UNITED STATES
Amendment No. 3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Delaware
|
3699 | 86-0741227 | ||
(State or other Jurisdiction of | (Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer | ||
Incorporation or Organization) | Classification Code Number) | Identification Number) |
7860 E. McClain Drive, Suite 2
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 (480) 991-0797 (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices and principal place of business) |
Patrick W. Smith,
Chief Executive Officer TASER International, Inc. 7860 E. McClain Drive, Suite 2 Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 (480) 991-0797 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) |
Copies to:
Thomas P. Palmer, Esq.
Jeffrey S. Cronn, Esq. Tonkon Torp LLP 888 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 1600 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 802-2018 |
Mark A. von Bergen, Esq.
Joshua E. Husbands, Esq. Weiss Jensen Ellis & Howard 2300 U.S. Bancorp Tower 111 S.W. Fifth Avenue Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 243-2300 |
Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering.
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to
Rule 434, please check the following
box.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
[Additional columns below]
[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
Proposed
Maximum Offering
Proposed
Amount to be
Price Per
Maximum Aggregate
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered
Registered
Security(1)
Offering Price
920,000
$14.00
$12,880,000
1,380,000
1,380,000
80,000
80,000
$16.80
$1,344,000
120,000
120,000
1,500,000
$15.40
$23,100,000
$37,324,000
(1)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration
fee in accordance with Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act
of 1933.
(2)
Includes 120,000 units which Paulson Investment Company, Inc.,
the representative of the underwriters, has the option to
purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.
(3)
In connection with the sale of the units, TASER International,
Inc. will issue to the underwriters warrants to purchase, in the
aggregate, up to 80,000 units.
(4)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933,
there are also being registered such additional shares and
warrants as may be issuable pursuant to the anti-dilution
provisions of the public warrants and the underwriters
warrants.
(5)
TASER International, Inc. previously paid registration fees in
the aggregate amount of $9,514 in connection with the filing of
its Registration Statement on Form SB-2 and Amendment
No. 2 thereto on February 14 and April 13, 2001,
respectively.
The information in this
prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell
these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus
is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting
an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 30, 2001
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
800,000 Units
This is an initial public offering of units by TASER International, Inc. Each unit consists of one and one-half shares of common stock and one and one-half redeemable public warrants, each whole warrant to purchase one share of common stock. We expect that the initial public offering price will be between $13 and $14 per unit. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. We have filed an application to list the units, the common stock and the public warrants on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbols TASRU, TASR and TASRW, respectively.
The common stock and warrants will trade only as a unit for at least 30 days following this offering. The representative of the underwriters will then determine when the units separate, after which the common stock and the public warrants will trade separately. The representative intends to separate the units 30 days after this offering absent unforeseen circumstances.
Investing in these units involves significant risks. See
Risk Factors beginning on page 4.
Per Unit
Total
$
$
$
$
$
$
The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Paulson Investment Company, Inc. is the representative of the underwriters. We have granted the representative the option for a period of 45 days to purchase up to an additional 120,000 units to cover over-allotments.
PAULSON INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
MERCER PARTNERS, INC. |
Investment | |
Banking |
|
The date of this prospectus is , 2001.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary highlights material information which
is presented in more detail elsewhere in this prospectus. Before
making an investment decision, you should read the entire
prospectus carefully, including the Risk Factors
section, the financial statements and the notes to the financial
statements.
Historical information regarding our securities has been
adjusted to reflect a 1-for-6 reverse stock split effected in
connection with our reincorporation in Delaware on
February 12, 2001. Except as otherwise indicated, all
information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the
representatives over-allotment option or the
underwriters warrants. References to we,
us, the company or TASER
mean TASER International, Inc., unless otherwise indicated.
Our Company
TASER International, Inc. develops, assembles and markets
less-lethal, conducted energy weapons primarily for use in the
law enforcement and corrections market. Our ADVANCED TASER
weapon offers improved performance over other less-lethal force
options used by law enforcement agencies. It can temporarily
incapacitate virtually any individual regardless of pain
tolerance, drug use, or body size factors that cause
other less-lethal options to have decreased effectiveness. The
ADVANCED TASER also has a comparable or lower injury rate than
other less-lethal weapons and has had no reported long-term,
adverse after-effects.
The ADVANCED TASER uses compressed nitrogen to shoot two small
probes up to 21 feet. These barbed probes are connected to the
weapon by high-voltage insulated wires. When the probes make
contact with the target, the ADVANCED TASER transmits powerful
electrical pulses along the wires and into the body of the
target through up to two inches of clothing. These electrical
pulses impair voluntary muscle control so that the subject
cannot perform coordinated action.
Nearly all law enforcement agencies authorize the use of
less-lethal weapons, including pepper sprays, impact devices,
and conducted energy weapons such as TASERs. Effective
less-lethal weapons may increase the safety of law enforcement
officers, decrease suspect injuries, improve community
relations, reduce litigation and police department medical and
liability insurance costs, and potentially save lives.
Since December 1999, over 400 police departments in the
United States have made initial purchases of our products, and
15 police departments, including San Diego, Sacramento and
Albuquerque, have purchased our products for every patrol
officer. In addition, at February 1, 2001, more than 200
other police departments were evaluating the use of the ADVANCED
TASER.
The key elements of our growth strategy are:
Our corporate headquarters is located at 7860 East McClain
Drive, Suite 2, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 and our telephone
number is (480) 991-0797. Our website address is
www.eTASER.com. Information contained on our website or any
other website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
1
To expand sales in the law enforcement and corrections market,
which we believe to be the opinion leader for all other markets
for less-lethal weapons;
To expand into the related private security and military markets;
To expand into the consumer market;
To develop enhanced less-lethal weapons and technologies, such
as longer-range TASERs and TASERs with multiple shot
capabilities; and
To acquire related businesses that enhance our strategic
position.
This Offering
The number of shares of common stock outstanding after this
offering is based on 1,510,754 shares outstanding as of
March 15, 2001. The number of shares of common stock
outstanding after this offering assumes no exercise of the
representatives over-allotment option and does not include
an aggregate of 1,927,049 shares of common stock that may become
outstanding as follows:
2
434,322 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
options outstanding as of March 15, 2001, with a weighted
average exercise price of $4.94;
52,727 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants
outstanding as of March 15, 2001, with a weighted average
exercise price of $4.71;
1,200,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the
public warrants; and
120,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the
underwriters warrants and 120,000 shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of the public warrants underlying the
underwriters warrants.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The as adjusted balance sheet data reflects:
We have rights to the following registered trademarks:
TASER® and AIR TASER
®
. We also have the
following unregistered trademarks: TASER Wave
,
T-Wave
, AUTO TASER
, ADVANCED
TASER
and AFID
. Each other trademark, trade
name or service mark appearing in this prospectus belongs to its
respective holder.
3
Years Ended December 31,
1999
2000
$
2,208,488
$
3,412,620
120,002
1,574,231
(1,386,838
)
(46,885
)
(1,666,733
)
(473,247
)
$
(0.54
)
$
(0.19
)
3,076,410
2,482,976
December 31, 2000
Actual
As adjusted
$
(1,069,344
)
$
6,580,656
274,273
1,024,273
1,039,066
8,737,212
2,822,144
2,822,144
$
(3,617,215
)
$
4,782,785
the receipt of approximately $8,400,000 as the estimated net
proceeds from the sale of 800,000 units offered by us in this
offering at an assumed public offering price of $13.00 per unit,
after deducting the underwriting discount, expense allowance and
estimated offering expenses; and
our planned use of the net proceeds of this offering.
RISK FACTORS
This offering involves a high degree of risk. You should
carefully consider the following risk factors and all other
information contained in this prospectus before purchasing any
units. Any of the following risks could materially harm our
business, operating results and financial condition, and could
result in a decrease in the trading price of our units, common
stock or public warrants, or in a complete loss of your
investment.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have no history of profitable operations and may incur
future losses.
Since our inception in 1993, we have incurred significant
losses. Our net losses for the years ended December 31,
1999 and 2000 were $1.7 million and $473,000, respectively. We
may never achieve or sustain profitability. At December 31,
2000, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $6.8
million and negative stockholders equity of $3.6 million.
We also had a net working capital deficit of $2.4 million and
$1.1 million at December 31, 1999 and 2000, respectively.
In addition, we expect our operating expenses to increase
significantly as we expand our sales and marketing efforts and
otherwise support our expected growth. Given these planned
expenditures, we may incur additional losses in the near future.
Our business is difficult to evaluate because we have a
limited operating history in the law enforcement and corrections
market and have been focused on our current business strategy
for only approximately one and one-half years.
We revised our business strategy in late 1999 to concentrate on
the law enforcement and corrections market. Accordingly, we have
a limited operating history based on which you can evaluate our
present business and future prospects. We face risks and
uncertainties relating to our ability to implement our business
plan successfully. Our prospects must be considered in light of
the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by
newly-public companies that have recently changed their business
strategies. If we are unsuccessful in addressing these risks and
uncertainties, our business, results of operations, financial
condition and prospects will be materially harmed.
We are materially dependent on acceptance of our products
by the law enforcement and corrections market, and if law
enforcement and corrections agencies do not purchase our
products, our revenues will be adversely affected and we may not
be able to expand into other markets.
A substantial number of law enforcement and corrections agencies
may not purchase our conducted energy, less-lethal weapons. In
addition, if our products are not widely accepted by the law
enforcement and corrections market, we may not be able to expand
sales of our products into other markets. Law enforcement and
corrections agencies may be influenced by claims or perceptions
that conducted energy weapons are unsafe or may be used in an
abusive manner. In addition, earlier generation conducted energy
weapons may have been perceived as ineffective. Sales of our
products to these agencies may also be delayed or limited by
these claims or perceptions.
We substantially depend on sales of the ADVANCED TASER,
and if this product is not widely accepted, our growth prospects
will be diminished.
In 2000, we derived the majority of our revenues from sales of
ADVANCED TASERs and related cartridges, and expect to depend on
sales of this product for the foreseeable future. A decrease in
the prices of or demand for this product line, or its failure to
achieve broad market acceptance, would significantly harm our
growth prospects, operating results and financial condition.
4
If we are unable to manage our projected growth, our
growth prospects may be limited and our future profitability may
be adversely affected.
We intend to expand our sales and marketing programs and our
manufacturing capability. Rapid expansion may strain our
managerial, financial and other resources. If we are unable to
manage our growth, our business, operating results and financial
condition could be adversely affected. Our systems, procedures,
controls and management resources also may not be adequate to
support our future operations. We will need to continually
improve our operational, financial and other internal systems to
manage our growth effectively, and any failure to do so may lead
to inefficiencies and redundancies, and result in reduced growth
prospects and profitability.
We may face personal injury and other liability claims
that harm our reputation and adversely affect our sales and
financial condition.
Our products are often used in aggressive confrontations that
may result in serious, permanent bodily injury to those
involved. Our products may cause or be associated with these
injuries. A person injured in a confrontation or otherwise in
connection with the use of our products may bring legal action
against us to recover damages on the basis of theories including
personal injury, wrongful death, negligent design, dangerous
product or inadequate warning. We may also be subject to
lawsuits involving allegations of misuse of our products. If
successful, personal injury, misuse and other claims could have
a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial
condition. Although we carry product liability insurance,
significant litigation could also result in a diversion of
managements attention and resources, negative publicity
and an award of monetary damages in excess of our insurance
coverage.
Our future success is dependent on our ability to expand
sales through distributors and our inability to recruit new
distributors would negatively affect our sales.
Our distribution strategy is to pursue sales through multiple
channels with an emphasis on independent distributors. Our
inability to recruit and retain police equipment distributors
who can successfully sell our products would adversely affect
our sales. In addition, our arrangements with our distributors
are generally short-term. If we do not competitively price our
products, meet the requirements of our distributors or
end-users, provide adequate marketing support, or comply with
the terms of our distribution arrangements, our distributors may
fail to aggressively market our products or may terminate their
relationships with us. These developments would likely have a
material adverse effect on our sales. Our reliance on the sales
of our products by others also makes it more difficult to
predict our revenues, cash flow and operating results.
We expend significant resources in anticipation of a sale
due to our lengthy sales cycle and may receive no revenue in
return.
Generally, law enforcement and corrections agencies consider a
wide range of issues before committing to purchase our products,
including product benefits, training costs, the cost to use our
products in addition to or in place of other less-lethal
products, product reliability and budget constraints. The length
of our sales cycle may range from 60 days to a year or
more. We may incur substantial selling costs and expend
significant effort in connection with the evaluation of our
products by potential customers before they place an order. If
these potential customers do not purchase our products, we will
have expended significant resources and received no revenue in
return.
Most of our end-users are subject to budgetary and
political constraints which may delay or prevent sales.
Most of our end-user customers are government agencies. These
agencies often do not set their own budgets and therefore have
little control over the amount of money they can spend. In
addition, these agencies experience political pressure that may
dictate the manner in which they spend money. As a result, even
if an agency wants to acquire our products, it may be unable to
purchase them due to budgetary or political constraints. Some
government agency orders may also be canceled or substantially
5
Government regulation of our products may adversely affect
sales.
Federal regulation of sales in the United States.
Our
weapons are not firearms regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, but are consumer products regulated by the
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Although there
are currently no federal laws restricting sales of our weapons
in the United States, future federal regulation could adversely
affect sales of our products.
Federal regulation of international sales.
Our weapons
are controlled as a crime control implement by the
United States Department of Commerce, or DOC, for export
directly from the United States. Consequently, we must obtain an
export license from the DOC for the export of our weapons from
the United States other than to Canada. While we have a history
of timely obtaining DOC export licenses for sales of our weapons
to the majority of our international customers, unforeseen
changes in U.S. export regulations could significantly and
adversely affect our international sales.
State and local regulation.
Our weapons are currently
controlled, restricted or their use prohibited by several state
and local governments. Our weapons are banned from consumer sale
or use in seven states: New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Hawaii. Law enforcement
use of our products is also restricted in Michigan, New Jersey,
Rhode Island and Hawaii. Some municipalities, including Omaha,
Nebraska and Washington, D.C., also prohibit consumer use
of our products. Other jurisdictions may ban or restrict the
sale of our products, and our product sales may be significantly
affected by additional state, county and city governmental
regulation.
Foreign regulation.
Certain foreign jurisdictions,
including Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy and Hong
Kong, prohibit the sale of conducted energy weapons, limiting
our international sales opportunities.
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, we
may lose a competitive advantage or incur substantial litigation
costs to protect our rights.
Our future success depends in part upon our proprietary
technology. Our protective measures, including a patent,
trademarks and trade secret laws, may prove inadequate to
protect our proprietary rights. Our United States patent on the
construction of the gas cylinder used to store the compressed
nitrogen in our cartridges expires in 2015. The holder of the
patent on the process by which compressed gases launch the
probes in our cartridges has licensed the technology covered by
the patent for use in electronic weapons only to us and to two
other companies. This patent expires in 2009. The scope of any
patent to which we have or may obtain rights may not prevent
others from developing and selling competing products. The
validity and breadth of claims covered in technology patents
involve complex legal and factual questions, and the resolution
of such claims may be highly uncertain, lengthy, and expensive.
In addition, our patents may be held invalid upon challenge,
others may claim rights in or ownership of our patents.
We are subject to intellectual property infringement
claims, which will cause us to incur litigation costs and divert
management attention from our business.
Any intellectual property infringement claims against us, with
or without merit, could be costly and time-consuming to defend
and divert our managements attention from our business. If
our products were found to infringe a third partys
proprietary rights, we could be required to enter into royalty
or licensing agreements in order to be able to sell our
products. Royalty and licensing agreements, if required, may not
be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
In early April 2001, a patent licensee sued us in the United
States District Court, Central District of California. The
lawsuit alleges that certain technology used in the firing
mechanism for our weapons infringes upon a patent for which the
licensee holds a license, and seeks injunctive relief and
unspecified
6
Competition in the law enforcement and corrections market
could reduce our sales and prevent us from achieving
profitability.
The law enforcement and corrections market is highly
competitive. We face competition from numerous larger, better
capitalized and more widely known companies that make other
less-lethal weapons and products, as well as from a small
company that also sells conducted energy less-lethal weapons.
Increased competition may result in greater pricing pressure,
lower gross margins and reduced sales, and prevent us from
achieving profitability.
Defects in our products could reduce demand for our
products and result in a loss of sales, delay in market
acceptance and injury to our reputation.
Complex components and assemblies used in our products may
contain undetected defects that are subsequently discovered at
any point in the life of the product. In 2000, we recalled a
series of ADVANCED TASERs due to a defective component in
connection with which we incurred expenses of approximately
$9,000 and recorded an additional charge of approximately
$41,000 to account for related future expenses. Defects in our
products may result in a loss of sales, delay in market
acceptance, injury to our reputation and increased warranty
costs.
Our revenues and operating results may fluctuate
unexpectedly from quarter to quarter, which may cause our stock
price to decline.
Our revenues and operating results have varied significantly in
the past and may vary significantly in the future due to various
factors, including changes in our operating expenses, market
acceptance of our products and services, regulatory changes that
may affect the marketability of our products, and budgetary
cycles of municipal, state and federal law enforcement and
corrections agencies. As a result of these and other factors, we
believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating
results may not be meaningful in the near term and that you
should not rely upon our performance in a particular period as
indicative of our performance in any future period.
Our dependence on third-party suppliers for key components
of our weapons could delay shipment of our products and reduce
our sales.
We depend on certain domestic and foreign suppliers for the
delivery of components used in the assembly of our products. Our
reliance on third-party suppliers creates risks related to our
potential inability to obtain an adequate supply of components
or subassemblies and reduced control over pricing and timing of
delivery of components and subassemblies. Specifically, we
depend on suppliers of sub-assemblies, machined parts, injection
molded plastic parts, printed circuit boards, custom wire
fabrications and other miscellaneous custom parts for our
products. The final assembly of the cartridges used in the
firing of our weapons was prevented for four weeks beginning in
November 2000 by a suppliers receipt of defective wire
used as a component in the cartridges. We also do not have
long-term supply agreements with any of our suppliers. Any
interruption of supply for any material components of our
products could significantly delay the shipment of our products
and have a material adverse effect on our revenues,
profitability and financial condition.
Foreign currency fluctuations may reduce our
competitiveness and sales in foreign markets.
The relative change in currency values creates fluctuations in
product pricing for potential international customers. These
changes in foreign end-user costs may result in lost orders and
reduce the competitiveness of our products in certain foreign
markets. These changes may also negatively affect the financial
condition of some foreign customers and reduce or eliminate
their future orders of our products.
7
If we were to default under our revolving credit
agreement, the bank could proceed against substantially all of
our assets, making it impossible for us to continue
operations.
We have recently entered into a revolving credit agreement with
a bank and pledged substantially all of our assets, other than
our intellectual property, to secure such indebtedness. If for
any reason we were unable to meet our payment obligations, we
would be in default under such agreement and the bank could
declare our debt immediately due and payable and proceed against
its collateral. In such event, much of our equipment and
inventory would likely be sold to others, and we would be unable
to continue operations.
Pending litigation may subject us to significant
litigation costs and divert management attention from our
business.
A former distributor of our products has filed a lawsuit in the
state of New York asserting certain rights of exclusive sales
representation with respect to our products. The former
distributor claims that he has the exclusive right to market and
sell our products to an extensive list of our current and
potential customers throughout the United States. The suit was
dismissed in February 2001 for lack of personal jurisdiction of
the New York court. In March 2001, the former distributor
appealed the dismissal. In addition, in early April 2001, a
patent licensee sued us in the United States District Court,
Central District of California. The lawsuit alleges that certain
technology used in the firing mechanism for our weapons
infringes upon a patent for which the licensee holds a license,
and seeks injunctive relief and unspecified monetary damages. An
outcome that is adverse to us, costs associated with defending
these lawsuits and the diversion of our managements time
and our resources as a result of these claims could harm our
business or financial condition.
Risks Related to This Offering
We may use the proceeds of this offering in ways that do
not improve our operating results or the market value of our
securities.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for
increased sales and marketing efforts, purchases of inventory,
repayment of a portion of our stockholder and other debt,
general corporate purposes, research and development, and
purchases of production tooling and equipment. Repayment of our
debt will not directly improve our operating results. Our
management will retain broad discretion and significant
flexibility in applying the net proceeds from this offering. If
our management does not apply the proceeds effectively, our
business will be harmed.
You will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of your
investment.
We anticipate that the initial public offering price of the
units will be substantially higher than the net tangible book
value per share of our common stock after this offering. As a
result, you will incur immediate dilution of approximately
$6.91, or 81%, in net tangible book value for each share of our
common stock included in the units you purchase.
There has been no prior market for our securities and a
public market for our securities may not develop or be
sustained.
Prior to this offering, you could not buy or sell our securities
publicly. If an active public market for our securities does not
develop after this offering, the market price of our securities
may fall below their initial public offering price, and the
liquidity of your investment may be significantly limited.
The initial public offering price of our units may not
accurately reflect their future market performance.
The initial public offering price of the units has been
determined based on negotiations between the underwriters
representative and us. The initial public offering price may not
be indicative of future market
8
The price of our securities may be volatile, which may
lead to losses by investors.
The stock market has recently experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations. You may not be able to resell our
securities at or above the initial public offering price. The
price of our securities may fluctuate significantly in response
to a number of factors, including:
Volatility in the market price of our securities could lead to
claims against us. Defending these claims could result in
significant litigation costs and a diversion of our
managements attention and resources.
Future sales of our common stock by our existing
stockholders could decrease the trading price of our common
stock.
Sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the
public markets after this offering, or the potential for such
sales, could decrease the trading price of our common stock and
could impair our ability to raise capital through future sales
of our common stock. Upon completion of this offering, there
will be 2,710,754 shares of our common stock outstanding. The
1,200,000 shares of common stock sold in this offering and the
1,200,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon
exercise of the public warrants sold in this offering will be
freely tradeable without restriction or further registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, unless such shares are
purchased by our affiliates, as that term is defined
in such act. An additional 1,927,049 shares of common stock,
including shares issuable upon exercise of the
underwriters warrants, may become outstanding upon
exercise or conversion of options or warrants currently
outstanding or sold in this offering, subject to various lock-up
agreements prohibiting the sale of such shares for one year
following completion of this offering.
The exercise of previously issued options and warrants may
dilute your investment in our shares and impair our ability to
obtain equity financing.
As of March 15, 2001, in addition to the 1,510,754 shares
outstanding, there were currently outstanding options to
purchase 434,322 shares of our common stock, 119,055 of which
were currently exercisable. We have reserved an additional
259,000 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to
options that may be granted in the future to key employees, and
others, under our 2001 Stock Option Plan. In addition, we have
issued warrants to acquire up to 52,727 shares of our common
stock. While such options and warrants are outstanding, the
holders of such securities have the opportunity to profit from a
rise in the value or market price of our common stock, and the
exercise of these options and warrants could dilute the then
book value per share of our common stock. The existence of these
options and warrants could adversely affect the terms at which
we could obtain additional equity financing. Moreover, the
holders of the options and warrants may be expected to exercise
them at a time when we could obtain equity capital on terms more
favorable than those provided by the options and warrants.
We will need to comply with federal and state securities
laws to maintain the tradeability of our securities.
We must maintain in effect the registration statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the units
and must also comply with the securities laws of a state for the
units, common stock and public warrants to be tradeable in that
state. If we do not comply with federal or
9
Certain of our directors or investors will personally
benefit from the use of the proceeds of this offering.
We will use the proceeds from this offering to repay
approximately $100,000 of unreimbursed business expenses to our
chairman and to retire the interest accrued through
March 1, 2001 on our outstanding stockholder notes. In
addition, if the over-allotment option granted to the
representative of the underwriters is exercised in full,
approximately $1.3 million in stockholder notes, including a
note issued to our chairman, will be retired. This debt matures
July 1, 2002, unless extended.
Our directors and executive officers will continue to
control us after this offering, which may lead to conflicts with
stockholders over corporate governance.
Following completion of this offering, our directors and
executive officers will beneficially own approximately 53% of
our outstanding common stock. These stockholders, acting
together, would be able to significantly influence all matters
requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election
of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as
mergers or other business combination transactions. This control
may have the effect of delaying or preventing a third party from
acquiring or merging with us. In addition, prior to the
appointment of disinterested, independent directors to our board
of directors in January 2001, certain past transactions,
including issuances of stock and options to and borrowings from
officers and directors, were not approved by two disinterested,
independent directors at the time of the transaction.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable
future.
Any investors who have or anticipate any need for immediate
income from their investment should not purchase any of the
units offered hereby.
Provisions of our charter documents and Delaware law may
have anti-takeover effects that could hinder a change in our
corporate control, which may cause the market price of our
securities to decline.
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may
discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that a
stockholder may consider favorable. These provisions include:
Provisions of Delaware law, including provisions that prohibit
business combinations with entities holding greater than a
threshold amount of voting stock, also may discourage, delay or
prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us, which may
cause the market price of our securities to decline.
You should not rely upon our forward-looking
statements.
Some of the statements made in this prospectus discuss future
events and developments, including our future business strategy
and our ability to generate revenue, income and cash flow. In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words
or phrases such as may, will,
should, expects, plans,
anticipates, believes,
estimates, predicts,
potential, continue, our future
success depends, seek to continue, or the
negative of these words or phrases, or comparable words or
phrases. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or
results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements,
you should specifically consider various facts, including the
risks outlined under Risk Factors. These factors may
cause our actual results to differ materially from any
forward-looking statement. Although we believe that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements. We are under no duty to
update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of
this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results.
10
Our quarterly operating results;
Changes in earnings estimates by analysts and whether our
earnings meet or exceed such estimates;
Announcements of technological innovations by us or our
competitors;
Additions or departures of key personnel; and
Other events or factors that may be beyond our control.
authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock
without stockholder approval;
providing for a classified board of directors with staggered,
three-year terms; and
allowing written stockholder actions only by unanimous consent.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the 800,000
units that we are selling in this offering will be approximately
$8,400,000, or $9,772,800 if the representative exercises its
over-allotment option in full, based on an assumed public
offering price of $13.00 per unit, and after deducting the
underwriting discount, expense allowance, and estimated offering
expenses of $752,000 payable by us.
We expect to allocate the net proceeds of this offering as
follows:
The debt we intend to repay includes:
Further, if the representative exercises its over-allotment
option in full, we will repay the principal on other outstanding
stockholder notes of approximately $1.3 million which currently
mature in July 2002.
We may use the portion of the net proceeds of this offering
currently allocated to other working capital/general corporate
purposes to take advantage of early payment discounts which may
be available from our suppliers, prepay some of our capital
leases or reduce our current liabilities other than amounts
owing to related parties. Although we currently have no
agreements or commitments to do so, we may also use a portion of
the net proceeds to license or acquire new products,
technologies or intellectual property or to acquire or invest in
businesses complimentary to ours. We have no current plans or
proposals pending for any such acquisitions or investments.
Pending application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest the
net proceeds in interest-bearing, investment grade securities.
The foregoing discussion is merely an estimate based on our
current business plan. Our actual expenditures may vary
depending upon circumstances not yet known, such as the time
actually required to reach a positive cash flow or to
successfully expand the market for our products.
11
Approximate
Approximate
Amount
Percentage
$
100,000
1
%
300,000
4
612,000
7
190,000
2
1,700,000
20
2,820,000
34
750,000
9
750,000
9
1,178,000
14
$
8,400,000
100
%
a $99,794 note at an interest rate of 10% payable to Phillips
Smith, our chairman and a stockholder, for unreimbursed business
expenses;
$300,400 of accrued interest on notes payable to Bruce Culver, a
director and stockholder, and Phillips Smith, consisting of
$268,300 outstanding at December 31, 2000 and accrued
interest for the period from January 1, 2001 through
March 31, 2001 of approximately $32,100;
$611,500 of notes and accrued interest at interest rates ranging
from 11% to 18%, payable to an unrelated private lender; and
a $189,980 note at an interest rate of 10% payable to a
third-party vendor.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our shares
of common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends
in the foreseeable future. Currently, we intend to retain any
future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our
business. Any future decision to pay cash dividends will be at
the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon
our financial condition, results of operations, capital
requirements and other factors our board of directors may deem
relevant.
