UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13D
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 

 
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
 
Common Stock, Par Value $0.0001
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
043635408
(CUSIP Number)
 
 
Crowdex Investment, LLC
1675 South State Street, Suite B
Dover, DE 19901
310-266-3528
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
Communications)



September 22, 2020
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
 
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 1(f) or 1(g), check the following box. 
 
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
 
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
 
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13D
 
CUSIP No. 043635408
 
1.
Names of Reporting Persons.

Crowdex Investment, LLC
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions).
 
(a) ☒   (b) ◻
3.
SEC Use Only
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions)
 
WC
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization
 
Delaware
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned by
Each Reporting Person
With
7.
Sole Voting Power

50,000,000,000 Common Shares(1)  (See Item 5)
8.
Shared Voting Power

0 Common Shares
9.
Sole Dispositive Power
 
50,000,000,000 Common Shares(1) (See Item 5)
10.
Shared Dispositive Power

0 Common Shares
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
 
50,000,000,000 Common Shares
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

90.6%(2)
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

CO

(1)
 
 
 
Crowdex Investment, LLC (“Crowdex”) is the current owner of 2,000 Series 1A Preferred Stock of the Issuer (the “Preferred Shares”).  These 2,000 Preferred Shares (the “First Tranche”) are convertible into 20,000,000,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer.  Pursuant to the Series 1A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement between the Issuer and Crowdex, Crowdex will purchase an additional 3,000 Preferred Shares on November 20, 2020, less than 60 days of the date of this filing (the “Second Tranche”).  The shares represented above represent beneficial ownership of the First and Second Tranches.
 
     
(2) Percentage calculated based on 5,165,490,450 Common Shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 as reported by the Issuer’s Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2020.  

2

CUSIP No. 043635408
 
1.
Names of Reporting Persons.

Bernd Förtsch
2.
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions).
 
(a) ☒   (b) ◻
3.
SEC Use Only
4.
Source of Funds (See Instructions)
 
WC
5.
Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
 
6.
Citizenship or Place of Organization
 
Germany
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned by
Each Reporting Person
With
7.
Sole Voting Power

50,000,000,000(1) Common Shares  (See Item 5)
8.
Shared Voting Power

0 Common Shares
9.
Sole Dispositive Power
 
50,000,000,000(1) Common Shares (See Item 5)
10.
Shared Dispositive Power

0 Common Shares
11.
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
 
50,000,000,000(1) Common Shares (See Item 5)
12.
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

13.
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

90.6%(2)
14.
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN

(1)
Mr. Förtsch is the 100% indirect beneficial owner of Crowdex. Crowdex is the current owner of 2,000 Preferred Shares.  This First Tranche is convertible into 20,000,000,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer.  Pursuant to the Series 1A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement between the Issuer and Crowdex, Crowdex will purchase the Second Tranche on November 20, 2020, within 60 days of the date of this filing.  The shares represented above represent beneficial ownership of the First and Second Tranches.
   
(2)
Percentage calculated based on 5,165,490,450 Common Shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 as reported by the Issuer’s Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2020.

3

Item 1.
Security and Issuer.

This Schedule 13D relates to the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Shares”) and the Series 1A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series 1A Preferred Shares”), of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), whose principal executive offices are located at 12300 Grant Street, Thornton, Colorado 80241. The Issuer’s Common Shares are listed on the Over the Counter Market under the symbol “ASTI.”
 
Item 2.
Identity and Background.
 
(a)-(c) This Schedule 13D is being filed by the following reporting persons: (i) Crowdex Investment, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Crowdex”) and (ii) Bernd Förtsch, a citizen of Germany (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”). The agreement between the Reporting Persons relating to the joint filing of this Schedule 13D is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. The address for each of the Reporting Persons is as follows: 1675 South State Street, Suite B, Dover, DE 19901.  The Reporting Persons mainly engage in investment businesses.
 
(d)-(e) During the last five years, neither any of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, any of the persons listed on Schedule A, (1) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (2) has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
 
(f)       The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and citizenship of each director and executive officer of the Reporting Persons is David Peterson, Manager of Crowdex Investment, LLC with an address of 1675 South State Street, Suite B, Dover, DE 19901.  Mr. Peterson is a citizen of the United States.
 
