading Activities. The Investor's trading activities with
respect to the Company's Common Stock shall be in compliance with all applicable
federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations and the rules and
regulations of the Principal Market on which the Company's Common Stock is
listed or traded. Neither the Investor nor its affiliates has an open short
position in the Common Stock of the Company, the Investor agrees that it shall
not, and that it will cause its affiliates not to, engage in any short sales of
or hedging transactions with respect to the Common Stock, provided that the
Company acknowledges and agrees that upon receipt of an Advance Notice the
Investor is permitted to sell the shares to be issued to the Investor pursuant
to the Advance Notice during the applicable Pricing Period.
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Section 3.13. British Columbia Resale Restrictions.
a. The Investor acknowledges that the Common Stock is subject to
resale restrictions in British Columbia and may not be traded in British
Columbia except as permitted by the B.C. Act and the rules made there under.
b. Pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 45-102, as adopted by the
BCSC a subsequent trade in Common Stock will be a distribution subject to the
Prospectus and registration requirements of applicable Canadian Securities
legislation (including the B.C. Act) unless certain conditions are met,
including the following:
i. at least four (4) months (the "Canadian Hold Period") shall
have elapsed from the date on which the Common Stock was issued to the Investor;
ii. during the currency of the Canadian Hold Period, any
certificate representing the Common Stock is imprinted with a legend (the
"Canadian Legend") stating:
" Unless permitted under securities legislation,
the holder of the securities shall not trade the
securities before [insert the date that is four
months and a day after the distribution date]."
iii. The trade is not a control distribution (as defined in
Multilateral Instrument 45-102);
iv. No unusual effort is made to prepare the market or to
create a demand for the Common Stock that is the subject of the trade;
v. No extraordinary commission or consideration is paid to a
person or company in respect of the trade; and
vi. If the selling security holder is an insider or officer of
the Company, the selling security holder has no reasonable grounds to believe
that the Company is in default of securities legislation; and
c. By executing and delivering this Agreement, the Investor will
have directed the Company not to include the Canadian Legend on any certificates
representing the Common Stock to be issued to the Investor,
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d. As a consequence, the Investor will not be able to rely on the
resale provisions of Multilateral Instrument 45-102, and any subsequent trade in
the Conversion Shares during or after the Canadian Hold Period will be
distribution subject to the prospectus and registration of Canadian securities
legislation, to the extent that the trade is subject to any such Canadian
securities legislation.
ARTICLE IV.
Representations and Warranties of the Company
Except as stated below, on the disclosure schedules attached hereto or in
the SEC Documents (as defined herein), the Company hereby represents and
warrants to, and covenants with, the Investor that the following are true and
correct as of the date hereof:
Section 4.1. Organization and Qualification. The Company is duly
incorporated or organized and validly existing in the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and has all requisite power and authority
corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction
in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification
necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 4.2. Authorization, Enforcement, Compliance with Other
Instruments. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement, the Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements, in
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the
Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements by the Company and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have
been duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors and no further consent
or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its
stockholders, (iii) this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement, the Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements have
been duly executed and delivered by the Company, (iv) this Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Placement Agent
Agreement and assuming the execution and delivery thereof and acceptance by the
Investor and any related agreements constitute the valid and binding obligations
of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or
similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors'
rights and remedies.
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Section 4.3. Capitalization. As of May 11, 2005, the authorized capital
stock of the Company consists of an unlimited number of shares of Common Stock,
no par value and one hundred thousand (100,000) shares of Preferred Stock of
which two hundred seventy-three million four hundred twenty-five thousand eight
hundred thirty-six (273,425,836) shares of Common Stock and twenty-five thousand
shares (25,000) of Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. All of such
outstanding shares have been validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, no shares of Common
Stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens
or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company. Except as disclosed in the
SEC Documents, as of the date hereof, (i) there are no outstanding options,
warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character
whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or contracts,
commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to
subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) there are no outstanding debt
securities (iii) there are no outstanding registration statements other than on
Form S-8 and (iv) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of
their securities under the Securities Act (except pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement). There are no securities or instruments containing
anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by this Agreement or
any related agreement or the consummation of the transactions described herein
or therein. The Company has furnished to the Investor true and correct copies of
the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date
hereof (the "Articles of Incorporation"), and the Company's By-laws, as in
effect on the date hereof (the "By-laws"), and the terms of all securities
convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock and the material rights of the
holders thereof in respect thereto.