12
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at
December 31, 2000 on an actual basis and on a pro forma
basis, after giving effect to our reincorporation in Delaware,
our related 1-for-6 reverse stock split, and the sale of 800,000
units offered hereby at an estimated price of $13.00 per unit
and the proposed application of the estimated net proceeds
therefrom. This table should be read in conjunction with, and is
qualified by, the financial statements and notes thereto
included elsewhere in this prospectus.
DILUTION
If you invest in our units, your interest will be diluted to the
extent of the difference between the public offering price per
share of our common stock and the as adjusted net tangible book
value per share of our common stock after this offering. For
purposes of the dilution computation and the following tables,
we have allocated the full purchase price of a unit to the share
of common stock included in the unit and
13
The following table summarizes as of December 31, 2000 the
differences between the existing stockholders and the new
investors with respect to the number of shares of common stock
purchased, the total consideration paid, and the average price
per share paid:
The above computations assume no exercise of outstanding options
to purchase 434,322 shares of our common stock as of
March 15, 2001, which have a weighted average exercise
price of $4.94 per share, or outstanding warrants to purchase
52,727 shares of our common stock as of March 15, 2001,
which have a weighted average exercise price of $4.71 per share,
the representatives over-allotment option, the public
warrants included in units sold in this offering or the
underwriters warrants, as the exercise of such securities
would be anti-dilutive. If the representatives
over-allotment option is exercised in full, dilution per share
to new investors would be $6.54 per share of common stock.
14
December 31, 2000
Actual
Pro Forma
(dollars in thousands)
$
100
$
125
300
190
268
$
983
$
$
2,822
$
2,822
3,257
4,863
(80
)
(80
)
(6,794
)
(3,617
)
4,783
$
(795
)
$
7,605
(1)
Subsequent to December 31, 2000, an unrelated private
lender loaned us $500,000, which is due to be repaid, with
accrued interest, from proceeds from this offering upon its
closing or by July 1, 2002, whichever is earlier.
(2)
Does not include (i) 434,322 shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of stock options issued pursuant to our
stock option plans, which have a weighted average exercise price
of $4.94 per share, (ii) an additional 52,727 shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding,
which have a weighted average exercise price of $4.71,
(iii) the shares of common stock exercisable upon exercise
of the public warrants, and (iv) the shares of common stock
underlying the units issuable upon exercise of the
representatives over-allotment option or the
underwriters warrants.
(3)
Our accumulated deficit, which was $6.8 million at
December 31, 2000, was reclassified into additional paid-in
capital upon the termination of our S-corporation tax status in
the first quarter of 2001.
$
8.67
$
(2.39
)
$
4.15
$
1.76
$
6.91
Shares Purchased
Total Consideration
Average Price
Number
Percent
Amount
Percent
Per Share
1,510,754
56
%
$
3,189,548
23
%
$
2.11
1,200,000
44
%
10,400,000
77
%
$
8.67
2,710,754
100
%
$
13,589,548
100
%
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION
The following discussion of our financial condition and
results of operations should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and related notes to the financial
statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This
discussion contains forward-looking statements that relate to
future events or our future financial performance. These
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements to be materially different
from any future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. These risks and other factors include, among others,
those listed under Risk Factors and those included
elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
We began operations in Arizona in 1993 for the purpose of
developing and manufacturing less-lethal self-defense devices.
From inception until the introduction of our first product, the
AIR TASER, in 1994, we were in the development stage and focused
our efforts on product development, raising capital, hiring key
employees and developing marketing materials to promote our
product line.
In 1995 and 1996, we focused our efforts on promoting retail
sales and establishing distribution channels for the AIR TASER
product line. However, our marketing efforts were limited by a
non-compete agreement prohibiting the company from marketing or
selling our products to the U.S. law enforcement and military
markets. Accordingly, initial sales of the AIR TASER were
limited to the consumer market. While early sales in this market
were promising, by the end of 1996 we were unable to establish
consistent sales channels in the consumer marketplace and sales
declined. In late 1996, we relocated our production facilities
to Mexico to reduce production costs.
In 1997, we introduced our second product line, the AUTO TASER.
The initial market response to the AUTO TASER suggested the
demand for this product would more than compensate for the
declining AIR TASER sales. Because of strong pressure from
pre-production orders, we accelerated the development of the
AUTO TASER. As a result of this acceleration, production costs
of the AUTO TASER far exceeded initial projections, and we
experienced a substantial amount of AUTO TASER returns due to
product defects.
The non-compete agreement that had precluded sales to the law
enforcement and military markets expired in 1998. During this
year, we focused our development efforts on the ADVANCED TASER
product line, a redesigned and enhanced version of the AIR
TASER, targeted primarily to the U.S. law enforcement and
corrections market. During 1998, in addition to $66,000 paid to
outside research and development consultants, we also incurred
substantial internal unallocated expenses associated with the
development of the ADVANCED TASER. Further, end-user sales of
the AUTO TASER continued to decline, and product returns
remained higher than expectations.
In August 1999, the AUTO TASER product line was discontinued and
we closed our production facility in Mexico. We sold all
remaining finished goods associated with the AUTO TASER product
line by the end of the first quarter of 2000. Following closure
of our Mexican facility, we outsourced the production of the AIR
TASER and certain non-proprietary assemblies to a third-party
assembler. We shifted our focus to completion of the ADVANCED
TASER development project and introduced the first ADVANCED
TASER units for sale to law enforcement customers in December
1999. As a result of these activities and product development
expenses, we had accumulated a deficit of $6.3 million by
December 31, 1999.
The first full year of the ADVANCED TASER product line sales was
2000. We spent the year focusing on building the distribution
channel for marketing the product line and developing a
nationwide training campaign to introduce the product line to
law enforcement agencies, primarily in North America.
In the first quarter of 2001, we discontinued the outsourcing of
the final assembly of our products and moved such final assembly
to our facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a result of this
change, we anticipate
15
Results of Operations
Years ended December 31, 1999 and
2000
The following table shows the percentage of total revenues
represented by selected items included in our statements of
operations:
Net sales.
Net sales increased $1.2 million, or 54.5%,
from $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 1999 to
$3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2000. The
increase was due almost entirely to the first full year of sales
of the ADVANCED TASER, primarily to law enforcement agencies.
The increase in sales was partially offset by the decline in
AUTO TASER sales due to the discontinuation of this product line
and somewhat lower sales of the AIR TASER to consumers.
For the years ended December 31, 1999 and 2000, sales by
product line were as follows:
Cost of products sold.
Cost of products sold decreased
from $2.1 million in 1999, or 94.5% of net sales, to $1.8
million in 2000, or 53.9% of net sales. The decrease in cost of
products sold as a percentage of net sales was due primarily to
the lower direct production costs associated with the AIR and
ADVANCED TASERs, which averaged 29.8% of gross sales as compared
to 59.8% of gross sales for the AUTO TASER, and a one-time
charge related to the phase out of the AUTO TASER product line
of approximately $355,000 in 1999 included in indirect
manufacturing expense. In 2001, we anticipate our cost of
products sold will decrease as a percentage of net sales due to
lower labor costs, greater labor productivity, lower materials
cost and greater operating control, all in connection with the
transfer of our product assembly operations from Mexico to the
United States.
16
For the two years ended December 31, 2000, our principal
product costs included the following:
In 2001, our product cost structure will be significantly
different than in 1999 and 2000 primarily due to the
discontinuation of our use of our contract assembler.
Specifically, our cost of direct materials will include only the
cost of components and supplies required to manufacture our
finished goods. Our direct labor and manufacturing costs will
continue to be allocated to cost of products sold, but should be
lower than in 2000 due to the consolidation of our product
manufacturing and assembly operations at our new facility in
Scottsdale, Arizona.
Gross margin.
Gross margin increased $1.5 million, or
1211.8%, from $120,000 in 1999 to $1.6 million in 2000. Our
gross profit margin was 5.4% of net sales in 1999 compared to
46.1% in 2000 due to increased sales of higher margin ADVANCED
TASER products and the one-time write off of $355,000 taken in
1999 as a result of the phase out of the AUTO TASER. We
anticipate our gross margin will increase to approximately 60%
of net sales in 2001 primarily due to increased sales of higher
margin ADVANCED TASER products, partially offset by relocation
costs associated with the transfer of our product assembly
operations from Mexico to the United States.
Sales, general and administrative expenses.
Sales,
general and administrative expenses increased by $171,000, or
11.9%, from $1.4 million in 1999 to $1.6 million in 2000. Sales,
general and administrative expenses were 65.3% of net sales in
1999 compared to 47.3% of net sales in 2000. These costs
increased to support the sales of the ADVANCED TASER and include
sales commissions and product demonstration costs. However,
sales, general and administrative expenses declined as a
percentage of sales in 2000 due to the fixed nature of certain
of these costs and increased gross margins attributable to the
ADVANCED TASER product line.
Interest expense.
Interest expense increased by $146,000,
or 52.3%, from $280,000 in 1999 to $426,000 in 2000. The
increase reflects the cost of the higher level of related party
debt in 2000 over 1999, primarily used to fund working capital.
In addition, we issued warrants and options in 2000 valued at
$93,907 to certain stockholders in return for providing loans to
us.
Corporate tax status.
Prior to our reincorporation in
Delaware in February 2001, we were an S-corporation, which
allowed all the tax attributes to flow through to the
stockholders. In February 2001, we changed our tax
reporting status to that of a C-corporation. When we changed our
reporting status, our accumulated shareholder deficit was
converted to additional paid-in capital. As a result, there are
also no net operating loss carry forwards available to us.
Net loss.
Our net loss decreased $1.2 million, or 71.6%,
from $1.7 million in 1999 to $473,000 in 2000. Basic and
diluted net loss per common share was $0.54 in 1999 compared to
$0.19 in 2000. The
17
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have sustained significant operating losses since our
inception. In 1999 and 2000, we financed our operations through
advances from and investments by major stockholders, and bank
financing guaranteed by major stockholders.
Liquidity.
We had a working capital deficiency of $2.4
million at December 31, 1999 and $1.0 million at
December 31, 2000. The improvement in working capital from
1999 to 2000 was largely due to the extension of short-term
related party debt in 1999 to long-term debt in 2000. In both
1999 and 2000, cash was used primarily to fund operating losses
and for investment in property and equipment.
In 2000 we generated cash from operations of $8,000, primarily
as a result of a significant customer deposit of $440,000
received in December 2000. In 1999, operations consumed
$704,000 in cash. We have not historically generated sufficient
cash from operations to fund future growth or to repay our
long-term debt that principally comes due July 1, 2002.
However, we anticipate that our cash flow from operations will
be at least break-even in 2001 because we expect our sales will
increase and our cost of products sold will decrease as a
percentage of our total revenues, generating both positive cash
flow and net income. We believe that, with anticipated cash flow
from operations for 2001 and the completion of this offering,
our cash resources will be adequate to meet our expected future
liquidity needs for approximately the next two years.
Capital resources.
We have funded our operating deficits
primarily through loans from two major stockholders, Phillips
Smith and Bruce Culver. Our indebtedness to these stockholders
totaled $2.9 million at December 31, 2000. $1.3 million of
this debt matures in July 2002 and bears interest at a rate
of 10%.
In the event this offering is not completed, we have an
agreement with Messrs. Smith and Culver whereby we may
extend the maturity date of their outstanding notes for a period
not to exceed 24 months. We also may retire the debt at any
time without penalty. In addition, Mr. Culver has
established a non-revocable letter of credit in the amount of
$500,000 on our behalf that we can use to fund any shortfalls in
our monthly capital requirements. This letter of credit expires
on the earlier of the closing of this offering or
December 31, 2001.
Subsequent to December 31, 2000, an unrelated private
lender loaned us $500,000 to fund working capital. The related
promissory note carries interest at 18% and matures at the
earlier of the completion of this offering or July 2002. In
return for his loan, we granted him 5,000 ten-year warrants with
an exercise price of $10 per share. The fair value of these
warrants is approximately $9,600.
Also subsequent to December 31, 2000, we obtained a
revolving line of credit with a bank with a total commitment of
up to $1.5 million. The line was fully used to repay a
$1.5 million promissory note to Bruce Culver, is secured by
assets of Mr. Culver and substantially all of our assets other
than our intellectual property, and has an interest rate of bank
prime plus 1%. The line matures on April 30, 2002 and
requires us to make monthly interest payments until such date.
Capital commitments.
At December 31, 2000, we had no
material commitments for capital expenditures. Other commitments
include rental payments under operating leases for office space
and equipment, and commitments under employment contracts with
our chief executive officer, president, and chief financial
officer.
18
Year Ended
December 31,
1999
2000
100
%
100
%
45.3
%
39.6
%
49.2
%
14.3
%
94.5
%
53.9
%
5.4
%
46.1
%
65.3
%
47.3
%
2.9
%
0.2
%
(62.8
)%
(1.4
)%
12.7
%
12.5
%
(75.5
)%
(13.9
)%
Product Line
1999
%
2000
%
$
80,000
4
%
$
2,099,000
62
%
1,311,000
59
%
1,241,000
36
%
601,000
27
%
24,000
1
%
216,000
10
%
49,000
1
%
$
2,208,000
100
%
$
3,413,000
100
%
Direct materials: For the first eight months of 1999, direct
materials included raw materials as well as supplies used in
production. From September 1999 through February 2001,
direct materials included our purchase price of finished goods
from our contract manufacturer and raw materials. Direct
materials represented the majority of our direct manufacturing
expense.
Direct labor: Direct labor represented the expenses incurred in
our Scottsdale, Arizona facility for the assembly and packaging
of sub-assemblies. Once finished, these sub-assemblies were
transferred to our contract manufacturer for insertion into our
finished products. In the first eight months of 1999, direct
labor included wages paid to employees in our Mexican production
facility.
Shipping expense: Shipping expense included those costs
associated with shipping finished products to our customers.
These costs included freight paid to ship orders, special
handling charges and related transaction fees.
Indirect manufacturing expense: Indirect manufacturing expense
included the indirect costs associated with producing our
products, such as rent on production facilities, depreciation on
production equipment and tooling, engineering and support
salaries and other indirect manufacturing costs.
BUSINESS
Company overview
We develop, assemble and market less-lethal, conducted energy
weapons primarily for use in the law enforcement and corrections
market. Over 400 police departments in the United States have
made initial purchases of our products and 15 police
departments, including San Diego, Sacramento, and Albuquerque,
have purchased our products for every patrol officer. As of
February 1, 2001, more than 200 additional police
departments were evaluating our newest product, the ADVANCED
TASER.
We sell two principal products. We introduced the AIR TASER in
1994 and targeted it primarily at the consumer market. We
designed the AIR TASER to look like a cellular telephone or
other consumer electronic item, rather than a weapon. The terms
of an agreement we signed with Electronic Medical Laboratories,
Inc., doing business as Tasertron, the original licensee of a
patent on certain technology used in our weapons, precluded us
from selling our products to United States law enforcement,
corrections and military agencies until February 1998.
After expiration of this agreement, we introduced the ADVANCED
TASER, an upgraded and redesigned version of the AIR TASER, to
appeal to the law enforcement and corrections market. It uses
the same basic operating principle as the AIR TASER but produces
four times the AIR TASERs power output. It is also
pistol-shaped to make it easier for police officers to use. The
ADVANCED TASER can be sold with an integrated laser sight and a
built-in memory option to record the time and date of up to 585
firings. We believe the ADVANCED TASER will also appeal to the
private security, military and consumer markets, and intend to
pursue sales in these markets after further penetrating the law
enforcement and corrections market.
Industry background
The market for less-lethal weapons includes law enforcement
agencies, correctional facilities, military agencies, private
security guard companies and retail consumers. We believe law
enforcement officials are the opinion leaders regarding market
acceptance of new security products. In recent years, successful
new security products such as the GLOCK handgun and
the Mag-Lite flashlight were first marketed to and
accepted by police departments. We therefore focus on the law
enforcement agency segment of the market for less-lethal weapons.
According to a 1997 report issued by a unit of the United States
Department of Justice, nearly all local police departments and
all federal law enforcement agencies have a use-of-force policy
that dictates the level of force its officers can use to respond
to various situations. A police officer is trained to use only
the minimum force necessary to overcome the threat of injury or
violence posed by a suspect. For example, under most policies,
an officer may not use lethal force unless a subject poses a
threat of significant bodily injury or fatality to the officer
or other persons.
In fact, studies by the Associated Press have concluded that
most police officers never deploy lethal force in the course of
their careers. While the vast majority of law enforcement
officers around the world are armed with firearms, only a small
percentage will actually ever use them. A 1996 study jointly
published by the United States Department of Justice and the
National Institute of Justice, however, indicates that police
officers use less-lethal force on a regular basis. Less-lethal
force can range from a control hold to the use of a baton,
chemical spray, or other means to control a subject that is
actively resisting the officer.
Police officers are often injured while trying to subdue a
suspect with less-lethal force. Traditional tactics such as
using a baton or fist to control a suspect result not only in a
significant risk of injury to the suspect, but also a
significant risk that the officer will be injured. If an officer
can subdue a suspect from a safe distance using effective
less-lethal weapons, he greatly reduces the probability that he
or the suspect, as well as bystanders, will be injured during a
confrontation.
A variety of new less-lethal weapons have been developed to
address the need to temporarily incapacitate an attacker without
causing permanent injury or fatality. These weapons vary in
approach, but
19
The ADVANCED TASER solution
All our products are designed to perform well in terms of the
above characteristics. We believe the ADVANCED TASER, however,
offers the best combination of these characteristics currently
available in a less-lethal weapon. In our opinion, this superior
performance could make the ADVANCED TASER the less-lethal weapon
of choice in many situations for law enforcement agencies and
other security services.
Most less-lethal weapons rely upon a pain response for effect. A
less-lethal weapon that inflicts only pain may not stop the most
dangerous and aggressive suspects. The ADVANCED TASER is
designed to cause complete yet temporary physical
incapacitation, not just discomfort or distraction. In volunteer
testing and field use, the ADVANCED TASER has incapacitated even
highly focused individuals who have demonstrated the ability to
fight through other less-lethal weapons that rely only on pain.
Batons and chemical sprays can only be used from close
distances, usually less than five feet. Rubber bullets, beanbag
rounds, and similar less-lethal impact weapons must be used at
distances greater than 30 feet to minimize suspects
injuries. Therefore, we believe that other less-lethal weapons
as a group are generally ineffective between five and thirty
feet. The ADVANCED TASER is designed to operate within this
range. Since it is equally effective between zero and five feet,
we believe the ADVANCED TASER represents a more versatile
less-lethal weapon for encounters taking place within 21 feet.
In tests involving over 1,000 human volunteers and in hundreds
of field applications, the ADVANCED TASER has had no reported
long-term, adverse after-effects. In field uses, our technology
has been found to have a comparable or lower risk of injury to
officers and suspects than other less-lethal technologies.
Further, the recovery time from an application of the ADVANCED
TASER is generally less than one minute. In contrast, recovery
time from the application of chemical sprays can range from ten
minutes to one hour. Recovery time from the effect of impact
rounds can vary from hours to weeks, depending on bruising and
bone breakage.
The ADVANCED TASER is shaped and designed to function like a
standard handgun. Accordingly, it is easy for law enforcement
officers to use during stressful situations, since their
firearms training familiarizes them with the muscle movements
required for its operation. It can be reloaded and fired again
as quickly as a spent cartridge can be removed and a replacement
cartridge inserted, typically in less than five seconds.
Further, the weapon requires no maintenance other than a
periodic battery check. The
20
The ADVANCED TASER operates effectively under a variety of
unfavorable conditions, such as wind and rain, that render
chemical sprays less effective. The ADVANCED TASER housing is
constructed of high tensile-strength polycarbonate to withstand
the rigors of typical police use.
The ADVANCED TASER incorporates features designed to reduce
inappropriate use. Our cartridges contain numerous confetti-like
Anti-Felon Identification tags, or AFIDs, which are scattered
when the unit is fired. AFID tags recovered from usage sites can
thus help identify the owner of the cartridge used. The ADVANCED
TASER we market to law enforcement and corrections agencies also
comes with a data port that records the exact time, date and
duration of up to 585 firings.
The ADVANCED TASER is sold to law enforcement agencies for
approximately $400 per unit. The air cartridge ammunition is
priced under $18 per shot. These prices are competitive with
impact munitions and most other specialized less-lethal weapons,
with the exception of the least expensive chemical sprays.
However, the indirect costs of decontaminating buildings,
vehicles, and uniforms resulting from the use of chemical sprays
can place the ADVANCED TASER at an overall cost advantage per
use.
In addition, litigation costs for law enforcement agencies can
be significant. Reducing the number of injuries and fatalities
caused by law enforcement officers may reduce the number of
suits filed against agencies for excessive use of force,
wrongful death and injury. Further, reducing officer injuries
minimizes medical claims and lost time for work-related injuries.
As with other less-lethal weapons, we believe that these
characteristics, particularly safety, may also have the benefit
of increasing goodwill between law enforcement agencies and
their communities. Community relations considerations can be
particularly important at a time when almost any interaction
with police can be videotaped and scrutinized by the media and
the public.
Our strategy
Key elements of our strategy for growth include the following:
Our goal is to make the ADVANCED TASER the dominant less-lethal
weapon for use by law enforcement and corrections agencies. Law
enforcement officials are often viewed as experts with regard to
weapons and other security products. As a result, we believe
that widespread acceptance of the ADVANCED TASER in this market
will enhance its credibility and represent a necessary first
step toward expanding sales of our products in additional
markets.
After increasing our presence in the law enforcement and
corrections market, we intend to expand our penetration in the
private security, military and consumer self-defense markets. We
believe the same performance characteristics that will enable
our products to succeed in the law enforcement and corrections
market will also appeal to potential customers in these
additional markets.
We intend to improve our less-lethal weapons technology to
provide further growth and market opportunities. Among other
things, we intend to develop multiple shot capability and
greater effective range. These innovations may increase our
revenues by allowing us to sell upgraded less-lethal weapons and
accessories, both to existing and potential new customers.
21
We may acquire businesses that will complement our growth
strategy and enhance our competitive position in our markets.
However, we have no current plans for such acquisitions.
Markets
Law enforcement and corrections
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the United
States currently represent the primary target market for the
ADVANCED TASER. According to United States Bureau of Justice
statistics, there were nearly 19,000 of these agencies in the
United States in 1996 that employed about 740,000 full-time,
sworn law enforcement officers. In 1999, the United States
Bureau of the Census estimated that there were more than 450,000
correctional officers in the United States.
Acceptance of the ADVANCED TASER by United States police
departments has been fairly rapid since its introduction in
December 1999. We believe it could prove equally suitable for
use in correctional facilities. The ADVANCED TASER is
particularly useful in these confined and crowded settings since
it provides a means of bringing virtually any individual under
control without requiring the use of lethal force. We anticipate
that some correctional officers will be armed with ADVANCED
TASERs, particularly as its performance attributes become more
familiar to the wider law enforcement community.
In the law enforcement market, over 400 police departments have
made initial purchases of the ADVANCED TASER for testing or
deployment. In addition, 15 police departments, including San
Diego, Sacramento, and Albuquerque, purchased enough of our
weapons to issue one to each of their patrol officers.
Private security firms and guard
services
A report of the Security Industry Association for 1999-2000
estimated that there were over 1.7 million privately employed
security guards or personnel in the United States. They
represent a broad range of individuals, including bodyguards,
commercial and government building security guards, commercial
money carrier employees, and many others. We believe that
security personnel armed with ADVANCED TASERs could be as
effective in many circumstances as those armed with conventional
firearms. At the same time, arming guards with ADVANCED TASERs
may reduce the potential liability of private security companies
and personnel.
A number of environments can prove problematic for the use of
conventional firearms. The use of conventional firearms in
airplanes, for example, poses a significant threat to the
integrity of the aircraft and the safety of the passengers.
Conventional firearms may also be inappropriate in subways,
buses, transit systems, banks and casinos. In many of these
crowded environments, the contamination associated with the use
of chemical sprays could also pose significant problems.
One large private security force overseas has ordered over 1,000
ADVANCED TASERs for delivery in Spring 2001. We are in the early
stage of pursuing additional opportunities for sales of the
ADVANCED TASER in private security markets, and have made only
limited sales to date.
Consumer/personal protection
A 1997 survey sponsored by the National Institute of Justice
found that, in 1994, 44 million Americans owned 192 million
firearms, 65 million of which were handguns. We believe
these handgun owners represent one segment of a potentially
large consumer market for our products.
As a result of our shift in focus, the share of our sales made
to consumer markets fell sharply from 1999 to 2000. In 1999,
sales to consumers represented 88% of total sales while these
sales dropped to only 32% of total sales in 2000. We expect the
relative share of sales to consumer markets to remain small in
the next few years. Given the size of the potential consumer
market, however, we believe consumer sales
22
Military
Military police forces may use the ADVANCED TASER for purposes
similar to those of civilian police units. Military
peace-keeping forces also perform policing functions, and the
ADVANCED TASER may prove an effective tool for these operations.
The ADVANCED TASER may also be used by armed forces to reduce
the possibility of civilian casualties resulting from combat
operations on battlefields consisting of both civilians and
combatants. We have yet to pursue sales opportunities in the
military market.
Products
Our weapons use compressed nitrogen to shoot two small
electrified probes up to a maximum distance of 21 feet. The
probes and compressed nitrogen are stored in a replaceable
cartridge attached to the base of the weapon. Our proprietary
replacement cartridges are sold separately.
After firing, the probes discharged from our cartridges remain
connected to the weapon by high-voltage insulated wires that
transmit electrical pulses into the target. These electrical
pulses, which we call TASER-Waves or T-Waves, are transmitted
through the bodys nerves in a manner similar to the
transmission of signals used by the brain to communicate with
the body. The T-Waves temporarily overwhelm the normal
electrical signals within the bodys nerve fibers,
impairing subjects ability to control their bodies or
perform coordinated actions. T-Waves can penetrate up to two
inches of clothing and up to a class 3 bullet resistant vest,
the second most protective of seven classes of bullet resistant
vests. The initial effect lasts up to five seconds and the
charge can be repeated for up to approximately ten minutes by
repeatedly firing the weapon.
Since all our weapons use the same cartridges, we can support
multiple platforms and still achieve economies of scale in
cartridge production. Our cartridges contain numerous colored,
confetti-like tags bearing the cartridges serial number.
These tags, referred to as Anti-Felon Identification tags, or
AFIDs, are scattered when one of our weapons is fired. We
require sellers of our products to participate in the AFID
program by registering buyers of our cartridges. In many cases,
we can use AFIDs to identify the registered owner of cartridges
fired.
We introduced our initial product, the AIR TASER, in 1994. We
designed the AIR TASER to look like a cellular telephone rather
than a weapon to target the consumer electronics market.
Currently, the AIR TASER product line consists of the AIR TASER,
a cartridge that shoots two small electrified probes up to
15 feet, an optional laser sight, and a number of
holstering accessories. We continue to target the AIR TASER line
to the consumer market.
We developed the ADVANCED TASER product line, launched in
December 1999, primarily for the law enforcement and corrections
market. The ADVANCED TASER M26 is our primary product in this
market and is sold exclusively to law enforcement and
corrections agencies. The ADVANCED TASER M26 offers the
following improvements over the AIR TASER:
23
Our products are sold primarily through our network of
distributors at a wide range of prices. Our most inexpensive
consumer product is the entry-level consumer AIR TASER, with a
retail price of $99. Our high-end consumer model, the ADVANCED
TASER M18L with integrated laser sight, retails for $600. The
ADVANCED TASER M26 is currently our best selling item.
Distributors sell the M26 to law enforcement and corrections
agencies for $400. Retail cartridge prices range from $16 to
$30 per unit.
In addition to weapons and cartridges, we sell holsters,
attachments, cases and other accessories that complement our
core products. Although to date these accessories have generated
limited sales, they offer additional revenue opportunities and
attractive margins.