Item 3.
Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
 
The information set forth in or incorporated by reference in Items 4 and 5 of this Schedule 13D is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Item 3.
 
The source of the funds used by Crowdex Investment, LLC to acquire the Series 1A Preferred Shares was their working capital, provided indirectly by Bernd Förtsch through BF Holding GmbH.  Crowdex Investment, LLC is 100% owned by Crowdex GmbH; Crowdex GmbH is 100% owned by BF Holding GmbH; BF Holding GmbH is 100% owned by Bernd Förtsch.
 
Item 4.
Purpose of Transaction.
 
On September 22, 2020, the Issuer entered into a securities purchase agreement (“Series 1A SPA”) with Crowdex, for the private placement of up to $5,000,000 of the Issuer’s Series 1A Preferred. The Issuer sold 2,000 shares of Series 1A Preferred Stock to Crowdex in exchange for $2,000,000 of gross proceeds at an initial closing under the Series 1A SPA on September 22, 2020 (the “First Tranche”).  Pursuant to the S1A SPA, the Issuer will sell an additional 3,000 shares of Series 1A Preferred Stock to Crowdex in exchange for $3,000,000 of gross proceeds at a second closing under the Series 1A SPA on November 20, 2020 (the “Second Tranche”).

The Series 1A Preferred are convertible into 50,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.
4

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a)–(b) The following information with respect to the ownership of Common Shares by the Reporting Persons filing this statement on Schedule 13D is provided as of the date of this filing:

Reporting Persons
Common
Shares Held
Directly
Shared
Voting
Power
Shared
Dispositive
Power
Beneficial
Ownership
Percentage(1)
Crowdex Investment, LLC
50,000,000,000
0
0
50,000,000,000
90.6
Bernd Förtsch
50,000,000,000
0
0
50,000,000,000
90.6
           

(1)
Percentage calculated based on (i) 5,165,490,450 Common Shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 as reported by the Issuer’s Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2020 and (ii) 5,000 Series 1A Preferred Shares (convertible into 50,000,000,000 Common Shares of the Issuer) owned by Crowdex Investment, LLC 2,000 currently and 3,000 acquirable within 60 days of this filing which, as described above, is indirectly 100% owned by Bernd Förtsch.

(c) Except as set forth herein and below, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons with respect to the persons named in response to Item 5(a)-(b), none of the persons named in response to Item 5(a)-(b) has effected any transactions in the Common Shares during the past 60 days.

(d) Except as disclosed in Item 2, no person is known to the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, any securities covered by this Schedule 13D.

(e) Not applicable.

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangement, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
 
Crowdex Investment, LLC is 100% owned by Crowdex GmbH; Crowdex GmbH is 100% owned by BF Holding GmbH; BF Holding GmbH is 100% owned by Bernd Förtsch.

In addition, on September 22, 2020, Penumbra Solar, Inc. assigned to Crowdex a convertible promissory note previously issued by the Issuer in the amount of $250,000 (the “Note”).  The conversion features of this Note limit any conversion if such conversion would result in the holder holding more than 4.9% of the Issuer’s Common Shares.  Accordingly, so long as Crowdex beneficially owns more than 4.9% of the Issuer’s Common Shares, the Note is effectively not convertible.

Item 7. Materials to be Filed as Exhibits.
 
Exhibit 99.1 Joint Filing Agreement among the Reporting Persons.

Exhibit 99.2 Series 1A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement between the Issuer and Crowdex Investment, LLC dated September 22, 2020.
5

SIGNATURES
 
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 
 
Date:  October 2, 2020 
CROWDEX INVESTMENT, LLC  
       
       

By:
/s/ David Peterson
 
  Name:
David Peterson
 
  Its:
Manager
 
       

 
Date:  October 2, 2020
By:
/s/ David Peterson, power of attorney
 
 
Bernd Förtsch  
 

 
       


EXHIBIT 99.1


JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
 
In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of the undersigned hereby agrees to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of a statement on Schedule 13D (including amendments thereto) with respect to the Common Stock of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. Each of the undersigned acknowledges that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of any statement (including amendments) on Schedule 13D, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the other persons making such filings, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
  
 
 
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this Agreement on the dates set forth below. 
 