Section 4.4. No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of
Incorporation, any certificate of designations of any outstanding series of
preferred stock of the Company or By-laws or (ii) conflict with or constitute a
default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or result in a violation of
any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and
state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the
Principal Market on which the Common Stock is quoted) applicable to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or by which any material property or asset of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or affected and which would cause a
Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, neither the
Company nor its subsidiaries is in material violation of any term of or in
default under its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or their organizational
charter or by-laws, respectively, or any material contract, agreement, mortgage,
indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order or any statute,
rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries. The business
of the Company and its subsidiaries is not being conducted in material violation
of any material law, ordinance, regulation of any governmental entity. Except as
specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the Securities
Act and any applicable state securities laws, the Company is not required to
obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or
registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute,
deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by this
Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement in accordance with the terms
hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and
registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding
sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the date hereof. The
Company and its subsidiaries are unaware of any fact or circumstance which might
give rise to any of the foregoing.
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Section 4.5. SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Since January 1, 2003,
the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents required to be filed by it with the SEC under of the Exchange Act. The
Company has delivered to the Investor or its representatives, or made available
through the SEC's website at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇.▇▇▇, true and complete copies of the
SEC Documents. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the
Company disclosed in the SEC Documents (the "Financial Statements") complied as
to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may
be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or
(ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude
footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and, fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments). No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to
the Investor which is not included in the SEC Documents contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits 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.
Section 4.6. Rule 10b-5. The SEC Documents do not include any untrue
statements of material fact, nor do they omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Section 4.7. No Default. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the
Company is not in default in the performance or observance of any material
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust or other material instrument or agreement to which it is
a party or by which it is or its property is bound and neither the execution,
nor the delivery by the Company, nor the performance by the Company of its
obligations under this Agreement or any of the exhibits or attachments hereto
will conflict with or result in the breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default or result in the creation or imposition
of any lien or charge on any assets or properties of the Company under its
Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, any material indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust or other material agreement applicable to the Company or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or any statute, or any
decree, judgment, order, rules or regulation of any court or governmental agency
or body having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties, in each case
which default, lien or charge would cause a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.8. Absence of Events of Default. Except for matters described in
the SEC Documents and/or this Agreement, no Event of Default, as defined in the
respective agreement to which the Company is a party, and no event which, with
the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would become an Event of
Default (as so defined), has occurred and is continuing, which would have a
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.9. Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its
subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all material
trademarks, trade names, service marks, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, service
names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals,
governmental authorizations, trade secrets and rights necessary to conduct their
respective businesses as now conducted. The Company and its subsidiaries do not
have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its subsidiaries of
trademark, trade name rights, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions,
licenses, service names, service marks, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, trade secret
or other similar rights of others, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there
is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought against, or to the
Company's knowledge, being threatened against, the Company or its subsidiaries
regarding trademark, trade name, patents, patent rights, invention, copyright,
license, service names, service marks, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, trade secret
or other infringement; and the Company and its subsidiaries are unaware of any
facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing.
Section 4.10. Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is involved in any labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, is any such dispute threatened. None of the
Company's or its subsidiaries' employees is a member of a union and the Company
and its subsidiaries believe that their relations with their employees are good.
Section 4.11. Environmental Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries are (i)
in compliance with any and all applicable material foreign, federal, state and
local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and
safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants
or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses
or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to
conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms
and conditions of any such permit, license or approval.
Section 4.12. Title. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, the Company
has good and marketable title to its properties and material assets owned by it,
free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or
equitable interest other than such as are not material to the business of the
Company. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and
its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases
with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made
and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its
subsidiaries.
Section 4.13. Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are
insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses
and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be
prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its
subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been
refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor
any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew
its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its
business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business or operations of the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
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Section 4.14. Regulatory Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess
all material certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate
federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their
respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
any such certificate, authorization or permit.