We offer a lifetime warranty on the AIR TASER. Under this
warranty, we will replace any AIR TASER that fails to operate
properly for a $25 fee. The AIR TASER is designed to disable an
attacker for up to 30 seconds, and we encourage users to
leave the unit and flee after firing it. As a result, we also
provide free replacement units to consumers who follow this
suggested procedure. To qualify for the replacement unit, users
must file a police report that describes the incident and
confirms the use of the AIR TASER. Historically, approximately
2% of the AIR TASERs sold by us have been returned by end users
in connection with a warranty claim. Warranty costs under the
AIR TASER replacement policy have been minimal to date.
We offer a no-questions-asked lifetime replacement policy on the
ADVANCED TASER. If the weapon fails to operate properly for any
reason, we will replace it for a fee of $25. The fee is intended
to help defray the handling and repair costs associated with
product returns. This policy is attractive to our law
enforcement and corrections agency customers. In particular, it
avoids disputes regarding the source or cause of any defect. Due
to our recent introduction of the ADVANCED TASER, we have
created a reserve for product returns based on a 7% return rate.
In 2000, we recalled a series of ADVANCED TASERs due to a
defective component in connection with which we incurred
expenses of approximately $9,000 and recorded an additional
charge of approximately $41,000 to account for related future
expenses.
Sales and marketing
Law enforcement and corrections agencies represent our primary
target market. In this market, the decision to purchase the
ADVANCED TASER is normally made by a group of people including
the agency head, his training staff, and weapons experts. The
decision sometimes involves political decision-makers such as
city council members. The decision-making process can take as
little as a few weeks or as long as several years.
United States distribution.
With the exception of several
accounts to which we sell directly, the vast majority of our law
enforcement agency sales in the United States occur through our
network of more than 25 independent regional police equipment
distributors. To service these distributors and assist us in
expanding sales to new ones, we retain two manufacturers
representatives that call on potential distributors. We
compensate our manufacturers representatives solely on a
commission basis, calculated as a percentage of the sales they
complete. Sales in the consumer market are made through
different independent distributors, dealers, and retailers. We
provide our distributors with performance-based incentive
programs.
International distribution.
As a result of our shift in
focus to the United States law enforcement and corrections
market, our international sales efforts are currently limited to
presentations and training seminars conducted by TASER
personnel. We recently began introducing the ADVANCED TASER in
Europe and parts of the Middle East, South America and Asia, but
have yet to devote significant resources to these markets. Sales
outside the United States and Canada accounted for 48% and 18%
of total revenues in 1999 and 2000, respectively. In 2001, we
expect international sales to account for approximately 10% of
our total sales.
We have worked in the past with more than 20 foreign
distributors. These foreign distributors purchase products from
us and resell them to sub-distributors, retail dealers or end
users. We continue to
24
Training Programs.
Most law enforcement and corrections
agencies will not purchase new weapons until a training program
is in place to certify all officers in their proper use. We
offer an eight-hour class that certifies law enforcement and
corrections agency trainers as instructors in the use of the
ADVANCED TASER. We have certified over 2,500 law enforcement
training officers as ADVANCED TASER instructors. Our
certification program is designed to make it easier for
departments to comply with these training requirements.
Fifty of our certified instructors have undergone further
training and become certified as master instructors. We
authorize these individuals to train other law enforcement and
corrections agency trainers, not just end-users within these
organizations. Twenty-five of our master instructors have agreed
to conduct ADVANCED TASER training classes on a regular basis.
These instructors independently organize and promote their own
training sessions, and we provide them with logistical support.
They are independent professional trainers, serve as local area
TASER experts, and assist our distributors in conducting TASER
demonstrations at other police departments within their regions.
Through the end of 2000, we did not charge for attendance at
these classes but now charge $195 per attendee. We pay master
instructors a per-session training fee and a share of the
attendance fees collected at each session that they conduct.
These training sessions have led directly to the sale of
ADVANCED TASERs to a number of police departments.
Communications.
In addition to our training programs, we
regularly participate in a variety of trade shows and
conferences. Our marketing efforts also benefit from significant
free news coverage. Other marketing communications include video
e-mails, press releases, and conventional print advertising in
law enforcement trade publications. Our website also contains
similar marketing information.
Manufacturing
We have installed a new production line in our facility in
Scottsdale, Arizona, where we have historically assembled the
compressed nitrogen containers used in our air cartridges. After
a review of our operating costs and changes in regulations
pertaining to the export of the technology used to produce our
weapons, we elected to move assembly operations from our
subcontractor in Guaymas, Mexico to our new facility in
Scottsdale. We own all of the additional production equipment
used for the final assembly of our products in the Guaymas
facility, and expect to move it to Scottsdale no later than May
2001.
Our Scottsdale facility has approximately 6,000 square feet of
assembly and warehouse space. We plan to employ between 15
and 25 assembly personnel by the end of 2001. After the
move, our production capabilities will support the assembly of
2,000 ADVANCED TASERs, 1,000 AIR TASERs, and 24,000 cartridges
per month on a single shift. We can expand our production
capabilities by adding additional personnel and a second shift
with negligible new investment in tooling and equipment. We
expect our Scottsdale facility and tooling to be sufficient to
support our current growth projections at least through 2003.
We currently purchase finished circuit boards from First
Electronics, Inc. and injection-molded plastic components from
Frontier Tool & Mold, Inc., each located in Phoenix.
Although we currently obtain these components from single source
suppliers, we own the injection-molded component tooling used in
their production. As a result, we believe we could obtain
alternative suppliers without incurring significant production
delays. We also purchase small machined parts from Asia Sourcing
of Taiwan, China, and custom cartridge assemblies from McDavis
Company of Arizona City, Arizona. We believe that these or
readily available alternative suppliers can consistently meet
our needs for these components. We acquire most of our
components on a purchase order basis and do not have long-term
contracts with suppliers. We believe that our relations with our
suppliers are good.
25
Competition
In the law enforcement and corrections market, the ADVANCED
TASER competes directly with the conducted energy weapon sold by
Electronic Medical Research Laboratories, Inc., doing business
as Tasertron. Tasertron is the sole remaining manufacturer of
the original TASER weapon introduced in the 1970s. At
March 31, 2001, over 430 police departments had purchased,
in the aggregate, over 4,000 ADVANCED TASERs. We believe that
approximately 400 police departments actively deploy the
Tasertron weapon.
We believe The ADVANCED TASER also competes indirectly with a
variety of other less lethal alternatives. In the consumer
market, the AIR TASER competes directly with a conducted energy
weapon introduced by Bestex, Inc. in 1996, called the
Dual-Defense, and indirectly with other less-lethal alternatives.
Law enforcement and corrections market.
Tasertron had an
exclusive license to sell TASER products in the North American
law enforcement and corrections market until February 1998.
Compared to the Tasertron unit, our ADVANCED TASER offers
reduced size, additional power, and a more convenient
pistol-shaped design. We believe agencies choosing to employ a
conducted energy weapon will prefer to adopt a single weapon
system. Since its introduction, the ADVANCED TASER has competed
successfully against the Tasertron unit, even in agencies that
had previously purchased Tasertron units.
Other less-lethal weapons, sold by companies such as Armor
Holdings, Inc. and Jaycor, Inc., compete with our ADVANCED TASER
indirectly. Many law enforcement and corrections personnel
consider less-lethal weapons to be distinct tools, each
best-suited to a particular set of circumstances. Consistent
with this tool kit approach, purchasing any given tool does not
preclude the purchase of one or several more. In other cases,
budgetary considerations and limited space on officers
belts dictate that only a limited number of less-lethal weapons
will be purchased and carried. We believe the ADVANCED
TASERs versatility, effectiveness, and low injury rate
enable it to compete effectively against other less-lethal
alternatives.
Consumer market.
Conducted energy weapons have gained
limited acceptance in the consumer market for less-lethal
weapons. These weapons compete with other less-lethal weapons
such as stun guns, batons and clubs, and chemical sprays. The
primary competitive factors in the consumer market include a
weapons cost, its effectiveness, and its ease of use. The
widespread adoption of the ADVANCED TASER by law enforcement
agencies may help us overcome a perceived historic lack of
consumer confidence in conducted energy weapons.
Regulation
United States regulation.
The AIR TASER and ADVANCED
TASER are subject to the same regulations. Neither weapon is
considered a firearm by the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms. Therefore, no firearms-related
regulations apply to the sale and distribution of our weapons
within the United States. In the 1980s, however, many states
introduced regulations restricting the sale and use of stun
guns, inexpensive hand-held shock devices. We believe existing
stun gun regulations also apply to our weapon systems.
In many cases, the law enforcement and corrections market is
subject to different regulations than the consumer market. Where
different regulations exist, we assume the regulations affecting
the consumer market also apply to the private security market
except as the applicable regulations otherwise specifically
26
The following cities and counties also regulate our weapon
systems:
United States export regulation.
Our weapon systems are
considered a crime control product by the United States
Department of Commerce. Accordingly, the export of our weapon
systems is regulated under export administration regulations. As
a result, we must obtain export licenses from the Department of
Commerce for all shipments to foreign countries other than
Canada. Most of our requests for export licenses have been
granted, and the need to obtain these licenses has not caused a
material delay in our shipments. The need to obtain licenses,
however, has limited or impeded our ability to ship to certain
foreign markets. In addition, export regulations prohibit the
further shipment of our products from foreign markets in which
we hold an export license for the products to foreign markets in
which we do not hold an export license for the products.
In addition, in the fall of 2000, the Department of Commerce
introduced new regulations restricting the export of the
technology used in our weapon systems. These regulations apply
to both the technology incorporated in our weapon systems and in
the processes used to produce them. The technology export
regulations do not apply to production that takes place within
the United States. After moving our final assembly to our
Scottsdale facility, these technology export regulations will no
longer apply to us but will still apply to certain of our
suppliers located outside of the United States.
Foreign regulation.
Foreign regulations are numerous and
often unclear. We prefer to work with an exclusive distributor
who is familiar with applicable regulations in each of our
foreign markets. Experience with foreign distributors in the
past indicates that restrictions may prohibit certain sales of
our products in a number of countries. The countries in which we
are aware of restrictions include Belgium, Denmark, Hong Kong,
Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the
United Kingdom. In
27
Intellectual property
We protect our intellectual property with a variety of patents
and trademarks. In addition, we use confidentiality agreements
with employees and some suppliers to ensure the safety of our
trade secrets. We hold a United States patent on the
construction of the gas cylinder used to store the compressed
nitrogen in our cartridges. This patent expires in 2015. We and
two other companies are the only licensees for use in electronic
weapons of the technology described in a United States patent
held by John H. Cover, Jr. The licenses held by the other
licensees may not be transferred and their rights under the
licenses may not be expanded or modified without our approval.
Mr. Covers patent covers the process by which
compressed gases launch the probes in our cartridges and expires
in 2009.
Using this compressed gas technology instead of gunpowder
prevents our products from being classified as firearms by the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. We also have a
broad-based patent application pending covering the energy wave
form we developed for the ADVANCED TASER.
We own the AIR TASER and TASER registered trademarks. We also
have several unregistered trademarks.
In early April 2001, James F. McNulty, Jr. sued us in the
United States District Court, Central District of California.
The lawsuit alleges that certain technology used in the firing
mechanism for our weapons infringes upon a patent for which
Mr. McNulty holds a license, and seeks injunctive relief
and unspecified monetary damages. We believe we do not infringe
this patent, that Mr. McNultys claims are without
merit and that the litigation will have no material adverse
effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Research and development
Our research and development initiatives are led by our internal
personnel and make use of specialized consultants when
necessary. These initiatives include bio-medical research as
well as electrical and mechanical engineering design. Future
development projects will focus on reducing the size, extending
the range, and improving the functionality of our weapons. Total
research and development expenditures were $64,000 in 1999 and
$7,100 in 2000.
Employees
As of December 31, 2000, we had 16 full-time employees. Six
employees were involved in sales, marketing and training. Two
were employed in research, development and engineering. We also
employed four administrative personnel and four in production
support. Our employees are not covered by any collective
bargaining agreement, and we have never experienced a work
stoppage. We believe that our relations with our employees are
good.
Facilities
We conduct our operations from a modern 11,800-square-foot
facility located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The monthly rent for
this facility is approximately $11,000. Our lease expires on
January 1, 2006. We believe this facility will meet our
needs for the next three years and that additional space will be
available on reasonable terms upon the expiration of our current
lease or if we require additional space.
Legal proceedings
In February 2000, Thomas N. Hennigan, a distributor of our
products from late 1997 through early 2000 sued us in the United
States District Court, Southern District of New York.
Mr. Hennigan claims the exclusive right to sell our
products to many of the largest law enforcement, corrections,
and military agencies in the United States. He seeks monetary
damages in the aggregate amount of $400 million
28
In early April 2001, James F. McNulty, Jr. sued us in the
United States District Court, Central District of California.
The lawsuit alleges that certain technology used in the firing
mechanism for our weapons infringes upon a patent for which
Mr. McNulty holds a license, and seeks injunctive relief
and unspecified monetary damages. We believe we do not infringe
this patent, that Mr. McNultys claims are without
merit and that the litigation will have no material adverse
effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Corporate information
We were incorporated in Arizona in September 1993 as ICER
Corporation. We changed our name to AIR TASER, Inc. in
December 1993, and to TASER International, Incorporated in
April 1998. In February 2001, we reincorporated in
Delaware as TASER International, Inc.
29
Effectiveness: temporary incapacitation of aggressive
suspects;
Range: variable distance over which the weapon is
effective;
Safety: low risk of injury or death;
Ease of use: simple operation, low maintenance and no
contamination;
Dependability: reliability in many environments, product
durability;
Accountability: tracking to reduce misuse of the weapon;
and
Cost: low cost per use and possible reduction of litigation
expense.
Effectiveness
Range
Safety
Ease of Use
Dependability
Accountability
Cost
Fully exploit the expanding law enforcement and corrections
market.
Expand into private security, military, and consumer
markets.
Develop enhanced less-lethal weapon technologies.
Acquire businesses that enhance our strategic position.
Increased effectiveness: the ADVANCED TASER has four times the
power of the AIR TASER and has proven effective in
incapacitating over 99% of volunteers tested.
Better accountability: the ADVANCED TASERs memory system
records the time, date, and duration of up to 585 firings. By
downloading this information periodically, law enforcement and
corrections agencies can track every use of the ADVANCED TASER.
These agencies can use this data to investigate potential misuse.
Ease of use: law enforcement and corrections officers have
reported to us that the ADVANCED TASERs familiar pistol
shape and integrated laser sight minimize the training required
for officers and make it easier to use.
State
Law Enforcement Use
Consumer Use
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Prohibited
Prohibited
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Legal
Prohibited
Prohibited (except for evaluation)
Prohibited
Prohibited
Prohibited
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Prohibited
Prohibited
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Legal
Prohibited
City
Law Enforcement Use
Consumer Use
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Legal, subject to restrictions
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Prohibited
Legal
Prohibited
MANAGEMENT
Directors and executive officers
Our directors and executive officers are as follows:
Phillips W. Smith
is the chairman of our board of
directors. Dr. Smith has served as a director since 1993.
Since August 1997, Dr. Smith has served on the board
of directors of Pentawave, Inc., a developer of cross-media
publishing software. Dr. Smith was chairman of the board of
Pentawave from January 1999 through October 2000 and
its chief executive officer from January through March 1999.
From June 1990 to September 1997, Dr. Smith
served as the president and chief executive officer of Zycad
Corporation, a developer of engineering and manufacturing
applications software. Dr. Smith holds a B.S.E. degree from
West Point, an M.B.A. degree from Michigan State University, and
a Ph.D. in Business Administration from St. Louis University.
Patrick W. Smith
is the chief executive officer and a
co-founder of TASER. Mr. Smith has served as our chief
executive officer and as a director since 1993. Mr. Smith
holds a B.S. degree in Biology and Neurobiology from Harvard
University, an M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago, and
a Masters Degree in International Finance from the University of
Leuven in Leuven, Belgium.
Thomas P. Smith
is the president and a co-founder of
TASER. Mr. Smith has served as our president since
April 1994 and as a director since 1993. Mr. Smith
holds a B.S. degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the
University of Arizona and an M.B.A. degree from Northern Arizona
University.
Bruce R. Culver
has served as a director of TASER since
January 1994. Mr. Culver co-founded Professional
Staff, P.L.C., a human resource management company, and has
served on its board of directors since April 1990. In March
1993, Mr. Culver organized and has since remained the chief
executive officer of Culver Distributions, Inc., doing business
as California Distribution Company, providing warehouse and
distribution services to internet companies. Since
April 1997, Mr. Culver has served on the board of
Pentawave, Inc., becoming its chairman in October 2000.
Matthew R. McBrady
has served as a director of TASER
since January 2001. From August 1998 though
July 1999, Mr. McBrady served as a member of the staff
of President Clintons Council of Economic Advisers. In
December 1997, Mr. McBrady began working as a financial and
analytical consultant for Avenue A, Inc, an internet marketing
company, and served as its vice president of analytics from
June 1999 through October 1999. Mr. McBrady
taught corporate finance courses at the University of Southern
California during the summer terms of 1997 and 1998, at Harvard
College from September 1996 through May 1997, and at
Harvard Business School during the spring term of 1998. Mr.
McBrady holds a B.S. in Economics from Harvard University, an
M.S. in International Economics from Oxford University, and
expects to receive a Ph.D. in Corporate and International
Finance from Harvard University in June 2001.
Karl F. Walter
has served as a director of TASER since
January 2001. Mr. Walter was a co-founder of Glock,
Inc., a subsidiary of GLOCK GmbH, an Austrian semi-automatic
pistols manufacturer. From January 1994 through
February 1997, Mr. Walter worked as a director of law
enforcement sales for Sturm
30
Kathleen C. Hanrahan
is our chief financial officer,
serving in that position since November 2000.
Ms. Hanrahan first joined TASER in January 1996 as an
internal controls consultant and became our controller in
March 1996.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that we have no less
than three and no more than nine directors divided into three
classes (Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3), with
members of each class serving for staggered three-year terms. As
a result, only one class of directors will be elected at each
annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes
continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year
terms. Messrs. Phillips Smith and Bruce Culver have been
designated as Class 1 directors, whose term expires at the
2001 annual meeting; Messrs. Patrick Smith and Karl Walter
have been designated as Class 2 directors, whose term
expires at the 2002 annual meeting; and Messrs. Thomas
Smith and Matthew McBrady have been designated as Class 3
directors, whose term expires at the 2003 annual meeting.
Each officer serves at the discretion of our board of directors.
No officer is subject to an agreement that requires the officer
to serve TASER for a specified number of years. Mr. Thomas
Smith and Mr. Patrick Smith are Dr. Phillips Smiths
sons. No other family relationships exist among our directors
and executive officers.
Director compensation
Prior to 2001, directors were not compensated for their service
on the board. Beginning in 2001, independent directors will
receive $1,250 per quarter. In addition, in December 2000,
Messrs. McBrady and Walter each received options to
purchase 6,667 shares vesting ratably over four years at an
exercise price of $3.30 per share. Directors are also reimbursed
for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings.
Committees of the board of directors
Our board of directors has an Audit Committee consisting of
Mr. McBrady and Mr. Walter, and a Compensation
Committee consisting of Mr. Culver and Mr. Walter. The
Audit Committee meets with management and our independent public
accountants to determine the adequacy of our internal controls
and other financial reporting matters. The Compensation
Committee reviews and recommends to the board of directors the
compensation and benefits of our officers, reviews general
policy matters relating to compensation and benefits of our
employees and administers the issuance of stock options and
discretionary cash bonuses to our officers, employees, directors
and consultants. We intend to appoint only independent directors
to the Audit and Compensation Committees.
Executive compensation
The following table sets forth information regarding
compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our chief
executive officer for all services rendered to us during 1998,
1999 and 2000. None of our executive officers earned in excess
of $100,000 in 2000.
Summary Compensation Table
31
Option grants in last fiscal year
We did not grant any options to our chief executive officer
during the year ended December 31, 2000.
Fiscal year end option values
The following table sets forth information regarding the number
and value of unexercised options held by our chief executive
officer on December 31, 2000. He did not exercise any
options to purchase common stock during 2000.
Stock option plans
We have two stock option plans: the 1999 stock option plan and
the 2001 stock option plan.
The 1999 stock option plan authorized us to issue options to
purchase up to 833,333 shares of our common stock. Under this
plan, we have issued options to purchase 143,322 shares at $0.22
to $7.20 per share, including 10,000 options to Patrick W.
Smith. We will issue no further options under the plan. The plan
is administered by our board of directors. Subject to the
provisions of this plan, the board determines who will receive
options, the number of options granted, the manner of exercise
and the exercise price of the options. The term of incentive
stock options granted under the plan may not exceed ten years,
or five years for options granted to an optionee owning more
than 10% of our voting stock. The exercise price of an incentive
stock option granted under this plan must be equal to or greater
than the fair market value of the shares of our common stock on
the date the option is granted. The exercise price of a
non-qualified option granted under this plan must be equal to or
greater than 85% of the fair market value of the shares of our
common stock on the date the option is granted. An incentive
stock option granted to an optionee owning more than 10% of our
voting stock must have an exercise price equal to or greater
than 110% of the fair market value of our common stock on the
date the option is granted.
The 2001 stock option plan authorizes us to issue options to
purchase up to 550,000 shares of our common stock. Under this
plan, we have granted options to purchase 291,000 shares at an
exercise price equal or greater than the value of the common
stock portion of the initial per unit public offering price in
this offering, including 60,000 options to Patrick W. Smith. The
plan is administered by our board of directors. Subject to the
provisions of this plan, the board determines who will receive
options, the number of options granted, the manner of exercise
and the exercise price of the options. The term of incentive
stock options granted under the plan may not exceed ten years,
or five years for incentive stock options granted to an optionee
owning more than 10% of our voting stock. The exercise price of
an incentive stock option granted under this plan must be equal
to or greater than the fair market value of the shares of our
common stock on the date the option is granted. The exercise
price of a non-qualified option granted under this plan must be
equal to or greater than 85% of the fair market value of the
shares of our common stock on the date the option is granted. An
incentive stock option granted to an optionee owning more than
10% of our voting stock must have an exercise price equal to or
greater than 110% of the fair market value of our common stock
on the date the option is granted.
Employment agreements
In July 1998, we entered into an employment agreement with
Patrick W. Smith pursuant to which he agreed to serve as our
chief executive officer. The agreement is for an initial
three-year term ending June 30, 2001, and is automatically
renewed for a two-year term on such date and every two years
32
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
In 1998, Mr. Bruce R. Culver, a director of TASER,
loaned us $622,525. In March 1998, $150,000 of such amount
was converted into 20,833 shares of our common stock at an
estimated value of $7.20 per share. In December 1998, we
issued Mr. Culver a promissory note for $472,525, the
remaining amount due. The note bears interest at a rate of 10%
per year and matures July 1, 2002.
In 1999, Mr. Culver loaned us $1,500,000. In return, in
April 1999, we issued him a promissory note for $500,000 at
an effective interest rate of 27.1% per year to mature
October 31, 2000, and 1,666,667 shares of our common stock
at a price of $0.60 per share. These shares were subject to a
repurchase agreement between Mr. Culver and us that allowed
us to repurchase the shares if we met certain operating
performance criteria. We met the criteria and repurchased the
shares from Mr. Culver in July 2000 in exchange for a
promissory note in the amount of $1,000,000. We consolidated
this note and the April 1999 note into a new note for
$1,500,000 which carried interest at bank prime, which was 9.5%
at December 31, 2000, plus 1%. We repaid the new note in
full in April 2001 with the proceeds of a loan from a
commercial bank.
In March 1999, Mr. Culver loaned us $100,000, and in
July 1999, Mr. Culver loaned us $50,000. The related
notes carry interest at a rate of 10% and mature July 2002.
In May 2000, Mr. Culver loaned us an additional
$200,000 at an interest rate of 10%, due July 1, 2002.
We have used all amounts loaned to us by Mr. Culver to fund
our working capital needs. As of April 30, 2001, the
aggregate principal amount due to Mr. Culver under the
above notes outstanding on such date was $822,525 plus accrued
interest of $166,637. Under certain circumstances,
Mr. Culver has agreed to extend the maturity of these notes.
In September 1999, we sold Mr. Culver 151,515 shares
of our common stock for $3.30 per share for an aggregate
purchase price of $500,000.
In July 2000, we issued Mr. Culver a warrant to
purchase 22,727 shares of our common stock at a price of $3.30
per share in connection with his provision of a $1,500,000 loan
to us in such month. These warrants expire July 31, 2005.
In 1998, Mr. Phillips W. Smith, our chairman, loaned us
$725,691 to fund our working capital needs. In March 1998,
$150,000 was converted into 20,833 shares of common stock at an
estimated fair value of $7.20 per share and $120,000 was repaid.
In December 1998, we issued a promissory note for $455,691,
the remaining amount due. The note bears interest at a rate of
10% per year and matures July 1, 2002. Further,
Mr. Smith has deferred expenses in the amount of $99,794,
which has been formalized in a note bearing 10% interest, which
matured December 31, 2000. Under certain circumstances,
Mr. Smith has agreed to extend the maturity of these notes.
As of April 30, 2001, the aggregate principal amount due to
Mr. Smith under these notes was $555,485 plus accrued
interest of $136,042.
In the event this offering is not completed, we have an
agreement with Mr. Smith and Mr. Culver whereby we may
extend the maturity date of their outstanding notes for a period
not to exceed 24 months. We may retire the debt at any time
without penalty. In addition, Mr. Culver has established a
non-revocable letter of credit in the amount of $500,000 on our
behalf that we may use to fund any shortfalls in monthly working
capital requirements until we can make other financing
arrangements, and provided us a related letter of support.
33
In 1999, Mr. Smith worked as a full-time advisor to us and
was compensated solely by a five-year option on 16,667 shares of
our common stock with an exercise price of $0.66 per share.
In July 1999, Malcolm W. Sherman, a stockholder, loaned us
$75,000 to acquire production equipment. The related note
carries interest at 9.18% and matures July 1, 2001. In
May 2000, we issued Mr. Sherman an option to purchase
3,333 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.22
per share in connection with his continuing provision of
services to us following his retirement as a full-time employee
and in consideration of his provision of the loan.
Our board of directors has approved all transactions that we
have entered into with related parties. However, until
January 2001, we did not have any disinterested,
independent directors serving on our board of directors.
Consequently, none of our related party transactions effected
prior to such date were approved by disinterested, independent
directors at the time of the transaction. Our two disinterested,
independent directors have since determined that our related
party transactions that were entered into prior to such date and
continue in effect, including the outstanding loans from
Messrs. Culver and Smith to us, are on terms no less
favorable to us than we could obtain from unaffiliated parties,
and have ratified these transactions. We derived no revenue from
related party transactions during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000.
On an ongoing basis, all related party transactions will be
reviewed by our board of directors. It is the policy of our
board of directors that all proposed transactions by us with our
directors, officers, five-percent stockholders and their
affiliates, including forgiveness of any loan from us to any
such person, be entered into or approved only if such
transactions are on terms no less favorable to us than we could
obtain from unaffiliated parties, are reasonably expected to
benefit us and are approved by a majority of the disinterested,
independent members of our Board of Directors. Such independent
directors are authorized to consult with independent legal
counsel at our expense in determining whether to approve any
such transaction.
34
Name
Age
Position
63
30
33
55
30
54
37
Annual Compensation
Long Term Compensation
Securities Underlying Options
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary
Bonus
(#)
2000
$
65,208
$
2,500
1999
$
49,161
10,000
1998
$
43,205
Number of Securities
Value of Unexercised In-the-
Underlying Options at Fiscal
Money Options at Fiscal
Year End(#)
Year End($)(1)
Name
Exercisable
Unexercisable
Exercisable
Unexercisable
6,672
3,328
$
46,895
$
26,505
(1)
Based on the estimated fair value of our common stock as of
December 31, 2000, determined by our board of directors to
be $8.00 per share.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 15,
2001, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of 800,000 units in
this offering, by:
As of such date, there were 1,510,754 shares of common stock
outstanding before giving effect to the sale of units in this
offering. We believe that, except as otherwise described below,
each named beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power
with respect to the shares listed.
The address of each person identified in this table is c/o
7860 East McClain Drive, Suite 2, Scottsdale, Arizona
85260.
As of March 15, 2001, we had nine stockholders.