Date:  October 2, 2020 
CROWDEX INVESTMENT, LLC  
       
       

By:
/s/ David Peterson
 
  Name:
David Peterson
 
  Its:
Manager
 
       

 
Date:  October 2, 2020
By:
/s/ David Peterson, power of attorney
 
 
Bernd Förtsch  
 

 
 

EXHIBIT 99.2

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of September 22, 2020, between Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).
 
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company, securities of the Company.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
 
1.1       Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement: (a) capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Certificate of Designation (as defined herein), and (b) the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:
 
Acquiring Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.7.
 
Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(j).
 
Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
 
Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
 
Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.
 
Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation of the Series A1 Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on September 11, 2020, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto.

Closing Dates” means the Trading Days on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto in connection with a Closing, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchasers’ obligations to pay the Subscription Amount as to such Closing and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities as to such Closing, in each case, have been satisfied or waived.
 
Closing(s)” means the one or more closings of the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.
1

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.000001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
 
Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
 
Conversion Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Certificate of Designation.
 
Conversion Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock.
 
Disclosure Schedules” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.
 
Evaluation Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(r).
 
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).
 
Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(o).
 
Legend Removal Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(c).

Liens” means a lien, charge, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.
 
Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(b).
 
Material Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(m).
 
Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.17.
 
Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
 
Preferred Stock” means up to 5,000 shares of the Company’s Series A1 Convertible Preferred Stock issued hereunder having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the Certificate of Designation, in the form of Exhibit A hereto
 
Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
 
Purchase Price Value” means $1,000 per share of Preferred Stock.
2

Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).
 
Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
 
Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
 
SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).
 
Securities” means the Preferred Stock, and the Conversion Shares.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Stated Value” means $1,000 per share of Preferred Stock.
 
Subscription Amount” shall mean, as to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Preferred Stock purchased hereunder as specified below such Purchaser’s name as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser under the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.
 
Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a) and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.
 
Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.
 
Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange, the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC Markets (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
 
Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Certificate of Designation, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
 
Transfer Agent” means Computershare Investor Services, LLC, the current transfer agent of the Corporation, with a mailing address of 8742 Lucent Blvd., Suite 225, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.
 
ARTICLE II.
PURCHASE AND SALE
 
2.1       Closings. The Purchaser will purchase an aggregate of up to $5,000,000 in Subscription Amount of Preferred Stock in up to two (2) tranches (each a “Tranche”), with the first Tranche of $2,000,000 being closed on upon execution of this Agreement. The second Tranche will be for $3,000,000
3

and will occur on November 20, 2020. The Purchaser shall not be required to fund the second Tranche if the Company is in default under the terms of this Agreement or the Certificate of Designations on such Closing Date. At each Closing, each Purchaser shall deliver to the Company, via wire transfer or a certified check, immediately available funds equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount (as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser), and the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser its respective shares of Preferred Stock (as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser), and the Company and each Purchaser shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.3 deliverable at the respective Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.3 and 2.4 for each Closing, each Closing shall occur at the offices of the Purchaser’s counsel or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.
 
2.2       Deliveries.
 
(a)  On or prior to each Closing Date (or as otherwise indicated below), the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:
 
(i)  At the first Closing, this Agreement duly executed by the Company; and
 
(ii)  a certificate representing a number of shares of Preferred Stock in the amount for such Closing as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser, which number shall be equal to (x) the Subscription Amount for such Closing, divided (y) the Purchase Price Value.
 
(b)  On or prior to each Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company, as applicable, the following:
 
(i)  such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount for such Closing by wire transfer to the account specified in writing by the Company.
 
2.3       Closing Conditions.
 
(a)  The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with each Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:
 
(i)  the accuracy in all material respects on the applicable Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);
 
(ii)  all obligations, covenants and agreements of each Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the applicable Closing Date shall have been performed; and
 
(iii)  the delivery by each Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.
 
(b)  The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with each Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

(i)  the accuracy in all material respects when made and on the applicable Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein); 
4

(ii)  all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the applicable Closing Date shall have been performed;
 
(iii)  the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement; and
 
(iv)   there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof.
 