Section 4.15. Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to
provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance
with management's general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset
accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
Section 4.16. No Material Adverse Breaches, etc. Except as set forth in
the SEC Documents, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to
any charter, corporate or other legal restriction, or any judgment, decree,
order, rule or regulation which in the judgment of the Company's officers has or
is expected in the future to have a Material Adverse Effect on the business,
properties, operations, financial condition, results of operations or prospects
of the Company or its subsidiaries. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in breach of any contract or
agreement which breach, in the judgment of the Company's officers, has or is
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the business, properties,
operations, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the
Company or its subsidiaries.
Section 4.17. Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC
Documents, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before
or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization
or body pending against or affecting the Company, the Common Stock or any of the
Company's subsidiaries, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would
(i) have a Material Adverse Effect (ii) adversely affect the validity or
enforceability of, or the authority or ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under, this Agreement or any of the documents contemplated herein,
or (iii) except as expressly disclosed in the SEC Documents, have a Material
Adverse Effect on the business, operations, properties, financial condition or
results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 4.18. Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the
Company does not presently own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest
in any other corporation, partnership, association or other business entity.
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Section 4.19. Tax Status. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the
Company and each of its subsidiaries has made or filed all federal and state
income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any
jurisdiction to which it is subject and (unless and only to the extent that the
Company and each of its subsidiaries has set aside on its books provisions
reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and unreported taxes) has paid
all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in
amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations,
except those being contested in good faith and has set aside on its books
provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods
subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply.
There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing
authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis
for any such claim.
Section 4.20. Certain Transactions. Except as set forth in the SEC
Documents none of the officers, directors, or employees of the Company is
presently a party to any transaction with the Company (other than for services
as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or
other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing
for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring
payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge
of the Company, any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any
officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an
officer, director, trustee or partner.
Section 4.21. Fees and Rights of First Refusal. The Company is not
obligated to offer the securities offered hereunder on a right of first refusal
basis or otherwise to any third parties including, but not limited to, current
or former shareholders of the Company, underwriters, brokers, agents or other
third parties.
Section 4.22. Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the net proceeds from
this offering for general corporate purposes. However, in no event shall the
Company use the net proceeds from this offering for the payment (or loaned to
any such person for the payment) of any judgment, or other liability, incurred
by any executive officer, officer, director or employee of the Company, except
for any liability owed to such person for services rendered, or if any judgment
or other liability is incurred by such person originating from services rendered
to the Company, or the Company has indemnified such person from liability.
Section 4.23. Further Representation and Warranties of the Company. For so
long as any securities issuable hereunder held by the Investor remain
outstanding, the Company acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that it
will maintain the listing of its Common Stock on the Principal Market.
Section 4.24. Opinion of Counsel. Investor shall receive an opinion letter
from counsel to the Company on the date hereof, in substantially the form set
forth in Schedule 4.24.
Section 4.25. Opinion of Counsel. The Company will obtain for the
Investor, at the Company's expense, any and all opinions of counsel which may be
reasonably required by the Company's transfer agent in order to sell the
securities issuable hereunder without restriction.
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Section 4.26. Dilution. The Company is aware and acknowledges that
issuance of shares of the Company's Common Stock could cause dilution to
existing shareholders and could significantly increase the outstanding number of
shares of Common Stock.
ARTICLE V.
Indemnification
The Investor and the Company represent to the other the following with
respect to itself:
Section 5.1. Indemnification.
(a) In consideration of the Investor's execution and delivery of
this Agreement, and in addition to all of the Company's other obligations under
this Agreement, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless
the Investor, and all of its officers, directors, partners, employees and agents
(including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the "Investor
Indemnitees") from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits,
claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in
connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Investor Indemnitee is a
party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and
including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements (the "Indemnified
Liabilities"), incurred by the Investor Indemnitees or any of them as a result
of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any
representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or the
Registration Rights Agreement or any other certificate, instrument or document
contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or
obligation of the Company contained in this Agreement or the Registration Rights
Agreement or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby
or thereby, or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made against
such Investor Indemnitee not arising out of any action or inaction of an
Investor Indemnitee, and arising out of or resulting from the execution,
delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement or any other instrument,
document or agreement executed pursuant hereto by any of the Investor
Indemnitees. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be
unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to
the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities, which is
permissible under applicable law.