35
each person or group of affiliated persons known to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock;
each of our directors;
our chief executive officer; and
all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
Number of
Percentage
Percentage
Shares
Beneficially
Beneficially
Beneficially
Owned Before
Owned After
Name of Beneficial Owner
Owned
This Offering
This Offering
491,146
31.9
%
17.9
%
388,943
25.4
%
14.2
%
363,118
23.8
%
13.3
%
219,208
14.4
%
8.0
%
123,796
8.2
%
4.6
%
417
*
*
417
*
*
1,478,921
92.1
%
52.7
%
*
less than 1%
(1)
Includes 31,061 shares subject to warrants that are exercisable
within 60 days.
(2)
Includes 21,297 shares subject to options or warrants that are
exercisable within 60 days.
(3)
Includes 12,784 shares subject to options that are exercisable
within 60 days.
(4)
Includes 12,784 shares subject to options that are exercisable
within 60 days.
(5)
Includes 3,333 shares subject to options that are exercisable
within 60 days.
(6)
Includes 417 shares subject to options that are exercisable
within 60 days.
(7)
Includes 417 shares subject to options that are exercisable
within 60 days.
(8)
Includes 94,432 shares subject to options or warrants that are
exercisable within 60 days.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Upon completion of the offering, our authorized capital stock
will consist of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.00001 par
value, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.00001 par
value, of which there will be 2,710,754 shares of common stock
and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws provide further information about our
capital stock.
Units
Each unit consists of one and one-half shares of common stock
and one and one-half public warrants, each whole warrant to
purchase one additional share of common stock. The common stock
and warrants will trade only as a unit for at least 30 days
following this offering. The representative of the underwriters
will then determine when the units separate, after which the
common stock and the public warrants will trade separately.
Common stock
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each
share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote and may not
cumulate their votes. Holders of common stock are entitled to
share in all dividends that the board of directors, in its
discretion, declares from legally available funds. In the event
of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each outstanding
share entitles its holder to participate pro rata in all assets
that remain after payment of liabilities and after providing for
each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common
stock.
Holders of our common stock have no conversion, preemptive or
other subscription rights, and there are no redemption
provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights of the
holders of common stock are subject to any rights that may be
fixed for holders of preferred stock. All outstanding shares of
common stock are, and the shares underlying all options and
public warrants will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable upon our issuance of these shares.
Preferred stock
Our certificate of incorporation provides for the issuance of up
to 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of the date of this
prospectus, there are no outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Subject to certain limitations prescribed by law and the rights
and preferences of the preferred stock, our board of directors
is authorized, without further stockholder approval, from
time-to-time to issue up to an aggregate of 25,000,000 shares of
our preferred stock, in one or more additional series. Each new
series of preferred stock may have different rights and
preferences that may be established by our board of directors. A
majority of our disinterested, independent directors must
approve any issuance by us of our preferred stock.
The rights and preferences of future series of preferred stock
may include:
36
Public warrants
General
Each public warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of
our common stock at an exercise price per share of 110% of
two-thirds of the initial public offering price of the units.
The exercise price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence
of certain events as provided in the public warrant certificate
and summarized below. Our public warrants may be exercised at
any time during the period commencing 30 days after this
offering and ending on the fifth anniversary date of the closing
of this offering, which is the expiration date. Those of our
public warrants which have not previously been exercised will
expire on the expiration date. A public warrant holder will not
be deemed to be a holder of the underlying common stock for any
purpose until the public warrant has been properly exercised.
Separate transferability
Our common stock and public warrants will trade only as a unit
for at least 30 days following this offering. The
representative of the underwriters will then determine when the
units separate, after which the common stock and the public
warrants will trade separately. The representative intends to
separate the units 30 days after this offering absent
unforeseen circumstances. We will announce in advance the
separation of the units by a public press release. Upon
separation, unit holders will receive certificates for the
common stock and public warrants in exchange for their unit
certificates. Unit holders will receive cash in the place of any
fractional shares of common stock or fractional warrants created
in connection with the separation of the units. The amount of
cash paid for any fractional interest will be equal to the
current market value of such fractional interest, which will be
the current market value of one whole interest multiplied by the
applicable fraction thereof.
Redemption
We have the right to redeem the public warrants issued in this
offering at a redemption price of $0.25 per public warrant after
providing 30 days prior written notice to the public
warrant holders, if at the time of the notice, the basic net
income per share of our common stock as confirmed by audit for a
12-month period preceding the date of the notice is equal to or
greater than $1.00. We will send the written notice of
redemption by first class mail to public warrant holders at
their last known addresses appearing on the registration records
maintained by the transfer agent for our public warrants. No
other form of notice by publication or otherwise will be
required. If we call the public warrants for redemption, they
will be exercisable until the close of business on the business
day next preceding the specified redemption date.
Exercise
A public warrant holder may exercise our public warrants only if
an appropriate registration statement is then in effect with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and if the shares of common
stock underlying our public warrants are qualified for sale
under the securities laws of the state in which the holder
resides.
Our public warrants may be exercised by delivering to our
transfer agent the applicable public warrant certificate on or
prior to the expiration date or the redemption date, as
applicable, with the form on the reverse side of the certificate
executed as indicated, accompanied by payment of the full
exercise price for the whole number of public warrants being
exercised. Warrants may only be exercised to purchase whole
shares. Public warrant holders will receive cash equal to the
current market value of any fractional interest, which will be
the value of one whole interest multiplied by the fraction
thereof, in the place of fractional warrants that remain after
exercise if they would then hold warrants to purchase less than
one whole share. Fractional shares will not be issued upon
exercise of our public warrants.
37
Adjustments of exercise price
The exercise price is subject to adjustment if we declare any
stock dividend to stockholders or effect any split or reverse
split with respect to our common stock. Therefore, if we effect
any stock split or reverse split with respect to our common
stock, the exercise price in effect immediately prior to such
stock split or reverse split will be proportionately reduced or
increased, respectively. Any adjustment of the exercise price
will also result in an adjustment of the number of shares
purchasable upon exercise of a public warrant or, if we elect,
an adjustment of the number of public warrants outstanding.
Prior warrants
As of the date of this prospectus, we had issued and outstanding
warrants to purchase 52,727 shares of our common stock at a
weighted average exercise price of $4.71, the forms of which
have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of
which this prospectus is a part.
Registration rights
All holders of registration rights contained in agreements with
us have waived such rights in connection with this offering. In
connection with this offering, we have granted Paulson
Investment Company, Inc., representative of the underwriters of
this offering, warrants to purchase shares of our common stock.
These underwriters warrants, as well as the shares of
common stock and warrants included in the units issuable upon
exercise of the underwriters warrants, are being
registered on the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part. We will cause the registration statement
to remain effective until the earlier of the time that all of
the underwriters warrants have been exercised and the date
which is five years after the effective date of this offering.
The common stock and warrants issued to the representative upon
exercise of these warrants will be freely tradeable. We will
bear all expenses incurred in connection with the registration
of the shares of common stock and warrants included in the units
issuable upon the exercise of the underwriters warrants.
Federal income tax considerations
The following discussion sets forth the material federal income
tax consequences, under current law, relating to the purchase
and sale of the units and the underlying common stock and
warrants. The discussion is a summary and does not deal with all
aspects of federal taxation that may be applicable to an
investor. It does not consider specific facts and circumstances
that may be relevant to a particular investors tax
position. Some holders, such as dealers in securities, insurance
companies, tax exempt organizations, foreign persons and those
holding common stock or warrants as part of a straddle or hedge
transaction, may be subject to special rules that are not
addressed in this discussion. This discussion is based only on
current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and on administrative and judicial interpretations as
of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to
change. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the
specific tax consequences to you of this offering, including the
applicability of federal, state, local and foreign tax laws.
Allocation of Purchase Price
Each unit as a whole will have a tax basis equal to the cost of
the unit. The measure of income or loss from some of the
transactions described below depends on the tax basis in each of
the warrant and the share of common stock comprising the unit.
We have allocated the purchase price between the warrant and the
common stock so that the tax basis for the warrant will be equal
to 20% of the price of the unit and the tax basis for the common
stock will be equal to 80% of the price of the unit. If you
disagree with the allocation, please see your tax advisor for
advice on how to notify the Internal Revenue Service that you
disagree with the allocation and claim a different basis.
38
Exercise or Sale of Warrants
No gain or loss will be recognized by a holder of a warrant on
the purchase of shares of common stock for cash on an exercise
of a warrant, except that gain will be recognized to the extent
cash is received in the place of fractional shares or warrants.
The tax basis of common stock received upon exercise of a
warrant will equal the sum of the tax basis of the exercised
warrant and the exercise price. The holding period of the common
stock acquired will begin on the date the warrant is exercised.
It does not include the period during which the warrant was held.
Gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of a warrant
will be capital gain or loss to its holder if the common stock
to which the warrant relates would have been a capital asset in
the holders hands. This capital gain or loss will be
long-term capital gain or loss if the holder has held the
warrant for more than one year at the time of the sale,
disposition or lapse. If we redeem a warrant, the holder
generally will realize capital gain or loss. Individuals
generally have a maximum federal income tax of 20% on long term
capital gains. The deduction of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
Sale of Common Stock
A holder who sells common stock other than in connection with a
tax free reorganization of involving us will recognize gain or
loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount
realized and the holders tax basis in the common stock.
Generally, the holders tax basis in the common stock will
equal the portion of the unit price that was allocable to the
common stock. If the common stock is a capital asset in the
holders hands, gain or loss upon the sale of the common
stock will be a long-term or short-term capital gain or loss,
depending on whether the common stock has been held for more
than one year. Individuals generally have a maximum federal
income tax of 20% on long-term capital gains. The deduction of
capital losses is subject to limitations.
Expiration of Warrants Without Exercise
If a holder of a warrant allows it to expire or lapse without
exercise, the expiration or lapse will be treated as a sale or
exchange of the warrant on the expiration date. The holder will
have a loss equal to the amount of such holders tax basis
in the lapsed warrant. If the warrant is a capital asset in the
hands of the holder, the loss will be a long-term or short-term
capital loss, depending on whether the warrant was held for more
than one year. The deduction of capital losses is subject to
limitations.
Anti-takeover provisions of our charter documents
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include a number of
provisions that may have the effect of delaying or preventing a
change of control of TASER:
These provisions may deter hostile takeovers or delay changes in
control of our management, which could depress the market price
of our securities.
Transfer agent and public warrant agent
The transfer agent for our common stock and public warrants is
US Stock Transfer Corporation, Glendale, California.
39
number of shares to be issued;
dividend rights and dividend rates;
right to convert the preferred stock into a different type of
security;
voting rights attributable to the preferred stock;
right to receive preferential payments upon a liquidation of the
company;
right to set aside a certain amount of assets for payments
relating to the preferred stock; and
prices to be paid upon redemption of the preferred stock.
Our board is divided into three classes, with each class serving
a three-year staggered term, so that one-third of the board is
elected each year;
The authorized number of our directors can be changed only by
resolution of the board of directors;
We can issue preferred stock without any vote or further action
by stockholders;
Any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders
at an annual or a special meeting is valid only if it is
properly brought before the meeting, and written stockholder
action is valid only if unanimous; and
Our bylaws limit persons who may call a special meeting of our
stockholders.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
This offering
Upon completion of this offering, we expect to have 2,710,754
shares of common stock outstanding, assuming no exercise of
outstanding options or warrants, or 2,890,754 shares if the
representatives over-allotment is exercised in full. Of
these shares, the 1,200,000 shares of common stock issued as
part of the units sold in this offering will be freely tradeable
without restrictions or further registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, except that any shares purchased by our
affiliates, as that term is defined under the
Securities Act, may generally only be sold in compliance with
the limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The
1,200,000 shares of common stock underlying the public warrants
issued as part of the units sold in this offering will also be
freely tradeable after exercise of the warrants, except for
shares held by our affiliates.
Outstanding restricted stock
The 1,510,754 outstanding shares of common stock held by our
existing stockholders are restricted securities within the
meaning of Rule 144 and may not be sold in the absence of
registration under the Securities Act unless an exemption from
registration is available, including the exemption from
registration offered by Rule 144. Holders of all of our
outstanding restricted shares of common stock have agreed not to
sell or otherwise dispose of any of their shares of common stock
for a period of one year after completion of this offering,
without the prior written consent of Paulson Investment Company,
Inc., subject to certain limited exceptions. Prior to the
expiration of this lock-up period, no shares of our outstanding
restricted common stock may be sold in the public market
pursuant to Rule 144. After the expiration of this lock-up
period, or earlier with the prior written consent of Paulson
Investment Company, Inc., all 1,510,754 of these outstanding
restricted shares may be sold in the public market pursuant to
Rule 144.
In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect,
beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a
person who has beneficially owned restricted shares for at least
one year, including a person who may be deemed to be our
affiliate, may sell within any three-month period a number of
shares of common stock that does not exceed a specified maximum
number of shares. This maximum is equal to the greater of 1% of
the then outstanding shares of our common stock or the average
weekly trading volume in the common stock during the four
calendar weeks immediately preceding the sale. Sales under
Rule 144 are also subject to restrictions relating to
manner of sale, notice and availability of current public
information about us. In addition, under Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act, a person who is not our affiliate, has not been
an affiliate of ours within three months prior to the sale and
has beneficially owned shares for at least two years would be
entitled to sell such shares immediately without regard to
volume limitations, manner of sale provisions, notice or other
requirements of Rule 144.
Preferred stock
As of March 15, 2001, we had no shares of preferred stock
outstanding.
Options
Beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus,
certain shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of options
granted by us prior to the date of this prospectus will also be
eligible for sale in the public market pursuant to Rule 701
under the Securities Act, except that
of
these shares are subject to the lock-up agreements discussed
above. Pursuant to Rule 701, persons who purchase shares
upon exercise of options granted under a written compensatory
plan or contract may sell such shares in reliance on
Rule 144 without having to comply with the holding period
requirements of Rule 144, and in the case of
non-affiliates, without having to comply with the public
information, volume limitation or notice provisions of
Rule 144. As of March 15, 2001, we had options
outstanding to purchase 434,322 shares of common stock which
have not been exercised and which become exercisable at various
times in
40
We intend to file registration statements on Form S-8 under
the Securities Act to register approximately 434,322 shares of
our common stock issuable under our stock option plans. These
registration statements are expected to be filed within three to
six months after the completion of this offering. Shares of our
common stock issued upon the exercise of stock options after the
effective date of the Form S-8 registration statements will
be eligible for resale in the public market without restriction,
subject to Rule 144 limitations and the lock-up agreements
discussed above.
Warrants
As of March 15, 2001, we had warrants outstanding to
purchase 52,727 shares of common stock which have not been
exercised and which are currently exercisable. Any shares issued
upon the exercise of these warrants will be eligible for sale
pursuant to Rule 144, except that these shares are also
subject to the lock-up agreements discussed above.
Underwriters warrants
In connection with this offering, we have agreed to issue to the
underwriters warrants to purchase 80,000 units. The
underwriters warrants will be exercisable into units at
any time during the four-year period commencing one year after
the effective date of this offering. We will cause the
registration statement to remain effective until the earlier of
the time that all of the underwriters warrants have been
exercised and the date which is five years after the effective
date of this offering. The common stock and warrants issued to
the representative upon exercise of these warrants will be
freely tradeable.
41
UNDERWRITING
Paulson Investment Company, Inc. is acting as the representative
of the underwriters. We and the underwriters named below have
entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the units
being offered. In connection with this offering and subject to
certain conditions, each of the underwriters named below has
severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell, the
number of units set forth opposite the name of each underwriter.
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are
obligated to purchase all of the units offered by this
prospectus, other than those covered by the over-allotment
option, if any units are purchased. The underwriting agreement
also provides that the obligations of the several underwriters
to pay for and accept delivery of the units are subject to the
approval of certain legal matters by counsel and certain other
conditions. These conditions include the requirements that no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration
statement be in effect and that no proceedings for such purpose
have been instituted or threatened by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose
to offer our units to the public initially at the offering price
set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to selected
dealers at such price less a concession of not more than
$ per unit. The underwriters and
selected dealers may reallow a concession to other dealers,
including the underwriters, of not more than
$ per unit. After completion of the
initial public offering of the units, the offering price, the
concessions to selected dealers and the reallowance to their
dealers may be changed by the underwriters.
A limited number of units, not to exceed four percent of the
units sold in this offering, will be allocated and sold to
certain of our employees, friends and family members and to
selected law enforcement officers as part of this offering. No
specific number of units have been reserved for this purpose.
The units sold to these purchasers will be sold at the initial
public offering price of the units and will not be subject to a
lock-up agreement.
The underwriters have informed us that they do not expect to
confirm sales of our units offered by this prospectus to any
accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
Over-allotment option
Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, we have granted Paulson
Investment Company, Inc. an option, exercisable for 45 days
from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an
additional
units
on the same terms as the units being purchased by the
underwriters from us. Paulson Investment Company, Inc. may
exercise the option solely to cover over-allotments, if any, in
the sale of the units that the underwriters have agreed to
purchase. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the
total public offering price, underwriting discounts and
commissions, and proceeds to us before offering expenses will be
$ ,
$ and
$ ,
respectively.
Stabilization
Until the distribution of the units offered by this prospectus
is completed, rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for and to
purchase units. As an exception to these rules, the underwriters
may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the
units. Paulson Investment Company, Inc., on behalf of the
underwriters, may engage in over-allotment sales, stabilizing
transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids
in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
42
Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater
number of shares than they are required to purchase in this
offering. Covered short sales are sales made in an amount not
greater than the representatives over-allotment option to
purchase additional shares in this offering. In determining the
source of shares to close out the covered short position, the
underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of
shares available for purchase in the open market as compared
with the price at which they may purchase shares through the
over-allotment option. Naked short sales are sales in excess of
the over-allotment option. A naked short position is more likely
to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may
be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open
market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who
purchase in this offering.
In general, the purchase of a security to stabilize or to reduce
a short position could cause the price of the security to be
higher than it might be otherwise. These transactions may be
effected on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market or otherwise. Neither we
nor the underwriters can predict the direction or magnitude of
any effect that the transactions described above may have on the
price of the units. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters
can represent that the underwriters will engage in these types
of transactions or that these types of transactions, once
commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Indemnification
The underwriting agreement provides for indemnification between
us and the underwriters against specified liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, and for contribution by us
and the underwriters to payments that may be required to be made
with respect to those liabilities. We have been advised that, in
the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is
therefore unenforceable.
Underwriters compensation
We have agreed to sell the units to the underwriters at the
initial offering price of
$ ,
less the % underwriting discount.
The underwriting agreement also provides that upon the closing
of the sale of the units offered, Paulson Investment Company,
Inc. will be paid a nonaccountable expense allowance equal to
2.5 percent of the gross proceeds from the sale of the
units offered by this prospectus, including the over-allotment
option.
We have also agreed to issue warrants to the underwriters to
purchase from us up to
units
at an exercise price per unit equal to 120% of the offering
price per unit. These warrants are exercisable during the
four-year period beginning one year from the date of
effectiveness of the registration statement. These warrants, and
the securities underlying the warrants, are not transferable for
one year following the effective date of the registration,
except to an individual who is an officer or partner of an
underwriter, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
and are not redeemable. These warrants will have registration
rights. We will cause the registration statement to remain
effective until the earlier of the time that all of the
underwriters warrants have been exercised and the date
which is five years after the
43
The holders of the underwriters warrants will have, in
that capacity, no voting, dividend or other stockholder rights.
Any profit realized by the representative on the sale of the
securities issuable upon exercise of the underwriters
warrants may be deemed to be additional underwriting
compensation. The securities underlying the underwriters
warrants are being registered on the registration statement.
During the term of the underwriters warrants, the holders
thereof are given the opportunity to profit from a rise in the
market price of our common stock. We may find it more difficult
to raise additional equity capital while the underwriters
warrants are outstanding. At any time at which the
underwriters warrants are likely to be exercised, we may
be able to obtain additional equity capital on more favorable
terms.
Lock-up agreements
Our officers, directors and other stockholders have agreed that
for a period of one year from the date this registration
statement becomes effective that they will not sell, contract to
sell, grant any option for the sale or otherwise dispose of any
of our equity securities, or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for our equity securities, other
than through intra-family transfers or transfers to trusts for
estate planning purposes, without the consent of Paulson
Investment Company, Inc., as the representative of the
underwriters, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
Paulson Investment Company, Inc. may consent to an early release
from the one-year lock-up period if in its opinion the market
for the common stock would not be adversely impacted by such
sales and in cases of an officer, director or other
stockholders financial emergency. We are unaware of any
officer, director or current stockholder who intends to ask for
consent to dispose of any of our equity securities during the
lock-up period.
Determination of offering price
Before this offering, there has been no public market for the
units and the common stock and public warrants contained in the
units. Accordingly, the initial public offering price of the
units offered by this prospectus and the exercise price of the
public warrants were determined by negotiation between us and
the underwriters. Among the factors considered in determining
the initial public offering price of the units and the exercise
price of the public warrants were:
The offering price stated on the cover page of this prospectus
should not be considered an indication of the actual value of
the units. That price is subject to change as a result of market
conditions and other factors, and we cannot assure you that the
units, or the common stock and public warrants contained in the
units, can be resold at or above the initial public offering
price.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be
passed upon on our behalf by Tonkon Torp LLP, Portland, Oregon.
Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters
by Weiss Jensen Ellis & Howard, P.C., Portland, Oregon.
44
Underwriters
Number of Units
Over-allotment involves syndicate sales in excess of the
offering size, which creates a syndicate short position.
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a
specified maximum.
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the common
stock and public warrants in the open market after the
distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate
short positions. The underwriters may also elect to reduce any
short position by exercising all or part of the over-allotment
option to purchase additional units as described above.
Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling
concession from a syndicate member when the units originally
sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate
covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
our history and our prospects;
the industry in which we operate;
the status and development prospects for our proposed products
and services;
our past and present operating results;
the previous experience of our executive officers; and
the general condition of the securities markets at the time of
this offering.
EXPERTS
The financial statements as of and for the years ended
December 31, 1999 and 2000 included in this prospectus have
been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto,
and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said
firm as experts in auditing and accounting and in giving said
reports.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form SB-2 under
the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission
with respect to the units offered hereby. This prospectus filed
as part of the registration statement does not contain all of
the information contained in the registration statement and
exhibits thereto and reference is hereby made to such omitted
information. Statements made in this registration statement are
summaries of the terms of such referenced contracts, agreements
or documents and are not necessarily complete. Reference is made
to each such exhibit for a more complete description of the
matters involved and such statements shall be deemed qualified
in their entirety by such reference. The registration statement
and the exhibits and schedules thereto filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission may be inspected by you at the
Securities and Exchange Commissions principal office in
Washington, D.C. Copies of all or any part of the registration
statement may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, (202) 942-8090, and at the
Commissions regional offices located at Seven World Trade
Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and
Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 11400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. The Commission also
maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports,
proxy statements and information statements and other
information regarding registrants that file electronically with
the Commission. For further information pertaining to us and the
units offered by this prospectus, reference is made to the
registration statement.
We intend to furnish our stockholders with annual reports
containing financial statements audited by our independent
public accountants.
45
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors of
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of TASER
International, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) as of
December 31, 1999 and 2000, and the related statements of
operations, stockholders deficit and cash flows for each
of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2000.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
of TASER International, Inc. as of December 31, 1999 and
2000, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for
each of the two years in the period ended December 31,
2000, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States.
Phoenix, Arizona
F-2
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these balance
sheets.
F-3
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-4
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS DEFICIT
[Additional columns below]
[Continued from above table, first column(s) repeated]
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-5
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-6
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. The Company
a. History and Nature of
Organization
TASER International, Inc. (TASER or the Company) was
incorporated and began operations in Arizona in 1993 for the
purpose of developing and manufacturing less-lethal,
self-defense devices. From its inception until the Company
commenced production in December 1994, the Company was in the
development stage. During the period leading up to the start of
production, the Companys activities included raising
capital, hiring key personnel and obtaining the necessary
licenses. All production costs during the period from inception
through December 31, 1995, consisting of research and
development activities and limited product manufacturing, were
expensed as incurred.
Through 1996, the Company was developing its signature product,
the AIR TASER, and establishing the marketing channels to
promote retail sales. Significant nonrecurring expenditures were
incurred, including research and development costs, the
development of marketing and sales materials, the purchase of
the licensing rights to the TASER technology and trademark, and
the relocation of the manufacturing operations to Mexico, which
resulted in significant operating losses.
In 1997, the Company introduced a new product, the AUTO TASER.
As a result of significant expenditures for research and
development, manufacturing difficulties, scrap, engineering
changes and other costs associated with the start up of this
product line, the Company continued to experience operating
losses in 1997, 1998 and 1999. This product line was
discontinued August 1, 1999.
In 1998, the Company formally changed its name from Air Taser,
Inc. to TASER International, Inc. and began development of its
ADVANCED TASER product, which was introduced for sale in
December 1999.
b. Financing
The Company has been financed primarily from advances from and
investments by major stockholders and bank financing guaranteed
by major stockholders. Since inception, the Company has
sustained significant operating losses and has, at
December 31, 2000, a deficit in working capital of
approximately $1,069,000. In addition, new capital will be
required to fund further product development, market
penetration, working capital and future operations. The Company
believes that additional financing will be available under terms
and conditions that are acceptable to it. However, there can be
no assurance that additional financing will be available.
Subsequent to year end, the Company closed a loan for $500,000
from an unrelated private lender, and management believes its
operating cash flow throughout 2001 will be positive. In
addition, in the event the Companys contemplated initial
public offering is not completed, the Company has an agreement
with two major stockholders whereby the Company may, at the
Companys sole option, extend the maturity date of the
stockholders outstanding notes for a period not to exceed
24 months. The Company may also, at the Companys sole
option, retire such debt at any time without penalty. In
addition, a major stockholder has established a non-revocable
letter of credit in the amount of $500,000 on the Companys
behalf that the Company can use to fund any shortfalls in the
Companys monthly capital requirements. The letter of
credit expires at the earlier of the closing of this offering or
December 31, 2001.
c. Initial Public Offering
The Company is contemplating an initial public offering (IPO) of
800,000 units at an estimated price of $13 per unit, consisting
of one and one-half shares of common stock and one and one-half
warrants, each whole warrant to purchase one share of common
stock (Note 11).
F-7
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
d. Reincorporation and Restatement
of Shares
In February 2001, the Company reincorporated in the State of
Delaware. In connection with the reincorporation, the Company
completed a 1-for-6 share reverse stock split. The accompanying
financial statements and footnotes have been restated for the
lower number of shares of common stock outstanding for all
periods presented.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
a. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include funds on hand and short-term
investments with original maturities of three months or less.
b. Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market; cost is
determined using the most recent acquisition cost method which
approximates the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:
Inventory cost in 1999 and 2000 includes primarily the cost paid
to an outsourced manufacturer, which included charges for
material, labor and overhead.
c. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Additions and
improvements are capitalized while ordinary maintenance and
repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred.
Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over
the estimated useful lives of the assets.
d. Long-Lived Assets
The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of
long-lived assets in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121,
Accounting for
the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
be Disposed of
. Under SFAS 121, long-lived assets to be held
and used in operations are reviewed for impairment whenever
events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss is
recognized if the sum of the expected long-term undiscounted
cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived
assets being evaluated. The Company has not recognized any
impairment losses during the two year period ended
December 31, 2000.
e. Customer Deposits
The Company requires certain deposits in advance of shipment for
foreign customer sales orders. At December 31, 2000,
customer deposits consisted primarily of one foreign customer
sales order.
F-8
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
f. Cost of Products Sold
During 2000, the Company outsourced the assembly of its finished
goods, but continued to manufacture certain small, proprietary
components internally. Prior to August 1999, all finished
goods were assembled internally. At December 31, 2000, cost
of products sold represents net amounts paid to a vendor to
acquire finished goods sold to customers and the manufacturing
costs, including material, labor and overhead related to the
proprietary components the Company manufactures internally.
Prior to August 1999, costs of products sold included the
manufacturing costs, including materials, labor and overhead
related to finished goods and components. Shipping costs
incurred related to product delivery are also included in cost
of products sold.