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
3.1       Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports or the Disclosure Schedules, which SEC Reports and Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof and shall qualify any representation or otherwise made herein to the extent of the disclosure contained in the corresponding section of the SEC Reports and Disclosure Schedules, the Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each Purchaser:
 
(a)  Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company are set forth in the SEC Reports. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. If the Company has no subsidiaries, all other references to the Subsidiaries or any of them in the Transaction Documents shall be disregarded.
 
(b)  Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.
 
(c)  Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which
5

it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
 
(d)  No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(e)  Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than: (i) the filings required pursuant to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, (ii) the notice and/or application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the issuance and sale of the Securities and the listing of the Conversion Shares for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby, and (iii) the filing of Form D with the Commission and such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).
 
(f)  Issuance of the Securities. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Conversion Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents.
  
(g)  Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g), which Schedule 3.1(g) shall also include the number of shares of Common Stock owned beneficially, and of record, by Affiliates of the Company as of the date hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g), the Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the
6

date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g) and except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.
 
(h)  SEC Reports; Financial Statements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(h), the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has ceased to be an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act, one year has elapsed from the time the Company has filed current Form 10 information with the SEC and has filed all required annual and quarterly reports in the preceding 12 months period. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.
 
(i)  Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof: (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and
7

accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option and restricted stock plans. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3.1(i), no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, properties, operations, assets or financial condition, that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least 1 Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.
 
(j)  Litigation. Except as may be disclosed in the SEC Reports, there is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
 
(k)  Labor Relations. No labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(l)  Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties
8

is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority, or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(m)  Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.
 
(n)  Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as may be disclosed in the SEC Reports, (ii) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries, and (iii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP and, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance. Any and all Liens and claims against the Company, including the amounts of such Liens and the location of Lien filings, whether at the state or county level are set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.
 
(o)  Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights as described in the SEC Reports as necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as could not have or reasonably be expected to not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Any and all Liens against the Company’s Intellectual Property filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office are set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.

(p)  Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are
9

effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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. The Company and the Subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
 
(q)  Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Purchasers as contemplated hereby. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market.
 
(r)  No “Bad Actor” Disqualification. The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Company Covered Person (as defined below) is subject to any of the “bad actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) through (viii), as modified by Rules 506(d)(2) and (d)(3), under the Securities Act (“Disqualification Events”). To the Company’s knowledge, no Company Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent required, with any disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e) under the Securities Act. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Covered Persons” are those persons specified in Rule 506(d)(1) under the Securities Act; provided, however, that Company Covered Persons do not include (a) any Purchaser, or (b) any person or entity that is deemed to be an affiliated issuer of the Company solely as a result of the relationship between the Company and any Purchaser.
 
(s)  Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. Except as may be disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements.
10

(t)  No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of (i) the Securities Act which would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act, or (ii) any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.
 
(u)  Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, whether or not shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material 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 or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.
 
(v)  No General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company has offered the Securities for sale only to the Purchasers and certain other “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act.
 
3.2       Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser, for itself and for no other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein):
 
(a)  Organization; Authority. Such Purchaser is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.
 
(b)  Own Account. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, has no present intention of distributing any of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable
11

state securities law and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law (this representation and warranty not limiting such Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws). Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.
 
(c)  Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, and on each date on which it converts any shares of Preferred Stock, it will be either: (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act or (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act.
 
(d) Experience of Such Purchaser. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.
 
(e)  General Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement.
 
(f)  No “Bad Actor” Disqualification. Such Purchaser represents and warrants that neither (A) the Purchaser nor (B) any entity that controls the Purchaser or is under the control of, or under common control with, the Holder, is subject to any Disqualification Event, except for Disqualification Events covered by Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act and disclosed in writing in reasonable detail to the Company. The Purchaser represents that the Purchaser has exercised reasonable care to determine the accuracy of the representation made by the Purchaser in this paragraph, and agrees to notify the Company if the Purchaser becomes aware of any fact that makes the representation given by the Purchaser hereunder inaccurate.
 
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in Section 3.2 shall not modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby.
 