(b) In consideration of the Company's execution and delivery of this
Agreement, and in addition to all of the Investor's other obligations under this
Agreement, the Investor shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and all of its officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents
(including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the "Company
Indemnitees") from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by
the Company Indemnitees or any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or
relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or
warranty made by the Investor in this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, or any instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby executed
by the Investor, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the
Investor(s) contained in this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or
any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby
executed by the Investor, or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or
made against such Company Indemnitee based on misrepresentations or due to a
breach by the Investor and arising out of or resulting from the execution,
delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement or any other instrument,
document or agreement executed pursuant hereto by any of the Company
Indemnitees. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Investor may be
unenforceable for any reason, the Investor shall make the maximum contribution
to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities, which is
permissible under applicable law.
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(c) The obligations of the parties to indemnify or make contribution
under this Section 5.1 shall survive termination.
ARTICLE VI.
Covenants of the Company
Section 6.1. Registration Rights. The Company shall cause the Registration
Rights Agreement to remain in full force and effect and the Company shall comply
in all material respects with the terms thereof.
Section 6.2. Listing of Common Stock. The Company shall maintain the
Common Stock's authorization for quotation on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Inc.'s Over the Counter Bulletin Board.
Section 6.3. Exchange Act Registration. The Company will cause its Common
Stock to continue to be registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, will
file in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of it as a
reporting company under the Exchange Act and will not take any action or file
any document (whether or not permitted by Exchange Act or the rules thereunder)
to terminate or suspend such registration or to terminate or suspend its
reporting and filing obligations under said Exchange Act.
Section 6.4. Transfer Agent Instructions. Upon effectiveness of the
Registration Statement the Company shall deliver instructions to its transfer
agent to issue shares of Common Stock to the Investor free of restrictive
legends on or before each Advance Date
Section 6.5. Corporate Existence. The Company will take all steps
necessary to preserve and continue the corporate existence of the Company.
Section 6.6. Notice of Certain Events Affecting Registration; Suspension
of Right to Make an Advance. The Company will immediately notify the Investor
upon its becoming aware of the occurrence of any of the following events in
respect of a registration statement or related prospectus relating to an
offering of Registrable Securities: (i) receipt of any request for additional
information by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority
during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments
or supplements to the registration statement or related prospectus; (ii) the
issuance by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose; (iv) the happening of any event that makes any statement made in the
Registration Statement or related prospectus of any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related
prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and that in the case of the related prospectus, it will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and (v) the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement would be appropriate; and the Company
will promptly make available to the Investor any such supplement or amendment to
the related prospectus. The Company shall not deliver to the Investor any
Advance Notice during the continuation of any of the foregoing events.
17
Section 6.7. Restriction on Sale of Capital Stock. During the Commitment
Period, except for the capital stock to be issued hereunder or pursuant to the
commitment disclosed in the SEC Documents as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement dated prior to the date hereof which shall be subject to the
provisions contained in Sections 3(c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of the
Convertible Debenture, so long as any of the principal amount or interest on
this Debenture remains unpaid and unconverted, the Company shall not, without
the prior consent of the Investor, (i) issue or sell any common stock or
preferred stock with or without consideration, (ii) issue or sell any preferred
stock, warrant, option, right, contract, call, or other security or instrument
granting the holder thereof the right to acquire common stock with or without
consideration, (iii) enter into any security instrument granting the holder a
security interest in any of the assets of the Company, or (iv) file any
registration statements on Form S-8. Provided the Company gives the Investor ten
(10) days prior written notice, the foregoing restriction shall exclude options,
warrants or other securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of common
stock of the Company that were outstanding prior to the date hereof, subject to
the provisions contained in Sections 3(c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi)
of the Convertible Debenture.
Section 6.8. Consolidation; Merger. The Company shall not, at any time
after the date hereof, effect any merger or consolidation of the Company with or
into, or a transfer of all or substantially all the assets of the Company to
another entity (a "Consolidation Event") unless the resulting successor or
acquiring entity (if not the Company) assumes by written instrument the
obligation to deliver to the Investor such shares of stock and/or securities as
the Investor is entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 6.9. Issuance of the Company's Common Stock. The sale of the
shares of Common Stock shall be made in accordance with the provisions and
requirements of Regulation D and any applicable state securities law.
ARTICLE VII.
Conditions for Advance and Conditions to Closing
Section 7.1. Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company. The
obligation hereunder of the Company to issue and sell the shares of Common Stock
to the Investor incident to each Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or
waiver by the Company, at or before each such Closing, of each of the conditions
set forth below.