At December 31, 1999, included within cost of products sold
is a one-time charge related to the phase-out of the AUTO TASER
product line of approximately $355,000.
g. Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues when products are shipped and
all sales are final. The Company charges certain of its
customers shipping fees, which are recorded as a component of
net sales.
On December 3, 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission
issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 101,
Revenue
Recognition in Financial Statements,
which provides
additional guidance in applying generally accepted accounting
principles for revenue recognition in financial statements. The
issuance of SAB No. 101 did not have a material impact on
the revenue recognition method of the Company.
h. Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
i. Advertising Costs
The Company expenses the production cost of advertising as
incurred or the first time the advertising takes place. The
Company incurred advertising costs of $24,652 and $35,035 in
1999 and 2000, respectively. Advertising costs are included in
sales, general and administrative expenses in the statements of
operations.
j. Warranty Costs
The Company warrants its products from manufacturing defects for
their lives and will replace any defective units with a new one
for a $25 fee. In 2000, the Company recalled a series of
ADVANCED TASERs due to a defective component in connection with
which the Company incurred warranty expense of approximately
$9,000 and recorded an additional charge of $41,000 to cover
estimated future warranty costs based upon the number of units
sold and the estimated defect rate using its prior actual
experience.
k. Research and Development
Expenses
The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred.
The Company incurred product development expense of $64,227 and
$7,137 in 1999 and 2000, respectively.
F-9
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
l. Income Taxes
The Company, since inception, has qualified as an S corporation
under the Internal Revenue Code, and accordingly, is not
directly subject to income taxes. There is no provision or
benefit for income taxes reflected in the accompanying financial
statements, since items of taxable income and losses are
reported in the individual returns of stockholders.
Subsequent to December 31, 2000, the Company reincorporated
in the State of Delaware and elected to be taxed as a
C corporation. Net operating losses (NOLs) prior to the
change to a C corporation accrued to the individual
stockholders. Accordingly, such losses are not available to
reduce future taxes payable by the Company as a
C corporation.
Upon termination of the S status, the Company is required to
implement SFAS No. 109,
Accounting for Income
Taxes
which requires the calculation of existing
temporary differences between the financial statement carrying
amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective
tax bases. Management does not expect such implementation to
have a significant impact on the Company.
Had the Company been a C corporation in 1999 and 2000, no
federal or state income tax benefit would have been recorded for
the NOLs discussed above because their realizability could not
be determined as more likely than not. Accordingly, no pro forma
benefit for federal or state income taxes is recorded as if the
Company were taxed as a C corporation for any of the
periods presented. Additionally, the accumulated deficit at the
time of the S election termination will be reclassified to
additional paid-in capital.
m. Concentration of Credit Risk and
Major Customers
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist of accounts receivable,
accounts payable and notes payable to related parties. Sales are
typically made on credit and the Company generally does not
require collateral. The Company performs ongoing credit
evaluations of its customers financial condition and
maintains an allowance for estimated potential losses. Accounts
receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful
accounts. Provision for bad debts was $32,250 and $72,905 at
December 31, 1999 and 2000, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 1999 and 2000, sales by
product were as follows:
Sales to customers outside of the United States are denominated
in U.S. dollars.
F-10
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
n. Financial Instruments
The Companys financial instruments include cash, accounts
receivable and accounts payable. Due to the short-term nature of
these instruments, the fair value of these instruments
approximates their recorded value. The Company does not have any
financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk.
The Company has notes payable to stockholders at varying terms
which, based on the short-term nature of the notes and financing
obtained from outside sources, the Company believes are stated
at their estimated fair market value.
o. Segment Information
The Company has adopted SFAS No. 131,
Disclosures About
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information
. This
statement requires disclosure of certain information about the
Companys operating segments, products, geographic areas in
which it operates and major customers. This statement also
allows a company to aggregate similar segments for reporting
purposes. Management has determined that its operations can be
aggregated into one reportable segment. Therefore, no separate
segment disclosures have been included in the accompanying notes
to the financial statements.
p. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures compensation costs related to stock option
plans using the intrinsic value method and provides pro forma
disclosures of net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per common
share as if the fair value based method had been applied in
measuring compensation costs. Accordingly, compensation cost for
stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair
value of the Companys common stock at the date of
measurement over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the
stock and is amortized over the vesting period, generally three
years.
q. Comprehensive Income
The Company has adopted SFAS No. 130,
Reporting
Comprehensive Income
. This statement requires that all
components of comprehensive income be reported in the financial
statements in the period in which they are recognized. During
the years ended December 31, 1999 and 2000, the Company did
not have any components of comprehensive income requiring
separate reporting in the Companys financial statements.
r. Income (Loss) Per Common Share
Income (loss) per common share is computed in accordance with
SFAS No. 128,
Earnings Per Share
. Basic income
(loss) per common share is based upon the weighted average
shares outstanding. Diluted income (loss) per common share is
based on the weighted average shares outstanding and dilutive
common stock equivalents. Approximately 144,875 and 186,049
options and warrants were not included in the computation of
diluted earnings per share for 1999 and 2000, respectively, as
their effect would be anti-dilutive.
s. Recent Accounting
Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Standards Board issued SFAS
No. 133,
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities
. Under SFAS 133, all derivatives are
required to be recognized in the balance sheet at fair value.
Gains or losses from changes in fair value would be recognized
in earnings in the period of change unless the derivative is
designated as a hedging instrument. In June 1999, the
Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 137,
which amended SFAS 133, delaying its effective date to fiscal
years beginning after June 15, 2000. The Company does not
currently hold any
F-11
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
derivative instruments nor does it engage in hedging activities.
The Company does not believe the new standard will impact its
financial statements.
3. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following at
December 31, 1999 and 2000:
4. Commitments and Contingencies
a. Operating Leases
The Company has entered into operating leases for office space
and equipment. Rent expense under these leases for the years
ended December 31, 1999 and 2000, was $147,655 and $93,241,
respectively. Future minimum lease payments under operating
leases as of December 31, 2000, are as follows:
b. Litigation
From time to time, the Company is involved in certain legal
actions and claims arising in the normal course of business.
Management is of the opinion that it maintains adequate
insurance and that such matters will be resolved without a
material effect on the Companys financial position or
results of operations.
In early April 2001, a patent licensee sued the Company in
the United States District Court, Central District of
California. The lawsuit alleges that certain technology used in
the firing mechanism for the Companys weapons infringes
upon a patent for which the licensee holds a license, and seeks
injunctive relief and unspecified monetary damages. The Company
believes it does not infringe this patent, that the
licensees claims are without merit and that the litigation
will have no material adverse effect on the Companys
financial condition or results of operations.
In February 2000, the Company was named a defendant in a
suit with a former distributor in the state of New York. The
suit was dismissed in February 2001 for lack of jurisdiction of
the New York
F-12
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
court. In March 2001, the former distributor appealed the
dismissal. Management believes this matter will be resolved
without a material effect on the Companys financial
condition or results of operations.
c. Employment Agreements
The Company has employment agreements with its President, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
The Company may terminate the agreements with or without cause.
Should the Company terminate the agreements without cause, upon
a change of control of the Company or death of the employee, the
President, CEO and CFO are entitled to additional compensation.
Under these circumstances, these officers may receive the
remaining amounts under the contract upon termination which
could total $510,000.
5. Income Taxes
Concurrently with the change in tax status as discussed in Note
2, the Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 109.
Under the asset and liability method of SFAS No. 109,
deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the
future tax consequences attributable to differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss
and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applied to
taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences
are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on the
deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is
recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment
date.
Management believes that the following estimated deferred tax
assets and liabilities would exist at December 31, 2000, if
the date of tax status change was effective on December 31,
2000. The Company would provide a full valuation reserve for the
deferred tax asset because the Company has not sustained taxable
net income in any periods at sufficient levels to assure
realization:
6. Lines of Credit
During 1999, the Company had a line of credit with a bank with a
total commitment of up to $1,500,000. The line was used to fund
the Companys working capital needs, and was personally
guaranteed by two stockholders, had an interest rate of 10% and
was secured by virtually all of the assets of the Company. At
December 31, 1998, borrowings under the line were
$1,329,600. The line matured and was paid in full on
February 15, 1999.
In April 2001, the Company obtained a revolving line of
credit with a bank with a total commitment of up to $1,500,000.
The line was fully used to repay a $1,500,000 promissory note to
Mr. Bruce R. Culver, a director of the Company, is secured
by assets of Mr. Culver and substantially all of our assets
other than our intellectual property, and has an interest rate
of bank prime plus 1%. The line matures on April 30, 2002
and requires the Company to make monthly interest payments only
until such date.
F-13
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
7. Inventory Financing Agreement
In 1995, the Company entered into an inventory financing
agreement with its warehouser. Under the agreement, the Company
had the right to sell its product to the warehouser at a stated
price up to quantities totaling the lesser of $500,000 or the
number of units sold in the last two months. The Company
repurchased the product once sold to a third party at the stated
price plus 2% per month (24% annually). In June 1998, the
agreement expired and the Company issued a $189,980 note for the
amount due. The note bears interest at 10% and is paid monthly
and matured March 31, 2000. As of December 31, 2000,
no amounts of principal have been paid on this note and the
balance is recorded as a current payable.
8. Notes Payable
At December 31, 1999 and 2000 debt obligations were as
follows:
At December 31, 2000, aggregate annual maturities of
long-term debt and capital leases were as follows:
During 1998, Mr. Phillips W. Smith, the Companys
chairman, loaned the Company approximately $725,691. In
March 1998, $150,000 was converted into 20,833 shares of
common stock at an estimated fair value of $7.20 per share and
$120,000 was repaid. In December 1998, the Company issued a
promissory note for $455,691, the remaining amounts due. The
note carried interest at 9% (increased to 10% in
January 2001) and its maturity was extended to July 1,
2002.
In addition, during 1998, Mr. Bruce R. Culver, a director
of the Company, loaned the Company approximately $622,525. In
March 1998, $150,000 was converted into 20,833 shares of
common stock at an estimated market value of $7.20 per share. In
December 1998, the Company issued a promissory note for
$472,525, the remaining amounts due. The note carried interest
at 9% (increased to 10% in January 2001) and its maturity
was extended to July 1, 2002.
In January 1999, Mr. Culver loaned the Company
$1,500,000. In return, the Company issued a promissory note for
$500,000 at an effective interest rate of 27.12% to mature
October 31, 2000 and issued
F-14
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
1,666,667 shares of common stock to Mr. Culver at a fair
market value of $0.60 per share. The stock issued was subject to
a repurchase agreement which allowed the Company to repurchase
the shares issued at cost if certain criteria were met. In
July 2000, the Company repurchased the 1,666,667 shares
under the agreement in exchange for a promissory note for
$1,000,000. This $1,000,000 note and the $500,000 note issued in
January 1999 were consolidated into a new note for
$1,500,000 which carried interest at bank prime (9.5% at
December 31, 2000) plus 1%. The Company repaid the new note
in full with the proceeds of a loan from a commercial bank in
April 2001.
In March 1999, the Company issued a promissory note to
Mr. Culver for $100,000 at an interest rate of 10% which
matures on July 1, 2002.
In March 1999, the Company issued a promissory note to
Mr. Smith for $99,794 at an interest rate of 10% which
matured December 31, 2000.
In July 1999, the Company issued a promissory note to
Mr. Culver for $50,000 to fund working capital needs at an
interest rate of 10% which matures July 1, 2002.
In May 2000, the Company issued a promissory note to
Mr. Culver for $200,000 to fund working capital needs at an
interest rate of 10% which matures on July 1, 2002.
In the event the planned IPO is not completed, the Company has
an agreement with Mr. Smith and Mr. Culver whereby the
Company may at the Companys sole option, extend the
maturity date of the outstanding notes for a period not to
exceed 24 months. The Company, at the Companys sole
option, may retire the debt at any time without penalty.
In July 1999, the Company issued a promissory note to
Mr. Malcolm Sherman, a stockholder, for $75,000 to acquire
production equipment. The note carries interest at 9.18% and
matures July 1, 2001.
In September 1997, the Company issued a promissory note to
an unrelated private lender to fund working capital for $112,000
at an interest rate of 11% which matures June 30, 2002.
In January 2001, the Company issued a promissory note to an
unrelated private lender to fund working capital for $500,000 at
an interest rate of 18% which matures the earlier of the close
of the IPO or July 1, 2002.
In April 2001, the Company obtained a revolving line of
credit with a bank with a total commitment of up to $1,500,000.
The line was fully used to repay a $1,500,000 promissory note to
Mr. Culver, is secured by assets of Mr. Culver and
substantially all of our assets other than our intellectual
property, and has an interest rate of bank prime plus 1%. The
line matures on April 30, 2002 and requires the Company to
make monthly interest payments only until such date.
9. Stockholders Equity
a. Common Stock
Concurrent with the re-incorporation in Delaware effective
February 2001, the Company adopted a certificate of
incorporation and authorized the issuance of two classes of
stock to be designated common stock and
preferred stock, provided that both common and
preferred stock shall have a par value of $0.00001 per share and
authorized the Company to issue 50 million shares of common
stock and 25 million shares of preferred stock.
Additionally, effective February 2001, the Company declared
a 1-for-6 reverse stock split of common stock. All references to
the number of shares, per share amounts, conversion amounts and
stock option and warrant data of the Companys common stock
have been restated to reflect this reverse stock split for all
periods presented.
F-15
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
b. Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue up to 25 million shares of
preferred stock, $0.00001 par value. The power to issue any
shares of preferred stock of any class or any series of any
class and designations, voting powers, preferences, and relative
participating, optional or other rights, if any, or the
qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, shall be
determined by the Board of Directors.
c. Warrants
At December 31, 2000, the Company has warrants outstanding
to purchase 42,747 shares of common stock at prices ranging from
$0.22 to $21.00 per share with an average exercise price of
$3.48 per share and a weighted average useful life of
3.58 years. A summary of warrants outstanding and
exercisable at December 31, 2000 is presented in the table
below:
In 2000, the Company issued 22,727 warrants to a stockholder as
consideration for his provision of a $1,500,000 loan to the
Company. The warrants are exercisable at $3.30 per share and
expire July 31, 2005. These warrants have been recorded at
their estimated fair value of $77,862 as additional paid-in
capital and the related interest expense in the accompanying
financial statements.
In January 2001, the Company issued 5,000 warrants to an
unrelated private lender as a loan guarantee. These warrants are
exercisable at $10 per share and expire January 1, 2006.
The fair value of these warrants of approximately $9,650 will be
recorded as additional paid-in capital and the related expense
recorded in the year in which the service is provided or ratably
over the life of the debt.
d. Deferred Compensation
During 2000, two non-employee Board of Director members received
their director fees for services relating to 2001 to 2004
through the issuance of, in the aggregate, 13,333 options at an
exercise price of $3.30 per share. These options have been
recorded at their estimated fair value of $79,920 as deferred
compensation in the accompanying balance sheets and will be
amortized into expense over the next four years.
e. Stock Option Plans
The Company has historically issued stock options for various
equity owners and key employees as a means of attracting and
retaining quality personnel. The option holders have the right
to purchase a stated amount of shares at the estimated market
value on the grant date. The options issued under the
Companys 1999 Stock Option Plan (the 1999
Plan) generally vest over a three-year period. The options
issued under the Companys 2001 Stock Option Plan (the
2001 Plan) generally vest over a four-year period.
F-16
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The directors of the Company adopted the Companys
1998-1999 Stock Option Plan. The 1998-1999 Plan was administered
by the Board of Directors which determined the employees,
directors or consultants which will be granted options and the
terms of the options, including the vesting provision which
typically is over a three-year period.
The 1998-1999 Plan was terminated by the Company and options
granted under it were voluntarily canceled by the recipients or
terminated in connection with termination of the
recipients employment.
The 1999 Plan provides for officers, key employees and
consultants to receive nontransferable stock options to purchase
up to 833,333 shares of the Companys common stock. The
term of the options may not exceed ten years although most
options granted had an initial expiration period of between five
and seven years. In 1998, the Company had a similar plan which
was cancelled in 1999.
In 1999, the Company issued 16,667 five-year options to
Mr. Phillips W. Smith at an exercise price of $0.66
per share for consulting services, and 3,958 ten-year options to
an unrelated private lender at an exercise price of $7.20 per
share as consideration for his financing the Companys
purchase of inventory. In 2000, the Company issued 4,697
ten-year options to a non-employee at an exercise price of $3.30
per share for consulting services, and 3,333 five-year options
to a stockholder at an exercise price of $0.22 per share in
connection with his provision of services and a loan to the
Company. These options have been recorded at fair value as
additional paid-in capital and the related expense recorded in
the year in which the service is provided in the accompanying
financial statements.
A summary of the Companys stock options at
December 31, 1999 and 2000 and for the years then ended is
presented in the table below:
Stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31,
2000 are as follows:
F-17
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The Company measures the compensation cost of its stock option
plan using the intrinsic value based method of accounting
prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25,
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees
. Accordingly, no
compensation cost has been recognized for its stock option plan.
The weighted average remaining contractual life of those options
is approximately 6.64 years. Had the Companys
compensation cost been determined using the fair value of
approximately $8,000 in 1999 and $8,300 in 2000, based on the
method of accounting prescribed by SFAS No. 123,
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
, the
Companys net loss and net loss per common share would have
been adjusted to the following pro forma amounts (amounts in
thousands except per common share amounts):
In January 2001, the Company adopted the 2001 Plan which
provides for officers, key employees and consultants to receive
nontransferable stock options to purchase up to 550,000 shares
of the Companys common stock. In February 2001, the
Company granted 291,000 ten-year options to employees,
stockholders and one consultant at exercise prices equal or
greater than the value of the common stock portion of the
initial per unit public offering price in the Companys
contemplated IPO. Total compensation cost associated with the
option granted to the consultant is approximately $3,100.
10. Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share is based upon the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period.
In periods of losses, diluted net loss per share is based upon
the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during
the period. As the Company had a net loss for the years ended
December 31, 1999 and 2000, the Companys common stock
options and warrants were anti-dilutive.
Loss per share is calculated as follows for the year ended
December 31:
F-18
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
11. Subsequent Event
The Company has filed a registration statement on Form SB-2
offering 800,000 units at an estimated initial offering
price of $13 per unit consisting of one and one-half shares
of common stock and one and one-half warrants, each whole
warrant to purchase one share of common stock. Also, the Company
intends to issue to the IPOs underwriters warrants which
enable the underwriters to acquire 80,000 units for 120% of
the IPO unit offering price.
F-19
You should rely only on the
information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized
anyone to provide you with information different from the
information contained in this prospectus. We are offering to
sell, and seeking offers to buy, units only in jurisdictions in
which offers and sales are permitted.
Until
,
2001 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all
broker-dealers that effect the transactions in these securities,
whether or not participating in this offering, may be required
to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the
dealers obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as
underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or
subscriptions.
800,000 UNITS
PAULSON INVESTMENT
MERCER
PARTNERS, INC.
,
2001
Page
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
1999
2000
Assets
$
54,905
$
206,408
121,921
312,681
158,167
221,169
14,043
24,535
349,036
764,793
256,110
274,273
$
605,146
$
1,039,066
Liabilities and Stockholders Deficit
$
112,000
$
100,000
1,664,774
124,574
19,176
22,171
574,989
589,949
62,317
539,329
189,980
189,980
138,942
268,134
2,762,178
1,834,137
74,781
2,778,219
19,979
43,925
2,856,938
4,656,281
32
32
4,068,814
3,256,575
(79,920
)
(17
)
(6,320,638
)
(6,793,885
)
(2,251,792
)
(3,617,215
)
$
605,146
$
1,039,066
1999
2000
$
2,208,488
$
3,412,620
1,001,082
1,350,175
1,087,404
488,214
120,002
1,574,231
1,442,613
1,613,979
64,227
7,137
(1,386,838
)
(46,885
)
279,895
426,362
$
(1,666,733
)
$
(473,247
)
$
(0.54
)
$
(0.19
)
(0.54
)
(0.19
)
3,076,410
2,482,976
3,076,410
2,482,976
Common Stock
Additional
Treasury Stock
Paid-in
Shares
Amount
Capital
Shares
Amount
1,359,239
$
14
$
2,567,432
1,666,667
17
999,983
151,515
1
499,999
3,177,421
32
4,068,814
(999,983
)
(1,666,667
)
(17
)
79,920
13,917
93,907
3,177,421
$
32
$
3,256,575
(1,666,667
)
(17
)
Total
Deferred
Accumulated
Stockholders
Compensation
Deficit
Deficit
$
$
(4,653,905
)
$
(2,086,459
)
1,000,000
500,000
1,400
(1,666,733
)
(1,666,733
)
(6,320,638
)
(2,251,792
)
(1,000,000
)
(79,920
)
13,917
93,907
(473,247
)
(473,247
)
$
(79,920
)
$
(6,793,885
)
$
(3,617,215
)
1999
2000
$
(1,666,733
)
$
(473,247
)
179,453
124,803
90,474
(190,760
)
607,165
(63,002
)
16,598
(10,492
)
(95,150
)
14,960
62,317
477,012
101,650
129,192
(704,226
)
8,466
(133,760
)
(99,759
)
(19,195
)
(16,266
)
(12,000
)
728,344
163,238
(1,329,635
)
1,500,000
(79,920
)
1,400
187,744
880,914
242,796
42,928
151,503
11,977
54,905
$
54,905
$
206,408
$
179,171
$
239,552
$
33,635
$
43,207
$
$
1,000,000
$
1,400
$
13,917
$
0
$
93,907
$
0
$
79,920
1999
2000
$
131,007
$
153,506
27,160
67,663
$
158,167
$
221,169
1999
2000
(000s omitted)
$
1,311
$
1,241
601
24
80
2,099
216
49
$
2,208
$
3,413
52
%
82
%
48
18
100
%
100
%
Estimated
Useful Lives
1999
2000
5 years
$
$
5,000
5 years
335,050
380,326
5 years
31,535
31,535
3-5 years
332,460
383,492
5-7 years
22,767
57,542
721,812
857,895
(465,702
)
(583,622
)
$
256,110
$
274,273
$
144,481
142,643
146,362
150,193
154,139
143,156
$
880,974
$
42,171
26,646
(68,817
)
$
1999
2000
$
1,678,010
$
2,878,010
61,545
24,783
112,000
100,000
39,155
66,096
1,890,710
3,068,889
(1,795,950
)
(246,745
)
$
94,760
$
2,822,144
$
246,745
2,809,359
5,308
3,589
3,888
$
3,068,889
Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Expiration
Price
Warrants
Date
$
21.00
3,333
7/31/05
0.22
8,334
1/1/03
0.22
8,333
1/1/03
3.30
22,727
7/31/05
$
3.48
42,727
1999
2000
Weighted
Weighted
Average
Average
Exercise
Exercise
Options
Price
Options
Price
65,334
$
6.37
124,875
$
0.82
121,458
0.83
21,863
2.83
(61,917
)
6.71
(3,416
)
0.22
124,875
$
0.82
143,322
$
1.14
42,352
$
1.20
84,979
$
1.02
Outstanding
Exercisable
Average
Exercise
Average
Price
Options
Life(a)
Options
$
0.22
3,333
4.50
3,333
0.60
80,834
7.52
50,718
0.66
36,667
3.00
23,426
7.20
3,958
9.74
3,958
3.30
18,530
8.42
3,544
$
1.02
143,322
6.60
84,979
(a)
Average contractual life remaining in years.
Year Ended December 31,
1999
2000
$
(1,667
)
$
(406
)
(1,675
)
(414
)
$
(0.54
)
$
(0.16
)
(0.54
)
(0.17
)
1999
2000
$
(1,666,733
)
$
(473,247
)
3,076,410
2,482,976
$
(0.54
)
$
(0.19
)
$
(1,666,733
)
$
(473,247
)
3,076,410
2,482,976
0
0
3,076,410
2,482,976
$
(0.54
)
$
(0.19
)
Page
1
4
11
12
13
13
15
19
30
33
35
36
40
42
44
45
45
F-1
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 24.
Indemnification of Directors and
Officers.
Our certificate of incorporation allows and our bylaws require
that we indemnify our directors and officers who are or were a
party to, or are threatened to be made a party to, any
proceeding (including a derivative action if the director or
officer is not found liable to us), against all expenses
reasonably incurred by a director or officer in connection with
such a proceeding (including expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement), if the director or officer acted in
good faith, in a manner he or she believed was not opposed to
our best interests, and, with respect to a criminal proceeding,
had no reason to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with
each of our directors and officers. The agreements provide for
mandatory indemnification for and limit the liability of our
directors and officers in serving us to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Specifically,
under the agreements, our directors and officers will not be
personally liable for monetary damages for their errors or
omissions, except for liability for the breach of a
directors or officers duty of loyalty to us or our
stockholders, for intentional misconduct or acts not in good
faith, for making any unlawful distribution, for any transaction
from which the director or officer derived an improper benefit,
or for violating section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or similar laws.
Our bylaws and indemnification agreements generally require that
we advance to our directors and officers expenses incurred by
them in defending a proceeding in advance of its final
disposition, provided that the director or officer agrees to
reimburse us for such advances if it is ultimately found that
the director or officer is not entitled to indemnification. In
addition, our bylaws permit us to purchase insurance on behalf
of our directors and officers against any liability asserted
against them in such capacity. We intend to obtain such
insurance.
Item 25.
Other Expenses of Issuance and
Distribution.
The following table sets forth an itemization of SEC
Registration, NASD filing and Nasdaq listing fees, and all other
estimated expenses, all of which we will pay, in connection with
the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:
Item 26.
Recent Sales of Unregistered
Securities.
We have issued the following securities within the last three
years. The following information regarding our securities has
been adjusted to reflect a 1-for-6 reverse stock split effected
in connection with our redomestication in Delaware on
February 12, 2001.
II-1
(1) In March 1998, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we sold shares of our
common stock as follows: 20,833 shares at $7.20 per share for an
aggregate purchase price of $150,000, to Bruce R. Culver;
and 20,833 shares at $7.20 per share for an aggregate purchase
price of $150,000, to Phillips W. Smith.
(2) In January 1999, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we sold shares of our
common stock as follows: 1,666,667 shares at $0.60 per share for
an aggregate purchase price of $1,000,000, to Bruce R.
Culver. These shares were subject to a repurchase option that
was exercised by us in July 2000 at the same price ($0.60 per
share) for an aggregate purchase price of $1,000,000.
(3) In September 1999, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we sold shares of our
common stock as follows: 151,515 shares at $3.30 per share for
an aggregate purchase price of $500,000, to Bruce R. Culver.
(4) In July 2000, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we granted warrants to
purchase 27,727 shares of our common stock at an exercise price
of $3.30 per share in consideration for the provision of a loan,
to Bruce R. Culver.
Messrs. Culver and Smith are accredited investors and
sophisticated in our business. Mr. Smith has served as a
director of TASER since 1993, Mr. Culver since 1994. Each
have had access to information with respect to us necessary to
make an informed investment decision in connection with the
sales and warrant grants referenced above.
(5) In June 1999, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we granted options to
purchase 3,958 shares of our common stock at an exercise price
of $7.20 per share in consideration for financing our purchase
of inventory to B & M Distributing, Inc. B & M
Distributing is a sophisticated investor with knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters and with access to
information about us necessary to make an informed business
decision in connection with such grant of options to it.
(6) In January and September 2000, pursuant to an
exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we
granted options to purchase, respectively, 3,030 and 1,667
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $3.30 per
share in consideration for the provision of consulting services,
to a consultant. The consultant is a sophisticated investor with
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and
with access to information about us necessary to make an
informed business decision in connection with such grant of
options to him.
(7) In May 2000, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we granted options to
purchase 3,333 shares of our common stock to a former employee
at an exercise price of $0.22 per share in consideration for the
provision of services and the guarantee of a loan. The former
employee is also a former director and an accredited and
sophisticated investor with knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters and with access to information
about us necessary to make an informed business decision in
connection with such grant of options to him.
(8) In January 2001, pursuant to an exemption under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, we granted warrants to
purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock to a private lender at
an exercise price of $10.00 per share in consideration for the
provision of a loan. The private lender is an accredited and
sophisticated investor with knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters and with access to information
about us necessary to make an informed business decision in
connection with such grant of warrants to him.