ARTICLE IV.
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
 
4.1       Transfer Restrictions.
 
(a)  The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of a Purchaser or in connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Purchaser under this Agreement.
12

(b)  The Purchasers agree to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 4.1, of a legend on any of the Securities in the following form:
 
[NEITHER] THIS SECURITY [NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE] HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY [AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON [CONVERSION] OF THIS SECURITY] MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
 
The Company acknowledges and agrees that a Purchaser may from time to time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a registered broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities to a financial institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and who agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, if required under the terms of such arrangement, such Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel of the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection therewith. Further, no notice shall be required of such pledge. At the appropriate Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Securities, including, if the Securities are registered under a registration statement, the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of selling stockholders thereunder.
 
(c)  Certificates evidencing the Conversion Shares shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) hereof): (i) while a registration statement covering the resale of such security is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Conversion Shares pursuant to Rule 144, (iii) if such Conversion Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such Conversion Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission). The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the Transfer Agent promptly after the events described in clauses (i)-(iv) in the immediately preceding sentence if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder. If all or any shares of Preferred Stock are converted at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover the resale of the Conversion Shares, or if such Conversion Shares may be sold under Rule 144 and the Company is then in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144, or if the Conversion Shares may be sold under Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such Conversion Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or if such legend is not otherwise required under applicable requirements of the
13

Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) then such Conversion Shares shall be issued free of all legends. The Company agrees that following such time as such legend is no longer required under this Section 4.1(c), it will, no later than three Trading Days following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent of a certificate representing Conversion Shares, as applicable, issued with a restrictive legend (such third Trading Day, the “Legend Removal Date”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such shares that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 4. Certificates for Conversion Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company System as directed by such Purchaser.

4.3       Furnishing of Information; Public Information.
 
(a)  The Company agrees to cause the Common Stock to be registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Thereafter, until the date on which no Purchaser owns Securities, the Company covenants to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act even if the Company is not then subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
 
(b)  At any time during the period commencing from the six (6) month anniversary of the date hereof and ending at such time that all of the Securities may be sold without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall satisfy the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c).
 
4.4       Integration. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities or that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.
 
4.5       Conversion and Exercise Procedures. The form of Notice of Conversion included in the Certificate of Designation sets forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchasers in order to convert the Preferred Stock. Without limiting the preceding sentences, no ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required in order to convert the Preferred Stock. No additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Purchasers to convert their Preferred Stock. The Company shall honor conversions of the Preferred Stock and shall deliver Conversion Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Transaction Documents.
 
4.6       Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company shall promptly following the date hereof, (a) issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including the Transaction Documents as exhibits thereto, with the Commission within the time required by the Exchange Act. The Company and each Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any other press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor any Purchaser shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of any
14

Purchaser, or without the prior consent of each Purchaser, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. The Company shall not, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and its and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents, not to, provide any Purchaser with any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the date hereof without the express prior written consent of such Purchaser.
 
4.7       Shareholder Rights Plan. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that any Purchaser is an “Acquiring Person” under any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or similar anti-takeover plan or arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Purchaser could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities under the Transaction Documents or under any other agreement between the Company and the Purchasers.
 
4.8       Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.
 
4.9       Reservation and Listing of Securities.
 
(a) The Company shall maintain a reserve from its duly authorized shares of Common Stock for issuance pursuant to the Transaction Documents of the Conversion Shares.
 
(c) The Company shall, if applicable: (i) in the time and manner required by the principal Trading Market, prepare and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering all Conversion Shares, (ii) take all steps necessary to cause such shares of Common Stock to be approved for listing or quotation on such Trading Market as soon as possible thereafter, (iii) provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing or quotation, and (iv) maintain the listing or quotation of such Common Stock on such date on such Trading Market or another Trading Market.
 
4.10       Reverse Stock Split. Following the First Tranche closing, the Company shall use all commercially reasonable best efforts to effectuate a reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Common Stock as soon as reasonably practical.
 
4.11       Form D; Blue Sky Filings. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of any Purchaser. The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Securities for, sale to the Purchasers under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States, and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon request of any Purchaser.
 
ARTICLE V.
MISCELLANEOUS
 
5.1       Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s obligations hereunder only and without any effect whatsoever on the obligations between the Company and the other Purchasers, by written notice to the other parties, if the first Closing has not been consummated on or before September 30, 2020; providedhowever, that such termination will not affect the right of any party to sue for any breach by any other party (or parties).
15

5.2       Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents or any other writing to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company and any conversion notice delivered by a Purchaser), stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Purchasers.
 