18
(a) Accuracy of the Investor's Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of the Investor shall be true and correct in all
material respects.
(b) Performance by the Investor. The Investor shall have performed,
satisfied and complied in all respects with all covenants, agreements and
conditions required by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement to
be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Investor at or prior to such
Closing.
Section 7.2. Conditions Precedent to the Right of the Company to Deliver
an Advance Notice and the Obligation of the Investor to Purchase Shares of
Common Stock. The right of the Company to deliver an Advance Notice and the
obligation of the Investor hereunder to acquire and pay for shares of the
Company's Common Stock incident to a Closing is subject to the fulfillment by
the Company, on (i) the date of delivery of such Advance Notice and (ii) the
applicable Advance Date (each a "Condition Satisfaction Date"), of each of the
following conditions:
(a) Registration of the Common Stock with the SEC. The Company shall
have filed with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to the resale of
the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement. As set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Registration Statement shall have previously become effective and shall remain
effective on each Condition Satisfaction Date and (i) neither the Company nor
the Investor shall have received notice that the SEC has issued or intends to
issue a stop order with respect to the Registration Statement or that the SEC
otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has threatened to do
so (unless the SEC's concerns have been addressed and the Investor is reasonably
satisfied that the SEC no longer is considering or intends to take such action),
and (ii) no other suspension of the use or withdrawal of the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or related prospectus shall exist. The Registration
Statement must have been declared effective by the SEC prior to the first
Advance Notice Date.
(b) Authority. The Company shall have obtained all permits and
qualifications required by any applicable U.S. state or Canadian province in
accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement for the offer and sale of the
shares of Common Stock, or shall have the availability of exemptions therefrom.
The sale and issuance of the shares of Common Stock shall be legally permitted
by all laws and regulations to which the Company is subject.
(c) Fundamental Changes. There shall not exist any fundamental
changes to the information set forth in the Registration Statement which would
require the Company to file a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement.
(d) Performance by the Company. The Company shall have performed,
satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements
and conditions required by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the
conditions specified in Section 2.5 hereof) and the Registration Rights
Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior
to each Condition Satisfaction Date.
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(e) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or
endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that
prohibits or directly and adversely affects any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, and no proceeding shall have been commenced that may have the
effect of prohibiting or adversely affecting any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(f) No Suspension of Trading in or Delisting of Common Stock. The
trading of the Common Stock is not suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market
(if the Common Stock is traded on a Principal Market). The issuance of shares of
Common Stock with respect to the applicable Closing, if any, shall not violate
the shareholder approval requirements of the Principal Market (if the Common
Stock is traded on a Principal Market). The Company shall not have received any
notice threatening the continued listing of the Common Stock on the Principal
Market (if the Common Stock is traded on a Principal Market).
(g) Maximum Advance Amount. The amount of an Advance requested by
the Company shall not exceed the Maximum Advance Amount. In addition, in no
event shall the number of shares issuable to the Investor pursuant to an Advance
cause the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the
Investor and its affiliates to exceed nine and 9/10 percent (9.9%) of the then
outstanding Common Stock of the Company. For purposes of this section,
beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act.
(h) No Knowledge. The Company has no knowledge of any event which
would be more likely than not to have the effect of causing such Registration
Statement to be suspended or otherwise ineffective.
(i) Other. On each Condition Satisfaction Date, the Investor shall
have received the certificate executed by an officer of the Company in the form
of Exhibit A attached hereto.
ARTICLE VIII.
Due Diligence Review; Non-Disclosure of Non-Public Information
Section 8.1. Due Diligence Review. Prior to the filing of the Registration
Statement the Company shall make available for inspection and review by the
Investor, its advisors and representatives, and any underwriter participating in
any disposition of the Registrable Securities on behalf of the Investor pursuant
to the Registration Statement, any such registration statement or amendment or
supplement thereto or any blue sky, NASD or other filing, all financial and
other records, all SEC Documents and other filings with the SEC, and all other
corporate documents and properties of the Company as may be reasonably necessary
for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Investor or
any such representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with such
Registration Statement (including, without limitation, in response to all
questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them),
prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of the
Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the Investor and such
representatives, advisors and underwriters and their respective accountants and
attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due diligence with respect to the
Company and the accuracy of the Registration Statement.