II-2
Item 27.
Exhibits.
II-3
Item 28.
Undertakings.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and
controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of us in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to
a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
We hereby undertake to:
In addition, we hereby undertake to provide to the underwriters
at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement,
certificates in such denominations and registered in such names
as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to
each purchaser.
II-4
Nature of Expense
Amount
$
9,514
3,960
8,000
125,000
227,000
150,000
145,000
65,000
1,250
17,276
$
752,000
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Form of Underwriting Agreement*
3.1
Registrants Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
3.2
Registrants Bylaws, as amended
4.1
Reference is made to pages 1-4 of Exhibit 3.1 and
pages 1-5 and 12-14 of Exhibit 3.2
4.2
Form of Common Stock Certificate*
4.3
Form of Public Warrant
4.4
Form of Unit Certificate*
4.5
Form of Warrant and Unit Agreement
4.6
Form of Underwriters Warrant*
5.1
Opinion of Tonkon Torp LLP**
10.1
Employment Agreement with Patrick W. Smith, dated
July 1, 1998*
10.2
Employment Agreement with Thomas P. Smith, dated
November 15, 2000*
10.3
Employment Agreement with Kathleen C. Hanrahan, dated
November 15, 2000*
10.4
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its
directors*
10.5
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its
officers*
10.6
1999 Employee Stock Option Plan*
10.7
2001 Stock Option Plan*
10.8
Form of Warrant issued to Bruce Culver and Phil Smith*
10.9
Licensing Agreement with respect to intellectual property dated
October 15, 1993, as amended, by and between the Registrant
and John H. Cover, Jr., and related documents*
10.10
Promissory Note, dated January 23, 2001, payable to Phillip
Purer in the amount of $500,000 and related security documents*
10.11
Promissory Note, dated December 31, 1998, payable to B
& M Distributing, Inc., in the amount of $189,980 and
related guarantee and security documents*
10.12
Promissory Note, dated October 24, 2000, payable to Bank of
America in the amount of $60,000 and related guarantee and
security documents*
10.13
Form of Promissory Notes issued to stockholders*
10.14
Lease between the Registrant and Norton P. Remes and
Joan A. Remes Revocable Trust, dated November 17,
2000*
10.15
Promissory Note, dated July 1, 1999, payable to
Malcolm W. Sherman in the amount of $75,000*
10.16
Letter Agreement with respect to services, dated May 26,
2000, by and between the Registrant and Malcolm W. Sherman*
10.17
Standby Letter of Credit dated April 13, 2001 in the amount
of $500,000 established on behalf of the Registrant, and related
Letter of Support*
10.18
Form of Amendment to Promissory Notes issued to stockholders*
10.19
Loan and Security Agreement, dated April 26, 2001, between
the Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank
23.1
Consent of Tonkon, Torp LLP (Exhibit 5.1)**
23.2
Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants
24
Power of Attorney. Reference is made to the signature page.
*
Previously filed
**
To be filed by amendment.
(1) File, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
statement to:
(i) Include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the Securities Act);
(ii) Reflect in the prospectus any facts or events which,
individually or together, represent a fundamental change in the
information in the registration statement; and notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the dollar value of the securities offered would not
exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low
or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set
forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table
in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) Include any additional or changed material
information on the plan of distribution.
(2) For determining liability under the Securities Act,
treat each post-effective amendment as a new registration
statement of the securities offered, and the offering of the
securities at that time to be the initial bona fide offering.
(3) File a post-effective amendment to remove from
registration any of the securities that remain unsold at the end
of the offering.
(4) For purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, treat the information omitted from the form of
prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in
reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act as
part of this registration statement as of the time it was
declared effective.
(5) For determining any liability under the Securities
Act, treat each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
prospectus as a new registration statement for the securities
offered in the registration statement, and that offering of the
securities at that time as the initial bona fide offering of
those securities.
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 3
to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, in the City of Scottsdale, Arizona on
April 30, 2001.
II-5
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
BY:
/s/PATRICK W. SMITH
Patrick W. Smith,
Chief Executive Officer
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement
was signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates stated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ PATRICK W. SMITH
Patrick W. Smith
April 30, 2001
/s/ THOMAS P. SMITH*
Thomas P. Smith
April 30, 2001
/s/ KATHLEEN C. HANRAHAN*
Kathleen C. Hanrahan
April 30, 2001
/s/ PHILLIPS W. SMITH
Phillips W. Smith
April 30, 2001
/s/ BRUCE R. CULVER*
Bruce R. Culver
April 30, 2001
/s/ KARL F. WALTER*
Karl F. Walter
April 30, 2001
/s/ MATTHEW R. MCBRADY*
Matthew R. McBrady
April 30, 2001
*By
/s/ PATRICK W. SMITH
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Form of Underwriting Agreement*
3.1
Registrants Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
3.2
Registrants Bylaws, as amended
4.1
Reference is made to pages 1-4 of Exhibit 3.1 and pages 1-5
and 12-14 of Exhibit 3.2
4.2
Form of Common Stock Certificate*
4.3
Form of Public Warrant
4.4
Form of Unit Certificate*
4.5
Form of Warrant and Unit Agreement
4.6
Form of Underwriters Warrant*
5.1
Opinion of Tonkon Torp LLP**
10.1
Employment Agreement with Patrick W. Smith, dated July 1,
1998*
10.2
Employment Agreement with Thomas P. Smith, dated November
15, 2000*
10.3
Employment Agreement with Kathleen C. Hanrahan, dated
November 15, 2000*
10.4
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its
directors*
10.5
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its
officers*
10.6
1999 Employee Stock Option Plan*
10.7
2001 Stock Option Plan*
10.8
Form of Warrant issued to Bruce Culver and Phil Smith*
10.9
Licensing Agreement with respect to intellectual property dated
October 15, 1993, as amended, by and between the Registrant
and John H. Cover, Jr., and related documents*
10.10
Promissory Note, dated January 23, 2001, payable to Phillip
Purer in the amount of $500,000 and related security documents*
10.11
Promissory Note, dated December 31, 1998, payable to B
& M Distributing, Inc., in the amount of $189,980 and
related guarantee and security documents*
10.12
Promissory Note, dated October 24, 2000, payable to Bank of
America in the amount of $60,000 and related guarantee and
security documents*
10.13
Form of Promissory Notes issued to stockholders*
10.14
Lease between the Registrant and Norton P. Remes and Joan A.
Remes Revocable Trust, dated November 17, 2000*
10.15
Promissory Note, dated July 1, 1999, payable to Malcolm W.
Sherman in the amount of $75,000*
10.16
Letter Agreement with respect to services, dated May 26,
2000, by and between the Registrant and Malcolm W. Sherman*
10.17
Standby Letter of Credit dated April 13, 2001 in the amount
of $500,000 established on behalf of the Registrant, and related
Letter of Support*
10.18
Form of Amendment to Promissory Notes issued to Stockholders*
10.19
Loan and Security Agreement, dated April 26, 2001, between
the Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank
23.1
Consent of Tonkon, Torp LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)**
23.2
Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants
24
Power of Attorney. Reference is made to the signature page.
*
Previously filed
**
To be filed by amendment.
Exhibit 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
The undersigned, in order to form a corporation for the purposes described below, under and pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Law"), hereby certifies that:
1. The name of the corporation is TASER International, Inc. (the "Corporation").
2. The street and the mailing address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
3. The purpose of the Corporation is to conduct any lawful business, to promote any lawful purpose, and to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Law.
4. (a) The Corporation is authorized to issue a total of 75,000,000 shares of two classes of stock: 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.00001 per share; and 25,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.00001 per share.
(b) Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on any matter submitted to the stockholders. On dissolution of the Corporation, after any preferential amount with respect to any series of Preferred Stock has been paid or set aside, the holders of Common Stock and the holders of any series of Preferred Stock entitled to participate in such distribution of assets are entitled to receive the net assets of the Corporation.
(c) The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by the Law and by the provisions of this Article 4, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series, to establish from time-to-time the number of shares to be included in each series and to determine the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each series. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series includes determination of the following:
(i) The number of shares in and the distinguishing designation of that series;
(ii) Whether shares of that series will have full, special, conditional, limited or no voting rights, except to the extent otherwise provided by the Law;
Certificate of Incorporation
(iii) Whether shares of that series will be convertible and the terms and conditions of the conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in circumstances determined by the Board of Directors;
(iv) Whether shares of that series will be redeemable and the terms and conditions of the redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they will be redeemable and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions or at different redemption dates;
(v) The dividend rate, if any, on shares of that series, the manner of calculating any dividends and the preferences of any dividends;
(vi) The rights of shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Corporation and the right of priority of that series relative to the Common Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock on the distribution of assets on dissolution; and
(vii) Any other rights, preferences and limitations of that series that are permitted by the Law.
(d) No stockholder of the Corporation shall be entitled to any cumulative voting rights. The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by the Law, by resolution to create, issue and fix the terms of any preemptive or antidilution rights of any stockholder.
5. The number, classification and terms of the Board of Directors and the procedures to elect or remove directors and to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be as follows:
(a) The number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall from time to time be fixed exclusively by the Board of Directors by a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors serving at the time of the vote. In no event shall the number of directors that constitute the whole Board of Directors be less than three (3) or more than nine (9). No decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.
(b) The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three (3) classes designated Class A, Class B and Class C, respectively, as nearly equal in number as possible, with each director in office at the time of such initial classification receiving the classification approved by a majority of the Board of Directors. The initial term of office of directors of Class A shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in 2001, of Class B shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in 2002, and of Class C shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in 2003, and in all cases a director shall serve until the director's successor is elected and qualified or until the director's earlier death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning
Certificate of Incorporation
with the annual meeting of stockholders in 2001, each director elected to succeed a director whose term is then expiring shall hold office until the third annual meeting of stockholders after his or her election and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of directors that constitutes the whole Board of Directors is changed as permitted by this Article, a majority of the whole Board of Directors that adopts the change shall also fix and determine the number of directors comprising each class; provided, however, that any increase or decrease in the number of directors shall be apportioned among the classes as equally as possible.
(c) Vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, may be filled by no less than a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, who are designated to represent the same class or classes of stockholders that the vacant position, when filled, is to represent or by the sole remaining director (but not by the stockholders except as required by the Law); provided that, with respect to any directorship to be filled by the Board of Directors by reason of an increase in the number of directors: (i) such directorship shall be for a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the stockholders; and (ii) the Board of Directors may not fill more than two such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings of stockholders. Each director chosen in accordance with this provision shall receive the classification of the vacant directorship to which he or she has been appointed or, if it is a newly-created directorship, shall receive the classification approved by a majority of the Board of Directors and shall hold office until the first meeting of stockholders held after his or her election for the purpose of electing directors of that classification and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office.
(d) A director may be removed from office before the expiration date of that director's term of office, with or without cause, only by an affirmative vote of the holders of 75% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon (the "Voting Stock"), voting together as a single class.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of the Law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by the Law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of 75% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article 5.
6. (a) All of the power of the Corporation, insofar as it may be lawfully vested by this Certificate of Incorporation in the Board of Directors, is hereby conferred upon the Board of Directors. In furtherance of and not in limitation of that
Certificate of Incorporation
power or the powers conferred by the Law, a majority of directors then in office (or such higher percentage as may be specified in the Bylaws with respect to any provision thereof) shall have the power to adopt, alter, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of the Law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by the Law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation except in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws and by the vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, or such higher vote as is set forth in the Bylaws. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of the Law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by the Law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 75% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article 6.
(b) Subject to the terms of any Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders or by written consent of all (but not less than all) stockholders entitled to vote in lieu of such a meeting.
7. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for conduct as a director, provided that this Article does not eliminate the liability of any director for any act or omission for which such elimination of liability is not permitted under the Law. No amendment to the Law that further limits the acts or omissions for which elimination of liability is permitted will affect the liability of a director for any act or omission which occurs prior to the effective date of the amendment.
8. The Corporation may indemnify to the fullest extent not prohibited by law any person (an "Indemnified Person") who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other (including an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or a fiduciary within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Corporation, or serves or served at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent, or as a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan, of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by any Indemnified Person in any such proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding. This Article 8 will not be deemed exclusive of any other provisions for indemnification of or advancement of expenses to an Indemnified Person that may be included in any statute,
Certificate of Incorporation
bylaw, agreement, general or specific action of the Board of Directors, vote of stockholders or other document or arrangement.
9. The election of directors need not be by written ballot unless a stockholder demands election by written ballot before voting begins at a meeting of stockholders.
10. The name and mailing address of the incorporator is Jeffrey S. Cronn, 1600 Pioneer Tower, 888 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed this Certificate of Incorporation on the 5th day of January, 2001.
Certificate of Incorporation
I, HARRIET SMITH WINDSOR, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF "TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.", FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE TWENTIETH DAY OF APRIL, A.D. 2001, AT 6 O'CLOCK P.M.
A FILED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW CASTLE
COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS.
[SEAL] /s/ Harriet Smith Windsor _________________________________________ Harriet Smith Windsor, Secretary of State 3337819 AUTHENTICATION: 1093947 010193899 DATE: 04-23-01 |
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
TASER International, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
FIRST, that pursuant to Section 141 of General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL") the Board of Directors, by unanimous written consent, adopted resolutions setting forth proposed amendments of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation declaring the amendments to be advisable and directing the calling of a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for consideration of the amendments. The resolutions setting forth the proposed amendments are as follows:
RESOLVED, that Article 4 paragraph (c) of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation be amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"(c) The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by the Law and by the provisions of this Article 4, and to the approval of a majority of the Corporation's independent and disinterested directors, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series. The Board of Directors is further authorized to establish from time-to-time the number of shares to be included in each series and to determine the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each series. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each series includes determination of the following:
(i) The number of shares in and the distinguishing designation of that series;
(ii) Whether shares of that series will have full, special, conditional, limited or no voting rights, except to the extent otherwise provided by the Law;
(iii) Whether shares of that series will be convertible and the terms and conditions of the conversion, including provision for adjustment of the
Certificate of Amendment
conversion rate in circumstances determined by the Board of Directors;
(iv) Whether shares of that series will be redeemable and the terms and conditions of the redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they will be redeemable and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions or at different redemption dates;
(v) The dividend rate, if any, on shares of that series, the manner of calculating any dividends and the preferences of any dividends;
(vi) The rights of shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Corporation and the right of priority of that series relative to the Common Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock on the distribution of assets on dissolution; and
(vii) Any other rights, preferences and limitations of that series that are permitted by the Law."
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Article 5 paragraph (d) of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation be amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"(d) A director may be removed from office before the expiration date of that director's term of office, with or without cause, only by an affirmative vote of the holders of 66.67% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon (the "Voting Stock"), voting together as a single class."
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Article 6 paragraph (a) of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation be amended in its entirety to read as follows:
"(a) All of the power of the Corporation, insofar as it may be lawfully vested by this Certificate of Incorporation in the Board of Directors, is hereby conferred upon the Board of Directors. In furtherance of and not in limitation of that power or the powers conferred by the Law, a majority of directors then
Certificate of Amendment
in office (or such higher percentage as may be specified in the Bylaws with respect to any provision thereof) shall have the power to adopt, alter, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of the Law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by the Law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation except in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws and by the vote of the holders of not less than 66.67% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of the Law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by the Law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66.67% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article 6."
SECOND, that thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation was duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the GCL, at which meeting the necessary number of shares required by the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and applicable statutes were voted in favor of the amendments.
THIRD, that the amendments were duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the GCL.
/s/ Patrick W. Smith ----------------------------------------- Patrick W. Smith, Chief Executive Officer |
ATTESTED TO:
/s/ Kathleen C. Hanrahan ----------------------------------------- Kathleen C. Hanrahan, Secretary |
Certificate of Amendment
Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS OF TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
Adopted January 6, 2001
Amended April 10, 2001
AMENDMENTS
2.03-a. Business to be Transacted April 10, 2001 (by Directors) April 20, 2001 (by Stockholders) 2.04. Special Meetings April 10, 2001 (by Directors) April 20, 2001 (by Stockholders) 3.03. Classes and Terms April 10, 2001 (by Directors) April 20, 2001 (by Stockholders) 3.04. Vacancies April 10, 2001 (by Directors) April 20, 2001 (by Stockholders) 3.10. Resignation and Removal April 10, 2001 (by Directors) April 20, 2001 (by Stockholders) Article X: Amendments April 10, 2001 (by Directors) April 20, 2001 (by Stockholders) |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I: OFFICES...........................................................1 Section 1.01 Registered Office.........................................1 Section 1.02. Other Offices............................................1 ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS.........................................1 Section 2.01. Place of Meetings........................................1 Section 2.02. Time of Meetings.........................................1 Section 2.03. Annual Meetings..........................................1 Section 2.04. Special Meetings.........................................2 Section 2.05. Purpose of Special Meeting...............................3 Section 2.06. Notice of Meetings.......................................3 Section 2.07. Waiver of Notice.........................................3 Section 2.08. Quorum; Adjournment......................................3 Section 2.09. Vote Required............................................4 Section 2.10. Voting Rights............................................4 Section 2.11. Proxies..................................................4 Section 2.12. Action in Writing........................................5 Section 2.13. Closing of Books; Record Date............................5 ARTICLE III: DIRECTORS.......................................................5 Section 3.01. General Powers...........................................5 Section 3.02. Number and Qualification.................................5 Section 3.03. Classes and Terms........................................5 Section 3.04. Vacancies................................................6 Section 3.05. Meetings.................................................6 Section 3.06. Committees...............................................8 Section 3.07. Telephone Conference Meetings............................8 Section 3.08. Compensation.............................................9 Section 3.09. Limitation of Director Liability.........................9 Section 3.10. Resignation and Removal..................................9 ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS.........................................................9 Section 4.01. Selection: Qualifications................................9 Section 4.02. Salaries................................................10 Section 4.03. Term of Office..........................................10 Section 4.04. Chairman of the Board...................................10 Section 4.05. Chief Executive Officer.................................10 Section 4.06. President...............................................11 Section 4.07. Vice-Presidents.........................................11 Section 4.08. Secretary and Assistant Secretary.......................11 Section 4.09. Chief Financial Officer.................................11 |
ARTICLE V. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES..........................................12 Section 5.01. Issuance of Shares and Fractional Shares...............12 Section 5.02. Form of Certificate....................................12 Section 5.03. Facsimile Signatures...................................13 Section 5.04. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates................13 Section 5.05. Transfers of Stock.....................................13 Section 5.06. Uncertificated Shares..................................13 Section 5.07. Closing of Transfer Books: Record Date.................14 Section 5.08. Registered Stockholders................................14 Section 5.09. Stock Options and Agreements...........................14 ARTICLE VI: DIVIDENDS......................................................14 Section 6.01. Method of Payment......................................14 Section 6.02. Closing of Books: Record Date..........................15 Section 6.03. Reserves...............................................15 ARTICLE VII: CHECKS.........................................................15 ARTICLE VIII: CORPORATE SEAL................................................15 ARTICLE IX: FISCAL YEAR.....................................................15 ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS.......................................................15 ARTICLE XI: BOOKS AND RECORDS...............................................16 Section 11.01. Books and Records......................................16 Section 11.02. Computerized Records...................................16 Section 11.03. Examination and Copying by Stockholders................16 ARTICLE XII: LOANS AND ADVANCES.............................................16 Section 12.01. Loans, Guarantees, and Suretyship......................16 Section 12.02. Advances to Officers, Directors, and Employees.........17 ARTICLE XIII: INDEMNIFICATION...............................................17 Section 13.01. Directors and Officers.................................17 Section 13.02. Employees and Other Agents.............................18 Section 13.03. Good Faith.............................................18 Section 13.04. Advances of Expenses...................................19 Section 13.05. Enforcement............................................19 Section 13.06. Non-Exclusivity of Rights..............................20 Section 13.07. Survival of Rights.....................................20 Section 13.08. Insurance..............................................20 Section 13.09. Amendments.............................................20 Section 13.10. Savings Clause.........................................20 Section 13.11. Certain Definitions....................................20 Section 13.12. Notification and Defense of Claim......................21 Section 13.13. Exclusions.............................................22 Section 13.14. Subrogation............................................23 ARTICLE XIV: DEFINITIONS AND USAGE..........................................23 |
BYLAWS OF TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
ARTICLE I: OFFICES
Section 1.01 Registered Office.
The registered office of Taser International, Inc. (the "Corporation") in the State of Delaware shall be that set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or in the most recent amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation or in a certificate prepared by the Board of Directors and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware changing the registered office.
Section 1.02. Other Offices.
The Corporation may also have offices and places of business at such other places of business both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01. Place of Meetings.
All meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at its registered office or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware as shall be stated by the Board of Directors in the notice of the meeting. In the absence of designation otherwise, meetings shall be held at the principal executive offices of the Corporation in the State of Arizona.
Section 2.02. Time of Meetings.
The Board of Directors shall designate the time and day for each meeting. In the absence of such designation, all meetings of the stockholders shall be held at 1:00 p.m., Mountain Time.
Section 2.03. Annual Meetings.
Section 2.03-a. Business to be Transacted. Except as otherwise
required by law or regulation, no business proposed by a stockholder to be
considered at an annual meeting of the stockholders (including the nomination of
any person to be elected as a director of the Corporation) shall be considered
by the stockholders at that meeting unless, no later than sixty (60) days before
the annual meeting of stockholders or (if later) ten (10) days after the first
public notice of that meeting is sent to stockholders, the Corporation receives
from the stockholder proposing that business a written notice that sets forth:
(1) the nature of the proposed business with reasonable particularity, including
the exact text of any proposal to be presented for adoption, and the reasons for
conducting that business at the annual meeting; (2) with respect to each such
stockholder, that stockholder's name and address (as they appear on the records
of
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the Corporation), business address and telephone number, residence address
and telephone number, and the number of shares of each class of stock of the
Corporation beneficially owned by that stockholder; (3) any interest of the
stockholder in the proposed business; (4) the name or names of each person
nominated by the stockholder to be elected or re-elected as a director, if any;
and (5) with respect to each nominee, that nominee's name, business address and
telephone number, and residence address and telephone number, the number of
shares, if any, of each class of stock of the Corporation owned directly and
beneficially by that nominee, and all information relating to that nominee that
is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections of
directors, or is other required, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any provision of law subsequently replacing
Regulation 14A, together with a duly acknowledged letter signed by the nominee
stating his or her acceptance of the nomination by that stockholder, stating his
or her intention to serve as a director if elected, and consenting to being
named as a nominee for director in any proxy statement relating to such
election. The person presiding at the annual meeting shall determine whether
business (including the nomination of any person as a director) has been
properly brought before the meeting and, if the facts so warrant, shall not
permit any business (or voting with respect to any particular nominee) to be
transacted that has not been properly brought before the meeting.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or any
provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in
addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or
series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by the
Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less
than 66.67% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock
entitled to vote thereon (the "Voting Stock"), voting together as a single
class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt a provision
inconsistent with, this Section 2.03-a.
Section 2.03-b. Date and Time. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.03-c. Election of Directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning in 2001, the stockholders, voting as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or in these Bylaws, shall elect directors to succeed directors whose terms are expiring, each such director to hold office until the third annual meeting of stockholders after his or her election and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 2.04. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may only be called and proposed by: (i) the Chairman of the Board; (ii) the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) the holder(s) of a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock; or (iv) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the then-authorized number of directors. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
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Section 2.05. Purpose of Special Meeting.
Business transacted at any special meeting of the stockholders shall be limited to the matters stated in the notice of such meeting, or other matters necessarily incidental therefore.
Section 2.06. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of stockholder meetings shall be in writing. Such notice shall state the place, date and time of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. A copy of such notice shall be either delivered personally or mailed, postage prepaid, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before such meeting. If mailed, it shall be directed to each stockholder at his or her address as it appears upon the records of the Corporation, and upon such mailing of any such notice, the service thereof shall be complete, and the time of the notice shall begin to run from the date that such notice is deposited in the mail for transmission to such stockholder. Personal delivery of any such notice to a corporation, an association, or a partnership shall be accomplished by personal delivery of such notice to any officer of a corporation or an association or to any member of a partnership.
Section 2.07. Waiver of Notice.
Notice of any meeting of the stockholders may be waived before, at, or after such meeting in a writing signed by the stockholder or representative thereof entitled to vote the shares so represented. Such waiver shall be filed with the Secretary or entered upon the records of the meeting.
Section 2.08. Quorum; Adjournment.
The holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at meetings of the stockholders, except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting in accordance with the notice thereof. If a quorum is present when a duly called or held meeting is convened, the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy may continue to transact business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders originally present in person or by proxy to leave less than a quorum, and for the purposes of voting pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote shall be deemed to be present in person.
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Section 2.09. Vote Required.
When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one that by express provision of statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws requires a different vote, in which case such express provision shall govern the vote required.
Section 2.10. Voting Rights.
Except as may be otherwise required by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every stockholder of record of the Corporation shall be entitled at each meeting of the stockholders to one vote for each share of stock standing in his or her name on the books of the Corporation.
Section 2.11. Proxies.
At any meeting of the stockholders, any stockholder may be represented and vote by a proxy or proxies appointed by an instrument in writing, signed by the stockholder, and filed with the Secretary at or before the meeting. In addition, a stockholder may cast or authorize the casting of a vote by a proxy by transmitting to the Corporation or the Corporation's duly authorized agent before the meeting, an appointment of a proxy by means of a telegram, cablegram, or any other form of electronic transmission, including telephonic transmission, whether or not accompanied by written instructions of the stockholder. The electronic transmission must set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the appointment was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined that a telegram, cablegram, or other electronic transmission is valid, the inspectors of election or, if there are no inspectors, the other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which they relied to make that determination.
An appointment of a proxy or proxies for shares held jointly by two or more stockholders is valid if signed by any one of them, unless and until the Corporation receives from any one of those stockholders written notice denying the authority of such other person or persons to appoint a proxy or proxies or appointing a different proxy or proxies, in which case no proxy shall be appointed unless the instrument shall otherwise provide. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Subject to the above, any duly executed proxy shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be revoked unless written notice of its revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date is filed with the Secretary of the Corporation. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy.
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Section 2.12. Action in Writing.
Subject to the terms of any preferred stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders or by written consent of all (but not less than all) stockholders entitled to vote in lieu of such a meeting.
Section 2.13. Closing of Books; Record Date.
The Board of Directors may fix, or authorize an officer to fix, a date, not more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days preceding the date of any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders of record on the date so fixed or their legal representatives shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting, notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Corporation against the transfer of shares during the whole or any part of such period.
ARTICLE III: DIRECTORS
Section 3.01. General Powers.
The business of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws permitted, directed or required to be exercised or done by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.02. Number and Qualification.
The number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall from time to time be fixed exclusively by the Board of Directors by a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors serving at the time of that vote. In no event shall the number of directors that constitute the whole Board of Directors be fewer than three (3), nor greater than nine (9). No decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3.03. Classes and Terms.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes designated Class A, Class B, and Class C, respectively, all as nearly equal in number as possible, with each director then in office receiving the classification that at least a majority of the Board of Directors designates. The initial term of office of directors of Class A shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in 2001, of Class B shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in 2002, and of Class C shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation in 2003, and in all cases a director shall serve until the director's successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the annual meeting of
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stockholders in 2001, each director elected to succeed a director whose term is then expiring shall hold office until the third annual meeting of stockholders after his or her election and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of directors that constitutes the whole Board of Directors is changed as permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the majority of the whole Board of Directors that adopts the change shall also fix and determine the number of directors comprising each class; provided, however, that any increase or decrease in the number of directors shall be apportioned among the classes as equally as possible. Notwithstanding any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of 66.67% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Section 3.03.
Section 3.04. Vacancies.
Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or other cause, and newly-created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, may be filled by no less than a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, who are designated to represent the same class or classes of stockholders that the vacant position, when filled, is to represent or by the sole remaining director (but not by the stockholders except as required by law); provided, however, that, with respect to any directorship to be filled by the Board of Directors by reason of an increase in the number of directors: (a) such directorship shall be for a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the stockholders; and (b) the Board of Directors may not fill more than two such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings of stockholders. Each director chosen in accordance with this provision shall receive the classification of the vacant directorship to which he or she has been appointed or, if it is a newly-created directorship, shall receive the classification that at least a majority of the Board of Directors designates and shall hold office until the first meeting of stockholders held after his or her election for the purpose of electing directors of that classification and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal from office. Notwithstanding any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of 66.67% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Section 3.04.
Section 3.05. Meetings.
Section 3.05-a. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
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Section 3.05-b. Regular Meetings. As soon as practicable after each regular election of directors, the Board of Directors shall meet at the registered office of the Corporation, or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing the officers of the Corporation and for the transaction of such other business as shall come before the meeting. Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place within and without the State of Delaware as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.05-c. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, or a majority of the then directors, and shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated in the notice thereof.
Section 3.05-d. Notice. Notice of a special meeting shall be given to each Director at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the meeting. Said notice shall be in writing and state the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Whenever any provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or the Bylaws require notice to be given, any director may, in writing, either before or after the meeting, waive notice thereof. Without notice, any director, by his or her attendance at and participation in the action taken at the meeting, shall be deemed to have waived notice thereof.
Section 3.05-e. Quorum: Voting Requirements: Adjournment. A majority of the Board of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting to another time or place, and no notice as to such adjourned meeting need be given other than by announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken. If a quorum is present at the call of a meeting, the directors may continue to transact business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.
Section 3.05-f. Organization of Meetings. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, or in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer, or in his absence, any director appointed by the Chief Executive Officer, shall preside, and the Secretary, or in his absence, any person appointed by the Chairman, shall act as Secretary.
Section 3.05-g. Action in Writing. Except as may be otherwise required by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or of any committee thereof may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
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Section 3.05-h. Absent Directors. A director may give advance written consent or opposition to a proposal to be acted on at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Such advance written consent or opposition shall be ineffective unless the writing is delivered to the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman or Secretary of the Corporation prior to the meeting at which such proposal is to be considered. If the director is not present at the meeting, consent or opposition to a proposal does not constitute presence for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, but such consent or opposition shall be counted as a vote in favor of or against the proposal and shall be entered in the minutes or other record of action at the meeting, if the proposal acted on at the meeting is substantially the same or has substantially the same effect as the proposal to which the director has consented or objected, such substantial similarity to be determined in the sole judgment of the presiding officer at the meeting.
Section 3.06. Committees.
Section 3.06-a. Designation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.
Section 3.06-b. Limitations on Authority. No committees of the Corporation shall have authority as to any of the following matters:
(a) Approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders any action or matter expressly required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval; or
(b) Adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.
Section 3.06-c. Minutes of Committee Meetings. Committees shall keep regular minutes of their proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.
Section 3.07. Telephone Conference Meetings.
Any Director or any member of a duly constituted committee of the Board of Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any duly constituted committee thereof by means of a conference telephone or other comparable communication technique whereby all persons participating in such a meeting can hear and communicate with each other. For the purpose of establishing a quorum and taking any action at such a meeting, the members participating in such a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be deemed present in person at such meeting.
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Section 3.08. Compensation.
Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, directors shall be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. Directors who are not employees of the Corporation shall be paid at least $500 for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, unless a different sum is fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors may also receive other compensation, such as stock options or grants, for their service as directors or committee members as determined by the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 3.09. Limitation of Director Liability.
A director shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for dividends illegally declared, distributions illegally made to stockholders, or any other actions taken in good faith reliance upon financial statements of the Corporation represented to the director to be correct by the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the officer having charge of its books of account or certified by an independent or certified public accountant to fairly reflect the financial condition of the Corporation; nor shall the director be liable if in good faith in determining the amount available for dividends or distributions the Board values the assets in a manner allowable under applicable law.
Section 3.10. Resignation and Removal.
A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Secretary or Assistant Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect on the date of the receipt of such notice or at such later date as specified therein. A director of any class of directors of the Corporation may be removed before the expiration date of that director's term of office only by an affirmative vote of the holders of 66.67% of the voting power of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, and in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of 66.67% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Section 3.10.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Selection: Qualifications.
Section 4.01-a. Election: Qualifications. The Board of Directors at its next meeting after each annual meeting of the stockholders shall choose a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer, and such other officers or agents as it deems necessary, none of whom need be members of the Board.
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Section 4.01-b. Additional Officers. The Board of Directors may choose a President, additional Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.
Section 4.02. Salaries.
The salaries of all officers, and of the Chairman of the Corporation, shall be fixed by the Board of Directors on an annual basis.
Section 4.03. Term of Office.
The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04. Chairman of the Board.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and shall perform such other duties as he or she may be directed to perform by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.05. Chief Executive Officer.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall have general active management of the business of the Corporation. Unless the Board has elected a Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation and at meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments pertaining to the business of the Corporation, except in cases in which the authority to sign and deliver is required by law to be exercised by another person or is expressly delegated by the Board to some other officer or agent of the Corporation; may delegate the authority to execute and deliver documents to other officers of the Corporation; shall maintain records of and, whenever necessary, certify any proceedings of the stockholders and the Board; shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board; and, in general, shall perform all duties usually incident to the office of the Chief Executive Officer.
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Section 4.06. President.
The President of the Corporation shall have general active management of the business of the Corporation in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer. He shall also generally assist the Chief Executive Officer and exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are delegated to him by the Chief Executive Officer or Chairman, or as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.
Section 4.07. Vice-Presidents.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Vice Presidents, if any, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. They shall also generally assist the Chief Executive Officer and the President and exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are delegated to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the President or as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.
Section 4.08. Secretary and Assistant Secretary.
The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required, and shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chairman or the Board of Directors, under whose supervision he shall be.
The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of inability or refusal to act by the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Chairman, or Board of Directors, may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 4.09. Chief Financial Officer.
Section 4.09-a. Custody of Funds and Accounting. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
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Section 4.09-b. Disbursements and Reports. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 4.09-c. Bond. If required by the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration, upon the expiration of his term of office or his resignation, retirement, or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.
ARTICLE V. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
Section 5.01. Issuance of Shares and Fractional Shares.
The Board of Directors is authorized to issue shares and fractional shares of stock of the Corporation up to the full amount authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Directors and as permitted by law.
Section 5.02. Form of Certificate.
The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may resolve that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock will be uncertificated shares as provided in Section 5.06. Certificates shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President and by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares of capital stock owned by him in the Corporation. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of the various classes of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such rights, together with a statement of the authority of the Board of Directors to determine the relative rights and preferences of subsequent classes or series, shall be set forth in full on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such stock, or, in lieu thereof, such certificate shall contain a statement that the stock is, or may be, subject to certain rights, preferences, or restrictions and that a statement of the same will be furnished without charge by the Corporation upon request by any stockholder. Certificates representing the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be in such form not inconsistent with law or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
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Section 5.03. Facsimile Signatures.
Whenever any certificate is countersigned or otherwise authenticated by a transfer agent, transfer clerk, or registrar, then a facsimile of the signatures of the officers or agents of the Corporation may be printed or lithographed upon such certificate in lieu of the actual signatures. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation, whether because of death, resignation, or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Corporation and be signed and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon, had not ceased to be the officer or officers of the Corporation.
Section 5.04. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates.
The Board of Directors may direct a certificate or certificates to be issued in place of a certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 5.05. Transfers of Stock.
Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books; except that the Board of Directors may, by resolution duly adopted, establish conditions upon the transfer of shares of stock to be issued by the Corporation, and the purchasers of such shares shall be deemed to have accepted such conditions on transfer upon the receipt of the certificate representing such shares, provided that the restrictions shall be referred to on the certificates or the purchaser shall have otherwise been notified thereof.
Section 5.06. Uncertificated Shares.
Unless prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, some or all of any or all classes and series of the Corporation's shares may be uncertificated shares. Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, such uncertificated shares shall be canceled and issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Corporation. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or
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transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the new stockholder the information required by Section 5.02 to be stated on certificates. If this Corporation becomes a publicly held corporation which adopts, in compliance with Section 17 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a system of issuance, recordation, and transfer of its shares by electronic or other means not involving an issuance of certificates, this information is not required to be sent to new stockholders.
Section 5.07. Closing of Transfer Books: Record Date.
The Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board may close the stock transfer books of the Corporation for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders as provided in Section 2.13 hereof or the date for payment of any dividend as provided in Section 6.02 hereof or the date for the allotment of rights or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books as aforesaid, the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board may fix, in advance, a date, not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date for payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive payment.
Section 5.08. Registered Stockholders.
The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of the persons registered on its books as the owners of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owners and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided in the laws of Delaware.
Section 5.09. Stock Options and Agreements.
In addition to any stock options, plans, or agreements into which the Corporation may enter, any stockholder of the Corporation may enter into an agreement giving any other stockholder or stockholders or any third party an option to purchase any of his stock in the Corporation, and such shares of stock shall thereupon be subject to such agreement and transferable only upon proof of compliance therewith; provided, however, that a copy of such agreement shall be filed with the Corporation and reference thereto placed upon the certificates representing said shares of stock.
ARTICLE VI: DIVIDENDS
Section 6.01. Method of Payment.
Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
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Section 6.02. Closing of Books: Record Date.
The Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board may fix a date not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date fixed for the payment of any dividend as the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive payment of the dividend and, in such case, only stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to receive payment of such dividend notwithstanding any transfer of shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date. The Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board may close the books of the Corporation against the transfer of shares during the whole or any part of such period. If the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board fails to fix such a record date, the record date shall be the thirtieth (30th) day preceding the date of such payment.
Section 6.03. Reserves.
Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves for meeting contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Board may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE VII: CHECKS
All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
ARTICLE VIII: CORPORATE SEAL
The Corporation shall have no corporate seal.
ARTICLE IX: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 unless otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws shall not be adopted, altered, amended or repealed except in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws. Unless a different requirement is mandated by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of these Bylaws requires the affirmative action of a majority of the directors then in office or the vote of the holders of not less than 66.67% of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, at an annual meeting of the stockholders or any special meeting of the stockholders.
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ARTICLE XI: BOOKS AND RECORDS
Section 11.01. Books and Records.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall cause to be kept:
Section 11.01-a. A share register not more than one year old, giving the names and addresses of the stockholders, the number and classes held by each, and the dates on which the certificated or uncertificated shares were issued;
Section 11.01-b. Records of all proceedings of stockholders and directors; and
Section 11.01-c. Such other records and books of account as shall be necessary and appropriate to the conduct of the corporate business.
Section 11.02. Computerized Records.
The records maintained by the Corporation, including its share register, financial records, and minute books, may utilize any information storage technique, including, for example, computer memory or microimages, even though that makes them illegible visually, if the records can be converted, by machine and within a reasonable time, into a form that is legible visually and whose contents are assembled by related subject matter to permit convenient use by persons in the normal course of business.
Section 11.03. Examination and Copying by Stockholders.
Every stockholder of record of the Corporation shall have a right to examine, in person or by agent or attorney, at any reasonable time or times, at the place or places where usually kept, and upon the showing of a proper purpose, the Corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and records, and to make copies or extracts therefrom.
ARTICLE XII: LOANS AND ADVANCES
Section 12.01. Loans, Guarantees, and Suretyship.
The Corporation may lend money to, guarantee an obligation of, become a surety for, or otherwise financially assist a person, if the transaction, or a class of transactions to which the transaction belongs, is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a lawfully convened meeting and such action: (a) is in the usual and regular course of business of the Corporation; (b) is with, or for the benefit of, a related corporation, an organization with which the Corporation has the power to make donations; (c) is with, or for the benefit of, an officer or other employee of the Corporation or a subsidiary, including an officer or employee who is a director of the Corporation or a subsidiary, and may reasonably be expected, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, to benefit the Corporation; or (d) has been approved by the
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affirmative vote of the holders of seventy-five percent (75%) of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. The loan, guarantee, or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured or may be secured in any manner that a majority of the Board of Directors approves, including, without limitation, a pledge of or other security interest in shares of the Corporation.
Section 12.02. Advances to Officers, Directors, and Employees.
The Corporation may, without a vote of the directors, advance money to its directors, officers, or employees to cover expenses that can reasonably be anticipated to be incurred by them in the performance of their duties and for which they would be entitled to reimbursement in the absence of an advance.
ARTICLE XIII: INDEMNIFICATION
Section 13.01. Directors and Officers
Section 13.01-a. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The
Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 13.01-a if the director or officer was or is a party
to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any proceeding (other than a
proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its
favor), against all expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement,
actually and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with
such proceeding if the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner
the director or officer reasonably believed was in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, the director or officer, in addition, had no reasonable cause to
believe that the director's or officer's conduct was unlawful; provided,
however, that the director or officer shall not be entitled to indemnification
under this Section 13.01-a: (1) in connection with any proceeding charging
improper personal benefit to the director or officer in which the director or
officer is adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly
received by the director or officer unless and only to the extent that the court
conducting such proceeding or any other court of competent jurisdiction
determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, the
director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view
of all the relevant circumstances, or (2) in connection with any proceeding (or
part thereof) initiated by such person or any proceeding by such person against
the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees or other agents unless:
(A) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (B) the
proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors, or (C) such indemnification
is provided by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers
vested in the Corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 13.01-b. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.01-b if the director or officer was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, against all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding if the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner the director or officer reasonably believed was in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; provided, however, that the director or officer shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 13.01-b: (1) in connection with any proceeding in which the director or officer has been adjudged liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court conducting such proceeding, or the Delaware Court of Chancery, determines
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upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as such court shall deem proper, or (2) in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person or any proceeding by such person against the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees or other agents unless (A) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (B) the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors, or (C) such indemnification is provided by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 13.02. Employees and Other Agents
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article XIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.
Section 13.03. Good Faith.
Section 13.03-a. For purposes of any determination under this Article XIII, a director or officer shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding to have had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, if his or her action is based on information, opinions, reports and statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by:
1. one or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the director or officer believed to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;
2. counsel, independent accountants or other persons as to matters which the director or officer believed to be within such person's professional or expert competence; or
3. with respect to a director, a committee of the Board of Directors upon which such director does not serve, as to matters within such committee's designated authority, which committee the director believes to merit confidence; so long as, in each case, the director or executive officer acts without knowledge that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted.
Section 13.03-b. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that he had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 13.03-c. The provisions of this Section 13.03 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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Section 13.04. Advances of Expenses
The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred by its directors or officers in any proceeding (other than a proceeding brought for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale by the director or officer of securities of the corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provision of any state statutory law or common law) in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding at the written request of the director or officer, if the director or officer: (a) furnishes the Corporation a written affirmation of the director's or officer's good faith belief that the director or officer is entitled to be indemnified under this Article XIII, and (b) furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. Such undertaking shall be an unlimited general obligation of the director or officer but need not be secured. Advances pursuant to this Section 13.04 shall be made no later than 10 days after receipt by the Corporation of the affirmation and undertaking described in clauses (a) and (b) above, and shall be made without regard to the director's or officer's ability to repay the amount advanced and without regard to the director's or officer's ultimate entitlement to indemnification under this Article XIII. The Corporation may establish a trust, escrow account or other secured funding source for the payment of advances made and to be made pursuant to this Section 13.04 or of other liability incurred by the director or officer in connection with any proceeding.
Section 13.05. Enforcement
Without the necessity of entering into an express contract, all rights
to indemnification and advances to directors and officers under this Article
XIII shall be deemed to be contractual rights and be effective to the same
extent and as if provided for in a contract between the Corporation and the
director or officer. Any director or officer may enforce any right to
indemnification or advances under this Article XIII in any court of competent
jurisdiction if: (a) the Corporation denies the claim for indemnification or
advances, in whole or in part, or (b) the Corporation does not dispose of such
claim within 45 days of request therefor. It shall be a defense to any such
enforcement action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for
advancement of expenses pursuant to, and in compliance with, Section 13.01 of
this Article XIII) that the director or officer is not entitled to
indemnification under this Article XIII. However, except as provided in Section
13.12 of this Article XIII, the Corporation shall not assert any defense to an
action brought to enforce a claim for advancement of expenses pursuant to
Section 13.04 of this Article XIII if the director or officer has tendered to
the Corporation the affirmation and undertaking required thereunder. The burden
of proving by clear and convincing evidence that indemnification is not
appropriate shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including its Board of Directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a
determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification is
proper in the circumstances because the director or officer has met the
applicable standard of conduct nor an actual determination by the Corporation
(including its Board of Directors or independent legal counsel) that
indemnification is improper because the director or officer has not met such
applicable standard of conduct, shall be asserted as a defense to the action or
create a presumption that the director or officer is not entitled to
indemnification under this Article XIII or otherwise. The director's or
officer's expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing such
person's right to indemnification or advances, in whole or in part, in any
proceeding shall also be paid or reimbursed by the Corporation.
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Section 13.06. Non-Exclusivity of Rights
The rights conferred on any person by this Article XIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The Corporation is authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 13.07. Survival of Rights
The rights conferred on any person by this Article XIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 13.08. Insurance
To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Corporation, upon approval by the Board of Directors, may purchase insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be indemnified pursuant to this Article XIII.
Section 13.09. Amendments
Any repeal or modification of this Article XIII shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Article XIII in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any proceeding against any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation.
Section 13.10. Savings Clause
If this Article XIII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and officer to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Article XIII that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.
Section 13.11. Certain Definitions
For the purposes of this Article XIII, the following definitions shall apply:
Section 13.11-a. The term "PROCEEDING" shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which the director or officer may be or may have been involved as a party, witness or otherwise, by reason of the fact that the director or officer is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or reimbursement can be provided under this Article XIII.
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Section 13.11-b. The term "EXPENSES" includes, without limitation thereto, expenses of investigations, judicial or administrative proceedings or appeals, attorney, accountant and other professional fees and disbursements and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Article XIII, but shall not include amounts paid in settlement by the director or officer or the amount of judgments or fines against the director or officer.
Section 13.11-c. References to "OTHER ENTERPRISE" include, without limitation, employee benefit plans; references to "FINES" include, without limitation, any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to "SERVING AT THE REQUEST OF THE Corporation" include, without limitation, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or its beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "NOT OPPOSED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CORPORATION" as referred to in this Article XIII.
Section 13.11-d. References to "THE CORPORATION" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article XIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 13.11-e. The meaning of the phrase "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW" shall include, but not be limited to: (i) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the Delaware General Corporation Law adopted after the date of this Article XIII that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its directors and officers, and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 13.12. Notification and Defense of Claim
As a condition precedent to indemnification under this Article XIII, not later than 30 days after receipt by the director or officer of notice of the commencement of any proceeding the director or officer shall, if a claim in respect of the proceeding is to be made against the Corporation under this Article XIII, notify the Corporation in writing of the commencement of the proceeding. The failure to properly notify the Corporation shall not relieve the Corporation from any liability which it may have to the director or officer otherwise than under this Article XIII. With respect to any proceeding as to which the director or officer so notifies the Corporation of the commencement:
Section 13.12-a. The Corporation shall be entitled to participate in the proceeding at its own expense.
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Section 13.12-b. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 13.12, the Corporation may, at its option and jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified and electing to assume such defense, assume the defense of the proceeding, with legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the director or officer. The director or officer shall have the right to use separate legal counsel in the proceeding, but the Corporation shall not be liable to the director or officer under this Article XIII for the fees and expenses of separate legal counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of its assumption of the defense, unless (1) the director or officer reasonably concludes that there may be a conflict of interest between the Corporation and the director or officer in the conduct of the defense of the proceeding, or (2) the Corporation does not use legal counsel to assume the defense of such proceeding. The Corporation shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Corporation or as to which the director or officer has made the conclusion provided for in (1) above.
Section 13.12-c. If two or more persons who may be entitled to indemnification from the Corporation, including the director or officer seeking indemnification, are parties to any proceeding, the Corporation may require the director or officer to use the same legal counsel as the other parties. The director or officer shall have the right to use separate legal counsel in the proceeding, but the Corporation shall not be liable to the director or officer under this Article XIII for the fees and expenses of separate legal counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of the requirement to use the same legal counsel as the other parties, unless the director or officer reasonably concludes that there may be a conflict of interest between the director or officer and any of the other parties required by the Corporation to be represented by the same legal counsel.
Section 13.12-d. The Corporation shall not be liable to indemnify the director or officer under this Article XIII for any amounts paid in settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The director or officer shall permit the Corporation to settle any proceeding that the Corporation assumes the defense of, except that the Corporation shall not settle any action or claim in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on the director or officer without such person's written consent.
Section 13.13. Exclusions
Notwithstanding any provision in this Article XIII, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Article XIII to make any indemnification in connection with any claim made against any director or officer: (a) for which payment is required to be made to or on behalf of the director or officer under any insurance policy, except with respect to any excess amount to which the director or officer is entitled under this Article XIII beyond the amount of payment under such insurance policy; (b) if a court having jurisdiction in the matter finally determines that such indemnification is not lawful under any applicable statute or public policy; (c) in connection with any proceeding (or part of any proceeding) initiated by the director or officer, or any proceeding by the director or officer against the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees or other persons entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation, unless: (1) the Corporation is expressly required by law to make the indemnification; (2) the proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation; or (3) the director or officer initiated the proceeding pursuant to Section 13.05 of this Article XIII and the director or officer is successful in whole or in part in such proceeding; or (d) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale by the director or officer of securities of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provision of any state statutory law or common law.
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Section 13.14. Subrogation
In the event of payment under this Article XIII, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the director or officer. The director or officer shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
ARTICLE XIV: DEFINITIONS AND USAGE
Whenever the context of these Bylaws requires, the plural shall be read to include the singular, and vice versa; and words of the masculine gender shall refer to the feminine gender, and vice versa; and words of the neuter gender shall refer to any gender.
The undersigned, Secretary of the Corporation, hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of the Corporation's Bylaws as amended effective April 10, 2001 and the same have not been modified and remain in full force and effect on the date of this certificate.
Dated: April 24, 2001. /s/ Kathleen C. Hanrahan _______________________________ Kathleen C. Hanrahan, Secretary |
372437 V4
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Exhibit 4.3
VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME ON __________, 2006
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
W-_____ _________Warrants
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CUSIP ______________
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
or registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Warrants (the "Warrants") set forth above. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase from TASER International, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Company"), subject to the terms and conditions set forth hereinafter and in the Warrant and Unit Agreement hereinafter more fully described (the "Warrant Agreement"), at any time on or before the close of business on __________, 2006 or, if such Warrant is redeemed as provided in the Warrant Agreement, at any time prior to the effective time of such redemption (the "Expiration Date"), one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock of the Company (the "Common Stock") upon presentation and surrender of this Warrant Certificate, with the instructions for the registration and delivery of Common Stock filled in, at the stock transfer office in Glendale, California, of U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation, Warrant Agent of the Company (the "Warrant Agent") or of its successor warrant agent or, if there be no successor warrant agent, at the corporate offices of the Company, and upon payment of the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) and any applicable taxes paid either in cash, or by certified or official bank check, payable in lawful money of the United States of America to the order of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock initially for one hundred ten percent (110%) of: two-thirds of the Initial Public Offering price of the Units (the "Exercise Price"). The number and kind of securities or other property for which the Warrants are exercisable are subject to further adjustment in certain events, such as mergers, splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and the like, to prevent dilution. Upon 30 days notice, the Company may redeem any or all outstanding and unexercised Warrants at any time if the basic net income per share of Common Stock as confirmed by an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable in the United States (which such audit may be conducted with respect to any fiscal year of the Company or any other 12-month period ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Company, in the Company's sole discretion), for an audited 12-month period preceding the date of such notice is equal to or greater than $1.00, at a price of $0.25 per Warrant. All Warrants not theretofore exercised or redeemed will expire on _________, 2006.
This Warrant Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Warrant Agreement, dated as of ____________, 2001 (the "Warrant Agreement"), between the Company and the Warrant Agent, to all of which terms, provisions and conditions the registered holder of this Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. The Warrant Agreement is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and reference is made to the Warrant Agreement for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders of the Warrant Certificates. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are available for inspection at the stock transfer office of the Warrant Agent or may be obtained upon written request addressed to the Company at 7860 East McClain Drive, Suite 2, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
The Company shall not be required upon the exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate to issue fractions of Warrants, Common Stock or other securities, but shall make adjustment therefor in cash on the basis of the current market value of any fractional interest as provided in the Warrant Agreement.
In certain cases, the sale of securities by the Company upon exercise of Warrants would violate the securities laws of the United States, certain states thereof or other jurisdictions. The Company has agreed to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause a registration statement to continue to be effective during the term of the Warrants with respect to such sales under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to take such action under the laws of various states as may be required to cause the sale of securities upon exercise to be lawful. However, the Company will not be required to honor the exercise of Warrants if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, upon advice of counsel, the sale of securities upon such exercise would be unlawful. In certain cases, the Company may, but is not required to, purchase Warrants submitted for exercise for a cash price equal to the difference between the market price of the securities obtainable upon such exercise and the exercise price of such Warrants.
This Warrant Certificate, with or without other Warrant Certificates, upon surrender to the Warrant Agent, any successor warrant agent or, in the absence of any successor warrant agent, at the corporate offices of the Company, may be exchanged for another Warrant Certificate or Certificates evidencing in the aggregate the same number of Warrants as the Warrant Certificate or Certificates so surrendered. If the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder hereof shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Warrant Certificate or Certificates evidencing the number of Warrants not so exercised.
No holder of this Warrant Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed the holder of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof for any purpose whatever, nor shall anything contained in the Warrant Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder of this Warrant Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof or give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or give or withhold consent to any merger,
recapitalization, issuance of stock, reclassification of stock, change of par value or change of stock to no par value, consolidation, conveyance or otherwise) or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Warrant Agreement) or to receive dividends or subscription rights or otherwise until the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate shall have been exercised and the Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise thereof shall have become deliverable as provided in the Warrant Agreement.
If this Warrant Certificate shall be surrendered for exercise within any period during which the transfer books for the Company's Common Stock or other class of stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are closed for any purpose, the Company shall not be required to make delivery of certificates for shares purchasable upon such transfer until the date of the reopening of said transfer books.
Every holder of this Warrant Certificate by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company, the Warrant Agent, and with every other holder of a Warrant Certificate that:
(a) This Warrant Certificate is transferable on the registry books of the Warrant Agent only upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement; and
(b) The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name this Warrant Certificate is registered as the absolute owner hereof (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent) for all purposes whatever and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate for shares of Common Stock or other securities upon the exercise of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate until any tax which may be payable in respect thereof by the holder of this Warrant Certificate pursuant to the Warrant Agreement shall have been paid, such tax being payable by the holder of this Warrant Certificate at the time of surrender.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Warrant Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signatures of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.
Dated: _______________ , 2001 TASER International, Inc. By: _____________________________ Patrick W. Smith, Chief Executive Officer Attest: _________________________ Secretary Countersigned U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation By: ________________________________ Authorized Officer |
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IN ORDER TO EXERCISE THE
WARRANTS IN WHOLE OR IN PART)
To: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
The undersigned Registered Holder ( )
hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right of purchase represented by the within this Warrant Certificate for, and to purchase thereunder, _______________ shares of Common Stock provided for therein and tenders payment herewith to the order of TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC. in the amount of $________________. The undersigned requests that certificates for such shares of Common Stock be issued as follows:
Name:________________________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________
Deliver to:___________________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________
and if said number of Warrants being exercised shall not be all the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, that a new Certificate for the balance of such Warrants as well as the shares of Common Stock represented by this Warrant Certificate be registered in the name of, and delivered to, the Registered Holder at the address stated below:
Address:_____________________________________________________________________
Dated:_____________, _______
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(TO BE SIGNED ONLY UPON ASSIGNMENT)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Registered Holder ( )
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
Warrants evidenced by the within Warrant Certificate, and irrevocably constitutes and appoints
______________________________________________________________________Attorney to transfer this Warrant Certificate on the books of TASER International, Inc. with the full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:__________________, ________
Signature:
Signature Guaranteed:
The signature should be guaranteed by an eligible institution (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Association and Credit Union with membership in an approved signature Medallion Program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
Exhibit 4.5
WARRANT AND UNIT AGREEMENT
TASER International, Inc., 7860 E. McClain Drive, Suite 2, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), and US Stock Transfer Corporation, 1745 Gardena Avenue, Glendale, California, a _________ corporation ("Transfer Agent"), agree as follows:
1. PURPOSE. The Company proposes to publicly offer and issue in an initial
public offering (the "Offering") ____________ units ("Units"). Each Unit will
entitle the registered holder of a Unit ("Unit Holder") to (i) one and one-half
(1.5) shares of the Company's $0.00001 par value common stock ("Share") and (ii)
one and one-half (1.5) warrants, each whole warrant permitting the purchase of
one (1) Share ("Warrant").