5.3       Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.
 
5.4       Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or email at the facsimile number or email set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (Denver, Colorado time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or email at the facsimile number or email set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (Denver, Colorado time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.
 
5.5       Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Purchasers holding at least 67% in interest of the Securities then outstanding or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.
 
5.6       Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.
 
5.7       Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Purchaser (other than by merger). Any Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the rights to purchase Preferred Stock at the second Tranche Closing) to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any such rights. If requested by any such transferee, the Company agrees to permit the Transaction Documents for such second Tranche Closing to be governed by German law.
 
5.8       No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.10 and this Section 5.8.
16

 5.9       Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in Denver, Colorado. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Denver, Colorado for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
 
5.10       Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing and the delivery of the Securities.
 
5.11       Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
 
5.12       Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
 
5.13       Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) any of the other Transaction Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights; providedhowever, that in the case of a rescission of a conversion of the Preferred Stock, the
17

applicable Purchaser shall be required to return any shares of Common Stock subject to any such rescinded conversion notice concurrently with the restoration of such Purchaser’s right to acquire such shares pursuant to such Purchaser’s Preferred Stock.
  
5.14       Replacement of Securities. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction. The applicant for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including customary indemnity) associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities.
 
5.15       Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
 
5.16       Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
 
5.17       Usury. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Company hereby agrees not to insist upon or plead or in any manner whatsoever claim, and will resist any and all efforts to be compelled to take the benefit or advantage of, usury laws wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, in connection with any claim, action or proceeding that may be brought by any Purchaser in order to enforce any right or remedy under any Transaction Document. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any Transaction Document, it is expressly agreed and provided that the total liability of the Company under the Transaction Documents for payments in the nature of interest shall not exceed the maximum lawful rate authorized under applicable law (the “Maximum Rate”), and, without limiting the foregoing, in no event shall any rate of interest or default interest, or both of them, when aggregated with any other sums in the nature of interest that the Company may be obligated to pay under the Transaction Documents exceed such Maximum Rate. It is agreed that if the maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law and applicable to the Transaction Documents is increased or decreased by statute or any official governmental action subsequent to the date hereof, the new maximum contract rate of interest allowed by law will be the Maximum Rate applicable to the Transaction Documents from the effective date thereof forward, unless such application is precluded by applicable law. If under any circumstances whatsoever, interest in excess of the Maximum Rate is paid by the Company to any Purchaser with respect to indebtedness evidenced by the Transaction Documents, such excess shall be applied by such Purchaser to the unpaid principal balance of any such indebtedness or be refunded to the Company, the manner of handling such excess to be at such Purchaser’s election.
18

5.18       Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in its review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any of the Purchasers.
 
5.19       Liquidated Damages. The Company’s obligations to pay any partial liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.
 
5.20       Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.
 
5.21       Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.
 
5.22       WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.
 
(Signature Pages Follow)
 


19

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
 
 
 
 
ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
 
 
By: /s/ Victor Lee
Name: Victor Lee
Title: Chief Executive Officer
 
Address for Notice:
 
12300 Grant Street
Thornton, CO 80241
 
Email: victor.lee@ascentsolar.com
 
 
 
 
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]
 
 

20


[PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGES TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT]
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
 
Name of Purchaser: Crowdex Investments, LLC
 
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser: /s/ David Peterson
 
Name of Authorized Signatory: David Peterson
 
Title of Authorized Signatory: Manager
 
Email Address of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________
 
Facsimile Number of Authorized Signatory: _________________________________
 
Address for Notice to Purchaser:
 
c/o Capitol Services, Inc
Attn: David Peterson
1675 South State Street, Suite B
Kent County, DE 19901
 
 
Address for Delivery of Securities to Purchaser (if not same as address for notice):
 
 
First Closing: Subscription Amount: $2,000,000
First Closing: 2,000 Shares of Series 1A Preferred Stock
 
Second Closing: Subscription Amount: $3,000,000
Second Closing: 3,000 Shares of Series 1A Preferred Stock
 


21