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Section 8.2. Non-Disclosure of Non-Public Information.
(a) The Company shall not disclose non-public information to the
Investor, its advisors, or its representatives, unless prior to disclosure of
such information the Company identifies such information as being non-public
information and provides the Investor, such advisors and representatives with
the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such non-public information for
review. The Company may, as a condition to disclosing any non-public information
hereunder, require the Investor's advisors and representatives to enter into a
confidentiality agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the
Investor.
(b) Nothing herein shall require the Company to disclose non-public
information to the Investor or its advisors or representatives, and the Company
represents that it does not disseminate non-public information to any investors
who purchase stock in the Company in a public offering, to money managers or to
securities analysts, provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, the Company will, as hereinabove provided, immediately notify the
advisors and representatives of the Investor and, if any, underwriters, of any
event or the existence of any circumstance (without any obligation to disclose
the specific event or circumstance) of which it becomes aware, constituting
non-public information (whether or not requested of the Company specifically or
generally during the course of due diligence by such persons or entities),
which, if not disclosed in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement
would cause such prospectus to include a material misstatement or to omit a
material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements,
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
Nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall be construed to mean that such
persons or entities other than the Investor (without the written consent of the
Investor prior to disclosure of such information) may not obtain non-public
information in the course of conducting due diligence in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and nothing herein shall prevent any such persons or
entities from notifying the Company of their opinion that based on such due
diligence by such persons or entities, that the Registration Statement contains
an untrue statement of material fact or omits a material fact required to be
stated in the Registration Statement or necessary to make the statements
contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
ARTICLE IX.
Choice of Law/Jurisdiction
Section 9.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without
regard to the principles of conflict of laws. The parties further agree that any
action between them shall be heard in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ County, New Jersey, and expressly
consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the Superior Court of New Jersey,
sitting in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ County, New Jersey and the United States District Court of New
Jersey, sitting in Newark, New Jersey, for the adjudication of any civil action
asserted pursuant to this paragraph.
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ARTICLE X.
Assignment; Termination
Section 10.1. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights of the
Company hereunder may be assigned to any other Person.
Section 10.2. Termination. The obligations of the Investor to make
Advances under Article II hereof shall terminate twenty-four (24) months after
the Effective Date.
ARTICLE XI.
Notices
Section 11.1. Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers, or other
communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this
Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon
receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile,
provided a copy is mailed by U.S. certified mail, return receipt requested;
(iii) three (3) days after being sent by U.S. certified mail, return receipt
requested, or (iv) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to
receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications
shall be:
If to the Company, to: SmarTire Systems Inc.
Richmond Corporate Centre
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Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With a copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Traurig, LLP
MetLife Building
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Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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If to the Investor(s): Cornell Capital Partners, LP
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Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Portfolio Manager
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With a Copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
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Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Each party shall provide five (5) days' prior written notice to the other party
of any change in address or facsimile number.
ARTICLE XII.
Miscellaneous
Section 12.1. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same
agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each
party and delivered to the other party. In the event any signature page is
delivered by facsimile transmission, the party using such means of delivery
shall cause four (4) additional original executed signature pages to be
physically delivered to the other party within five (5) days of the execution
and delivery hereof, though failure to deliver such copies shall not affect the
validity of this Agreement.
Section 12.2. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement supersedes all
other prior oral or written agreements between the Investor, the Company, their
affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters
discussed herein, and this Agreement and the instruments referenced herein
contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters
covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or
therein, neither the Company nor the Investor makes any representation,
warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of
this Agreement may be waived or amended other than by an instrument in writing
signed by the party to be charged with enforcement.
Section 12.3. Reporting Entity for the Common Stock. The reporting entity
relied upon for the determination of the trading price or trading volume of the
Common Stock on any given Trading Day for the purposes of this Agreement shall
be Bloomberg, L.P. or any successor thereto. The written mutual consent of the
Investor and the Company shall be required to employ any other reporting entity.
Section 12.4. Fees and Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay the
following fees:
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(a) Structuring Fees. Each of the parties shall pay its own fees and
expenses (including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, appraisers or others
engaged by such party) in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, except that the Company will pay a structuring fee of Ten
Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to Yorkville Advisors Management, LLC, which shall be
paid on the date hereof. Subsequently on each advance date, the Company will pay
Yorkville Advisors Management, LLC a structuring fee of Five Hundred Dollars
($500) directly out the proceeds of any Advances hereunder.
(b) Commitment Fees. On each Advance Date the Company shall pay to
the Investor, directly from the gross proceeds held in escrow, an amount equal
to five percent (5%) of the amount of each Advance. The Company hereby agrees
that if such payment, as is described above, is not made by the Company on the
Advance Date, such payment will be made at the direction of the Investor as
outlined and mandated by Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
Section 12.5. Brokerage. Each of the parties hereto represents that it has
had no dealings in connection with this transaction with any finder or broker
who will demand payment of any fee or commission from the other party. The
Company on the one hand, and the Investor, on the other hand, agree to indemnify
the other against and hold the other harmless from any and all liabilities to
any person claiming brokerage commissions or finder's fees on account of
services purported to have been rendered on behalf of the indemnifying party in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 12.6. Confidentiality. If for any reason the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are not consummated, each of the parties hereto
shall keep confidential any information obtained from any other party (except
information publicly available or in such party's domain prior to the date
hereof, and except as required by court order) and shall promptly return to the
other parties all schedules, documents, instruments, work papers or other
written information without retaining copies thereof, previously furnished by it
as a result of this Agreement or in connection herein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement to be executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, as of the date first set forth above.
COMPANY:
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
INVESTOR:
CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
By: Yorkville Advisors, LLC
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Portfolio Manager
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EXHIBIT A
ADVANCE NOTICE/COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC.
The undersigned, _______________________ hereby certifies, with respect to the
sale of shares of Common Stock of SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC. . (the "Company"),
issuable in connection with this Advance Notice and Compliance Certificate dated
___________________ (the "Notice"), delivered pursuant to the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement (the "Agreement"), as follows:
1. The undersigned is the duly elected ______________ of the Company.
2. There are no fundamental changes to the information set forth in the
Registration Statement which would require the Company to file a post effective
amendment to the Registration Statement.
3. The Company has performed in all material respects all covenants and
agreements to be performed by the Company on or prior to the Advance Date
related to the Notice and has complied in all material respects with all
obligations and conditions contained in the Agreement.
4. The undersigned hereby represents, warrants and covenants that it has
made all filings ("SEC Filings") required to be made by it pursuant to
applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, all filings required
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which include Forms 10-QSB, 10-KSB,
8-K, etc. All SEC Filings and other public disclosures made by the Company,
including, without limitation, all press releases, analysts meetings and calls,
etc. (collectively, the "Public Disclosures"), have been reviewed and approved
for release by the Company's attorneys and, if containing financial information,
the Company's independent certified public accountants. As of their respective
dates of filing, none of the Company's Public Disclosures contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
5. The Advance requested is _____________________.
The undersigned has executed this Certificate this ____ day of
_________________.
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC.
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT B
ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE
The purpose of this Questionnaire is to assure SmarTire Systems Inc. (the
"Company") that the undersigned (the "Subscriber") will meet certain
requirements for the registration and prospectus exemptions provided for under
Multilateral Instrument 45-103 ("MI 45-103"), as adopted by the British Columbia
Securities Commission and the Alberta Securities Commission (each, a "local
jurisdiction"), in respect of a proposed private placement of securities by the
Company (the "Transaction"). The Company will rely on the information contained
in this Questionnaire for the purposes of such determination.
The undersigned Subscriber covenants, represents and warrants to the
Company that:
1. the Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of the Transaction and the Subscriber is able to bear the economic
risk of loss arising from such Transaction;
2. the Subscriber satisfies one or more of the categories of
"accredited investor" (as that term is defined in MI 45-103)
indicated below (please check the appropriate box):
(a) |_| a Canadian financial institution as defined in National
Instrument 14-101, or an authorized foreign bank listed in
Schedule III of the Bank Act (Canada);
(b) |_| the Business Development Bank of Canada incorporated under
the Business Development Bank of Canada Act (Canada);
(c) |_| an association under the Cooperative Credit Associations
Act (Canada) located in Canada;
(d) |_| a subsidiary of any person or company referred to in
paragraphs 2(a) to 2(c), where the person or company owns all
of the voting securities of the subsidiary, except the voting
securities required by law to be owned by directors of that
subsidiary;
(e) |_| a person or company registered under the Securities Act
(British Columbia), or under securities legislation of another
jurisdiction of Canada, as an adviser or dealer, other than a
limited market dealer registered under the Securities Act
(Ontario);
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(f) |_| an individual registered or formerly registered under the
Securities Act (British Columbia), or under securities
legislation in another jurisdiction of Canada, as a
representative of a person or company registered under the
Securities Act (British Columbia), or under securities
legislation in another jurisdiction of Canada, as an adviser
or dealer, other than a limited market dealer registered under
the Securities Act (Ontario);
(g) |_| the government of Canada or a province, or any crown
corporation or agency of the government of Canada or a
province;
(h) |_| a municipality, public board or commission in Canada;
(i) |_| a national, federal, state, provincial, territorial or
municipal government of or in any foreign jurisdiction, or any
agency of that government;
(j) |_| a pension fund that is regulated by either the Office of
the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada) or a
provincial pension commission or similar regulatory authority;
(k) |_| a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada);
(l) |_| an individual who beneficially owns, or who together with
a spouse beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, financial
assets (defined in MI 45-103 to mean cash and securities)
having an aggregate realizable value that, before taxes but
net of any related liabilities, exceeds CDN.$1,000,000;
(m) |_| an individual whose net income before taxes exceeded
CDN.$200,000 in each of the two most recent years or whose net
income before taxes combined with that of a spouse exceeded
CDN.$300,000 in each of those years and who, in either case,
has a reasonable expectation of exceeding that net income
level in the current year;
(n) |_| a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability
partnership, trust or estate, other than a mutual fund or
non-redeemable investment fund, that had net assets of at
least CDN.$5,000,000 as reflected on its most recently
prepared financial statements;
(o) |_| a mutual fund or non-redeemable investment fund that, in
the local jurisdiction, distributes it securities only to
persons or companies that are accredited investors;
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(p) |_| a mutual fund or non-redeemable investment fund that, in
the local jurisdiction, distributes its securities under a
prospectus for which a receipt has been issued by the
regulator;
(q) |_| an entity organized in a foreign jurisdiction that is
analogous to any of the entities referred to in paragraphs
2(a) through 2(e) and paragraph 2(j) in form and function; or
(r) |_| a person or company in respect of which all of the owners
of interests, direct or indirect, legal or beneficial, are
persons or companies that are accredited investors.
The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Subscriber may be
required by the Company to provide such additional documentation as may be
reasonably required by the Company and its legal counsel in determining the
Subscriber's eligibility to acquire the Shares under relevant Legislation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Questionnaire as of
the _____ day of ________________, ________.
If a Corporation, Partnership or Other Entity: If an Individual:
______________________________________________ _____________________________
Print or Type Name of Entity Signature
______________________________________________ _____________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory Print or Type Name
______________________________________________
Type of Entity
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SCHEDULE 2.6
SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC.
The undersigned hereby agrees that for a period commencing on the date
hereof and expiring on the termination of the Agreement dated May ____, 2005
between Smartire Systems Inc., (the "Company"), and Cornell Capital Partners,
LP, (the "Investor") (the "Lock-up Period"), he, she or it will not, directly or
indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Investor, issue, offer,
agree or offer to sell, sell, grant an option for the purchase or sale of,
transfer, pledge, assign, hypothecate, distribute or otherwise encumber or
dispose of except pursuant to Rule 144 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Act of 1933, any securities of the Company, including
common stock or options, rights, warrants or other securities underlying,
convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for or evidencing any right to
purchase or subscribe for any common stock (whether or not beneficially owned by
the undersigned), or any beneficial interest therein (collectively, the
"Securities").
In order to enable the aforesaid covenants to be enforced, the undersigned
hereby consents to the placing of legends and/or stop-transfer orders with the
transfer agent of the Company's securities with respect to any of the Securities
registered in the name of the undersigned or beneficially owned by the
undersigned, and the undersigned hereby confirms the undersigned's investment in
the Company.
Dated: _______________, 2005
Signature
_________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________
Address: ________________________________
City, State, Zip Code: __________________
_________________________________________
Print Social Security Number
or Taxpayer I.D. Number
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