2. WARRANTS. Each Warrant will entitle the registered holder of a Warrant ("Warrant Holder") to purchase from the Company one (1) Share at one hundred ten percent (110%) of: two-thirds of the Initial Public Offering price of the Units (the "Exercise Price"). A Warrant Holder may exercise all or any number of Warrants resulting in the purchase of a whole number of Shares.
3. EXERCISE PERIOD. The Warrants may be exercised at any time during the period commencing thirty (30) days after the effective date ("Offering Date") of the Offering ("Exercise Date") and ending at 3:00 p.m., Denver Colorado time on the fifth (5th) anniversary date of the closing of the Offering ("Expiration Date"), except as changed by Section 15 of this Agreement.
4. NON-DETACHABILITY. A Warrant Certificate (as defined below) may not be detached from a Share certificate contained in a Unit for at least thirty (30) days following the Offering Date. Until such time, a Warrant Certificate may be split up, combined, exchanged or transferred on the books of the Transfer Agent only together with a Share certificate. Paulson Investment Company, Inc. will then determine when the Units separate, after which the Shares and Warrants will trade separately.
5. CERTIFICATES. The Warrant certificates shall be in registered form only and shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement ("Warrant Certificate"). The Unit certificates shall be in registered form only and shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B attached to this Agreement ("Unit Certificate"). Warrant and Unit Certificates shall be signed by, or shall bear the facsimile signature of, the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President of the Company and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. If any person, whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant or Unit Certificate or the signature of an officer of the Company, shall have ceased to be such officer before such Warrant or Unit Certificate is countersigned, issued and delivered, such Warrant or Unit Certificate shall be countersigned, issued and delivered with the same effect as if such person had not ceased to be such officer. Any Warrant or Unit Certificate may be signed by, or made to bear the facsimile signature of, any person who at the actual date of the preparation of such Warrant or Unit Certificate shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Warrant or Unit Certificate, even though such person was not such an officer upon the date of this Agreement.
6. ISSUANCE OF NEW CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or the several Warrant or Unit Certificates to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Warrant or Unit Certificates in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number or kind of shares purchasable under the several Warrant or Unit Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
7. COUNTERSIGNING. Warrant and Unit Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Transfer Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. The Transfer Agent hereby is authorized to countersign and deliver to, or in accordance with the instructions of, any Warrant or Unit Holder any Warrant or Unit Certificate, respectively, which is properly issued.
8. REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGES. The Transfer Agent will keep or cause to be kept books for registration of ownership or transfer of Warrant and Unit Certificates issued hereunder. Such registers shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Warrant and Unit Certificates and the number of Warrants and Units evidenced by each such Warrant or Unit Certificate. Subject to the provisions of Section 4, the Transfer Agent shall from time to time register the transfer of any outstanding Warrant or Unit Certificate upon records maintained by the Transfer Agent for such purpose upon surrender of such Warrant or Unit Certificate to the Transfer Agent for transfer, accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent and duly executed by the Warrant or Unit Holder or a duly authorized attorney. Upon any such registration of transfer, a new Warrant or Unit Certificate shall be issued in the name of and to the transferee and the surrendered Warrant or Unit Certificate shall be cancelled.
9. EXERCISE OF WARRANTS.
a. Any one Warrant or any multiple of one Warrant evidenced by any Warrant Certificate may be exercised on or after the Exercise Date and on or before the Expiration Date. A Warrant shall be exercised by the Warrant Holder by surrendering to the Transfer Agent the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant with the exercise form on the reverse of such Warrant Certificate duly completed and executed and delivering to the Transfer Agent, by good check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company, the Exercise Price for each Share to be purchased. No fractional warrant may be exercised, but will be redeemed for cash equal to the current market value of such fractional warrant, as defined in Section 19 of this Warrant and Unit Agreement.
b. Upon receipt of a Warrant Certificate with the exercise form thereon duly executed together with payment in full of the Exercise Price (and an amount equal to any applicable taxes or government charges) for the Shares for which Warrants are then being exercised, the Transfer Agent shall requisition from any transfer agent for the Shares, and upon receipt shall make delivery of, certificates evidencing the total number of whole Shares for which Warrants are then being exercised in such names and denominations as are required for delivery to, or in accordance with the instructions of, the Warrant Holder. Such certificates for the Shares shall be deemed to be issued, and the person to whom such Shares are issued of record shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Shares, as of the date of the surrender of such Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price (and an amount equal to any applicable taxes or government
charges), whichever shall last occur, provided that if the books of the Company with respect to the Shares shall be deemed to be closed, the person to whom such Shares are issued of record shall be deemed to have become a record holder of such Shares as of the date on which such books shall next be open (whether before, on or after the Expiration Date). The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not cause its stock transfer books to be closed for a period of more than twenty (20) consecutive business days except upon consolidation, merger, sale of all of its assets, dissolution or liquidation or as otherwise provided by law.
c. In addition, if it is required by law and upon instruction by the Company, the Transfer Agent will deliver to each Warrant Holder a prospectus that complies with the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act, as amended, and the Company agrees to supply the Transfer Agent with a sufficient number of prospectuses to effectuate that purpose.
d. Any Warrant Certificate or Certificates may be exchanged at the option of the holder thereof for another Warrant Certificate or Certificates of different denominations, of like tenor and representing in the aggregate the same number of Warrants, upon surrender of such Warrant Certificate or Certificates, with the Form of Assignment duly filled in and executed, to the Transfer Agent, at any time or from time-to-time after the close of business on the date hereof and prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date. The Transfer Agent shall promptly cancel the surrendered Warrant Certificate or Certificates and deliver the new Warrant Certificate or Certificates pursuant to the provisions of this Section.
e. If less than all the Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate are exercised upon a single occasion, a new Warrant Certificate for the balance of the Warrants not so exercised shall be issued and delivered to, or in accordance with, transfer instructions properly given by the Warrant Holder until the Expiration Date.
f. All Warrant Certificates surrendered upon exercise of the Warrants shall be cancelled.
g. Upon the exercise, or conversion of any Warrant, the Transfer Agent shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently pay to the Company all moneys received by the Transfer Agent for the purchase of securities or other property through the exercise of such Warrants.
h. Expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent while acting in the capacity as Transfer Agent, in accordance with this Agreement, will be paid by the Company. A detailed accounting statement relating to the number of shares exercised, names of registered Warrant Holder(s) and the net amount of exercise funds remitted will be given to the Company with the payment of each exercise amount.
10. REDEMPTION. The Warrants outstanding at the time of a redemption may be redeemed at the option of the Company, in whole or in part on a pro-rata basis, at any time if, at the time notice of such redemption is given by the Company as provided in subsection a. below, the basic net income per share of Common Stock as confirmed by an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable in the United States (which such audit may be
conducted with respect to any fiscal year of the Company or any other 12-month period ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter of the Company, in the Company's sole discretion), for an audited 12-month period preceding the date of such notice is equal to or greater than $1.00, at a price of $0.25 per Warrant (the "Redemption Price"). On the redemption date (the "Redemption Date"), the holders of record of redeemed Warrants shall be entitled to payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender of such redeemed Warrants to the Company at the principal office of the Transfer Agent in Glendale, California.
a. Notice of redemption of Warrants shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date by mailing, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of such notice to the Transfer Agent and by first class mail to all of the holders of record of Warrants at their respective addresses appearing on the books or transfer records of the Company or such other address designated in writing by the holder of record to the Transfer Agent not less than forty (40) days prior to the Redemption Date.
b. From and after the Redemption Date, all rights of the Warrant Holders (except the right to receive the Redemption Price) shall terminate, but only if (i) no later than one day prior to the Redemption Date the Company shall have irrevocably deposited with the Transfer Agent as paying agent a sufficient amount to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price for all Warrants called for redemption and (ii) the notice of redemption shall have stated the name and address of the Transfer Agent and the intention of the Company to deposit such amount with the Transfer Agent no later than one day prior to the Redemption Date.
c. The Transfer Agent shall pay to the holders of record of redeemed Warrants all monies received by the Transfer Agent for the redemption of Warrants to which the holders of record of such redeemed Warrants who shall have surrendered their Warrants are entitled.
d. Any amounts deposited with the Transfer Agent that shall be unclaimed after six (6) months after the Redemption Date may be withdrawn by the Company, and thereafter the holders of the Warrants called for redemption for which such funds were deposited shall look solely to the Company for payment. The Company shall be entitled to the interest, if any, on funds deposited with the Transfer Agent and the holders of redeemed Warrants shall have no right to any such interest.
e. If the Company fails to make a sufficient deposit with the Transfer
Agent as provided above, the holder of any Warrants called for redemption may at
the option of the holder (i) by notice to the Company declare the notice of
redemption a nullity as to such holder, or (ii) maintain an action against the
Company for the Redemption Price. If the holder brings such an action, the
Company will pay reasonable attorneys' fees of the holder. If the holder fails
to bring an action against the Company for the Redemption Price within sixty
(60) days after the Redemption Date, the holder shall be deemed to have elected
to declare the notice of redemption to be a nullity as to such holder and such
notice shall be without any force or effect as to such holder. Except as
otherwise specifically provided in this subsection e., a notice of redemption,
once mailed by the Company, as provided in subsection a., shall be irrevocable.
11. TAXES. The Company will pay all taxes attributable to the initial issuance of Shares upon exercise of Warrants. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in any issue of Warrant or Unit Certificates or in the issue of any certificates of Shares in the name other than that of the Warrant or Unit Holder upon the exercise of any Warrant or Unit, as the case may be.
12. MUTILATED OR MISSING CERTIFICATES. If any Warrant or Unit Certificate is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company and the Transfer Agent may, on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant or Unit Certificate, include the surrender thereof), and upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent of such mutilation, loss, theft or destruction, issue a substitute Warrant or Unit Certificate, respectively, of like denomination or tenor as the Warrant or Unit Certificate so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed. Applicants for substitute Warrant or Unit Certificates shall comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay any reasonable charges as the Company or the Transfer Agent may prescribe.
13. SUBSEQUENT ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES. Subsequent to their original issuance, no Warrant or Unit Certificates shall be reissued except (i) such Certificates issued upon transfer thereof in accordance with Section 8 hereof, (ii) such Certificates issued upon any combination, split-up or exchange of Warrant or Unit Certificates pursuant to Section 8 hereof, (iii) such Certificates issued in replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant or Unit Certificates pursuant to Section 12 hereof, (iv) Warrant Certificates issued upon the partial exercise of Warrant Certificates pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and (v) Warrant Certificates issued to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number or kind of shares purchasable thereunder pursuant to Section 6 hereof. The Transfer Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized to countersign and deliver, in accordance with the provisions of said Sections 6, 8, 9 and 12, the new Warrant or Unit Certificates, as the case may be, required for purposes thereof, and the Company, whenever required by the Transfer Agent, will supply the Transfer Agent with Warrant and Unit Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purposes.
14. RESERVATION OF SHARES. For the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy all obligations to issue Shares upon exercise of Warrants, the Company will at all times reserve and keep available free from preemptive rights, out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued shares, the full number of Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants. The Company covenants all shares which shall be so issuable, will upon issue be fully paid and nonassessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens, charges and security interests with respect to the issue thereof. In the case of a Warrant exercisable solely for securities listed on a securities exchange or for which there are at least two (2) independent market makers, the Company may elect to redeem Warrants submitted to the Transfer Agent for exercise for a price equal to the difference between the aggregate low asked price, or closing price, as the case may be, of the securities for which such Warrant is exercisable on the date of such submission and the Exercise Price of such Warrants; in the event of such redemption, the Company will pay to the holder of such Warrants the above-described redemption price in cash within ten (10) business days after receipt of notice from the Transfer Agent that such Warrants have been submitted for exercise.
15. GOVERNMENTAL RESTRICTIONS. If any Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants require registration or approval of any governmental authority, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to secure such registration or approval and, to the extent practicable, take action in anticipation of and prior to the exercise of the Warrants necessary to permit a public offering of the securities underlying the Warrants during the term of this Agreement; provided that in no event shall such Shares be issued, and the Company shall have the authority to suspend the exercise of all Warrants, until such registration or approval shall have been obtained; but all Warrants, the exercise of which is requested during any such suspension, shall be exercisable at the Exercise Price. If any such period of suspension continues past the Expiration Date, all Warrants, the exercise of which have been requested on or prior to the Expiration Date, shall be exercisable upon the removal of such suspension until the close of business on the business day immediately following the expiration of such suspension.
16. ADJUSTMENTS OF NUMBER AND KIND OF SHARES PURCHASABLE AND EXERCISE PRICE. The number and kind of securities or other property purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence, after the date hereof, of any of the following events:
a. In case the Company shall (i) pay a dividend in, or make a distribution of, shares of capital stock on its outstanding Common Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of such shares or (iii) combine its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of such shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant outstanding immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the holder of any Warrant Certificate thereafter surrendered for exercise shall be entitled to receive at the same aggregate Exercise Price the number of shares of capital stock (of one or more classes) which such holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive immediately following the happening of any of the events described above had such Warrant been exercised in full immediately prior to the record date with respect to such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this subsection shall, in the case of a stock dividend or distribution, become effective as of the record date therefor and, in the case of a subdivision or combination, be made as of the effective date thereof. If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to this subsection, the holder of any Warrant Certificate thereafter surrendered for exercise shall become entitled to receive shares of two or more classes of capital stock of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company, (whose determination shall be conclusive and shall be evidenced by a Board resolution filed with the Transfer Agent) shall determine the allocation of the adjusted Exercise Price between or among shares of such classes of capital stock.
b. In the event of a capital reorganization or a reclassification of the Common Stock (except as provided in subsection a. above or subsection e. below), any Warrant Holder, upon exercise of Warrants, shall be entitled to receive, in substitution for the Common Stock to which he would have become entitled upon exercise immediately prior to such reorganization or reclassification, the shares (of any class or classes) or other securities or property of the Company (or cash) that he would have been entitled to receive at the same aggregate Exercise Price upon such reorganization or reclassification if such Warrants had been exercised immediately prior to the record date with respect to such event; and in any such case, appropriate provision (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be conclusive and shall be
evidenced by a certified Board resolution filed with the Transfer Agent) shall be made for the application of this Section with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Warrant Holders (including but not limited to the allocation of the Exercise Price between or among shares of classes of capital stock), to the end that this Section (including the adjustments of the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities purchasable and the Exercise Price thereof) shall thereafter be reflected, as nearly as reasonably practicable, in all subsequent exercises of the Warrants for any shares or securities or other property (or cash) thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Warrants.
c. Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant is adjusted as provided in this Section, the Company will promptly file with the Transfer Agent a certificate signed by a Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company setting forth the number and kind of securities or other property purchasable upon exercise of a Warrant, as so adjusted, stating that such adjustments in the number or kind of shares or other securities or property conform to the requirements of this Section, and setting forth a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustments. Promptly after receipt of such certificate, the Company, or the Transfer Agent at the Company's request, will deliver, by first-class, postage prepaid mail, a brief summary thereof (to be supplied by the Company) to the registered holders of the outstanding Warrant Certificates; provided, however, that failure to file or to give any notice required under this subsection, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustments under this Section; and provided, further, that, where appropriate, such notice may be given in advance and included as part of the notice required to be given pursuant to Section 18 hereof.
d. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Common Stock), or in case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the corporation formed by such consolidation or merger or the corporation which shall have acquired such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Transfer Agent a supplemental warrant agreement providing that the holder of each Warrant then outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of such Warrant) to receive, upon exercise of such Warrant, solely the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property (or cash) receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company for which such Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental warrant agreement shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided in this Section. The above provision of this subsection shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales or transfers.
The Transfer Agent shall not have any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provision contained in any such supplemental warrant agreement relating to either the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (or cash) purchasable by holders of Warrant Certificates upon the exercise of their Warrants after any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer or of any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but subject to the provisions of Section 23 hereof, may
accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, a certificate of a firm of independent certified public accountants (who may be the accountants regularly employed by the Company) with respect thereto.
e. Irrespective of any adjustments in the number or kind of shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants, Warrant Certificates theretofore or thereafter issued may continue to express the same price and number and kind of shares as are stated in the similar Warrant Certificates initially issuable pursuant to this Agreement.
f. The Company may retain a firm of independent public accountants of recognized standing, which may be the firm regularly retained by the Company, selected by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive Committee of said Board, and not disapproved by the Transfer Agent, to make any computation required under this Section, and a certificate signed by such firm shall, in the absence of fraud or gross negligence, be conclusive evidence of the correctness of any computation made under this Section.
g. For the purpose of this Section, the term "Common Stock" shall mean
(i) the Common Stock or (ii) any other class of stock resulting from successive
changes or reclassifications of such Common Stock consisting solely of changes
in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par
value. In the event that at any time as a result of an adjustment made pursuant
to this Section, the holder of any Warrant thereafter surrendered for exercise
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company
other than shares of Common Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time
to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in this Section, and all
other provisions of this Agreement, with respect to the Common Stock, shall
apply on like terms to any such other shares.
h. The Company may, from time to time and to the extent permitted by law, reduce the exercise price of the Warrants by any amount for a period of not less than twenty (20) days. If the Company so reduces the exercise price of the Warrants, it will give not less than fifteen (15) days' notice of such decrease, which notice may be in the form of a press release, and shall take such other steps as may be required under applicable law in connection with any offers or sales of securities at the reduced price.
17. REDUCTION OF EXERCISE PRICE BELOW PAR VALUE. Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment pursuant to Section 16 hereof reducing the portion of the Exercise Price required to purchase one share of capital stock below the then par value (if any) of a share of such capital stock, the Company will use its best efforts to take any corporate action which, in the opinion of its counsel, may be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of such capital stock.
18. NOTICE TO WARRANT HOLDERS. In case the Company after the date hereof shall propose (i) to offer to the holders of Common Stock, generally, rights to subscribe to or purchase any additional shares of any class of its capital stock, any evidences of its indebtedness or assets, or any other rights or options or (ii) to effect any reclassification of Common Stock (other than a
reclassification involving merely the subdivision or combination of outstanding shares of Common Stock) or any capital reorganization, or any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of its property and assets substantially as an entirety, or the liquidation, voluntary or involuntary dissolution or winding-up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall file with the Transfer Agent and the Company, or the Transfer Agent on its behalf, shall mail (by first-class, postage prepaid mail) to all registered holders of the Warrant Certificates notice of such proposed action, which notice shall specify the date on which the books of the Company shall close or a record be taken for such offer of rights or options, or the date on which such reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, other disposition, liquidation, voluntary or involuntary dissolution or winding-up shall take place or commence, as the case may be, and which shall also specify any record date for determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to vote thereon or participate therein and shall set forth such facts with respect thereto as shall be reasonably necessary to indicate any adjustments in the Exercise Price and the number or kind of shares or other securities purchasable upon exercise of Warrants which will be required as a result of such action. Such notice shall be filed and mailed in the case of any action covered by clause (i) above, at least ten (10) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Common Stock for purposes of such action or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of shares of Common Stock of record are to be entitled to such offering; and, in the case of any action covered by clause (ii) above, at least twenty (20) days prior to the earlier of the date on which such reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, other disposition, liquidation, voluntary or involuntary dissolution or winding-up is expected to become effective and the date on which it is expected that holders of shares of Common Stock of record on such date shall be entitled to exchange their shares for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, reorganization, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, other disposition, liquidation, voluntary or involuntary dissolution or winding-up. Failure to give any such notice or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of any transaction listed in this Section.
19. NO FRACTIONAL WARRANTS, UNITS OR SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Warrants or Units upon the reissue of Warrants or Units, any adjustments as described in Section 16 or otherwise; but the Company in lieu of issuing any such fractional interest, shall adjust the fractional interest by payment to the Warrant or Unit Holder an amount, in cash, equal to the current market value of any such fraction or interest. If the total Warrants or Units surrendered by exercise would result in the issuance of a fractional Share, the Company shall not be required to issue a fractional Share but rather the resulting fractional interest shall be adjusted by payment in an amount, in cash, equal to the current market value of such fractional interest. The current market value for such fractional interest will be the market value of one whole interest multiplied by the fraction thereof.
20. RIGHTS OF WARRANT HOLDERS. No Warrant Holder, as such, shall have any rights of a shareholder of the Company, either at law or equity, and the rights of the Warrant Holders, as such, are limited to those rights expressly provided in this Agreement or in the Warrant Certificates. The Company and the Transfer Agent may treat the registered Warrant Holder in respect of any Warrant Certificates as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.
21. RIGHT OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect to this Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Warrant and Unit Certificates; and any registered holder of any Warrant or Unit Certificate, without the consent of the Transfer Agent or of any other holder of a Warrant or Unit Certificate, may, in his own behalf for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company suitable to enforce, or otherwise in respect of, his right to exercise the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate, for the purchase of shares of the Common Stock in the manner provided in the Warrant Certificate and in this Agreement.
22. AGREEMENT OF WARRANT AND UNIT HOLDERS. Every holder of a Warrant or Unit Certificate by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company, the Transfer Agent and with every other holder of a Warrant or Unit Certificate, respectively, that:
a. The Warrant and Unit Certificates are transferable on the registry books of the Transfer Agent only upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
b. The Company and the Transfer Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Warrant or Unit Certificate is registered as the absolute owner of the Warrant or Unit, as the case may be, (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by anyone other than the Company or the Transfer Agent) for all purposes whatever and neither the Company nor the Transfer Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
23. TRANSFER AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the Transfer Agent to act as the agent of the Company and the Transfer Agent hereby accepts such appointment upon the following terms and conditions by all of which the Company and every Warrant and Unit Holder, by acceptance of his Warrants or Units, shall be bound:
a. Statements contained in this Agreement and in the Warrant and Unit Certificates shall be taken as statements of the Company. The Transfer Agent assumes no responsibility for the correctness of any of the same except such as describes the Transfer Agent or for action taken or to be taken by the Transfer Agent.
b. The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of the Company's covenants contained in this Agreement or in the Warrant or Unit Certificates.
c. The Transfer Agent may consult at any time with counsel satisfactory to it (who may be counsel for the Company) and the Transfer Agent shall incur no liability or responsibility to the Company or to any Warrant or Unit Holder in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion or the advice of such counsel, provided the Transfer Agent shall have exercised reasonable care in the selection and continued employment of such counsel.
d. The Transfer Agent shall incur no liability or responsibility to the Company or to any Warrant or Unit Holder for any action taken in reliance upon any notice, resolution, waiver,
consent, order, certificate or other paper, document or instrument believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
e. The Company agrees to pay to the Transfer Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Transfer Agent in the execution of this Agreement, to reimburse the Transfer Agent for all expenses, taxes and governmental charges and all other charges of any kind or nature incurred by the Transfer Agent in the execution of this Agreement and to indemnify the Transfer Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and counsel fees, arising from the Transfer Agent's engagement under this Agreement except as a result of the Transfer Agent's negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
f. The Transfer Agent shall be under no obligation to institute any action, suit or legal proceeding or to take any other action likely to involve expense unless the Company or one or more Warrant or Unit Holders shall furnish the Transfer Agent with reasonable security and indemnity for any costs and expenses which may be incurred in connection with such action, suit or legal proceeding, but this provision shall not affect the power of the Transfer Agent to take such action as the Transfer Agent may consider proper, whether with or without any such security or indemnity. All rights of action under this Agreement or under any of the Warrants or Units may be enforced by the Transfer Agent without the possession of any of the Warrant or Unit Certificates or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Transfer Agent shall be brought in its name as Transfer Agent, and any recovery of judgement shall be for the ratable benefit of the Warrant or Unit Holders as their respective rights or interest may appear.
g. The Transfer Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Transfer Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Warrants, Units or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Transfer Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Transfer Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
24. SUCCESSOR TRANSFER AGENT. Any legal entity into which the Transfer Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any legal entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Transfer Agent shall be a party, or any legal entity succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Transfer Agent, shall be the successor to the Transfer Agent hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act of a party or the parties hereto provided such legal entity is eligible to be appointed under Section 25 below. In any such event or if the name of the Transfer Agent is changed, the Transfer Agent or such successor may adopt the countersignature of the original Transfer Agent and may countersign such Warrant or Unit Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Transfer Agent or in the name of the successor Transfer Agent.
25. CHANGE OF TRANSFER AGENT. The Transfer Agent may resign or be discharged by the Company from its duties under this Agreement by the Transfer Agent or the Company, as the case may be, giving notice in writing to the other, and by giving a date when such resignation or discharge shall take effect, which notice shall be sent at least thirty (30) days prior to the date so
specified. If the Transfer Agent shall resign, be discharged or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Transfer Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Transfer Agent or by any Warrant or Unit Holder or after discharging the Transfer Agent, then the Company agrees to perform the duties of the Transfer Agent hereunder until a successor Transfer Agent is appointed. Any successor Transfer Agent shall be a bank or a trust company, in good standing, organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $4,000,000 at the time of its appointment as Transfer Agent. After appointment, the successor Transfer Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Transfer Agent without further act or deed, and the former Transfer Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Transfer Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for effecting the delivery or transfer. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Transfer Agent or the appointment of the successor Transfer Agent, as the case may be.
26. NOTICES. Any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Transfer Agent or by any Warrant or Unit Holder to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by mail, first class, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Transfer Agent), as follows:
TASER International, Inc. 7860 E. McClain Drive, Suite 2 Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by any Warrant or Unit Holder or by the Company to or on the Transfer Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by mail, first class, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Transfer Agent with the Company), as follows:
US Stock Transfer Corporation 1745 Gardena Avenue Glendale, California 91204
Any distribution, notice or demand required or authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Transfer Agent to or on the Warrant or Unit Holders shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by mail, first class, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the Warrant or Unit Holders at their last known addresses as they shall appear on the registration books for the Warrant or Unit Certificates maintained by the Transfer Agent.
27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company and the Transfer Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any Warrant or Unit Holders in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other
provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which the Company and the Transfer Agent may deem necessary or desirable.
28. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Transfer Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
29. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate at the close of business on the Expiration Date or such earlier date upon which all Warrants have been exercised; provided, however, that if exercise of the Warrants is suspended pursuant to Section 15 and such suspension continues past the Expiration Date, this Agreement shall terminate at the close of business on the business day immediately following expiration of such suspension. The provisions of Section 23 shall survive such termination.
30. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Warrant and Unit Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of
[California] and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of said State.
31. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any person or corporation other than the Company, the Transfer Agent and the Warrant and Unit Holders any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Transfer Agent and the Warrant and Unit Holders.
32. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
33. INTEGRATION. As of the date hereof, this Agreement contains the entire and only agreement, understanding, representation, condition, warranty or covenant between the parties hereto with respect to the matters herein, supersedes any and all other agreements between the parties hereto relating to such matters, and may be modified or amended only by a written agreement signed by both parties hereto pursuant to the authority granted by Section 27.
34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Date: _______________, 2001 TASER International, Inc., a Delaware corporation By:_________________________________ Its Chief Executive Officer |
SEAL
ATTEST:
US Stock Transfer Corporation,
a ____________ corporation
By:_________________________________
Its Vice President
SEAL
ATTEST:
EXHIBIT A
[WARRANT CERTIFICATE]
EXHIBIT B
[UNIT CERTIFICATE]
Exhibit 10.15
[TASER INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEAD]
PROMISSORY NOTE
Amount of Note ($): $75,000 Cash
City: Scottsdale, State: Arizona
Date: July 1, 1999
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned jointly and severally promise(s) to pay
to the order of:
Malcolm Sherman, currently residing in Scottsdale, Arizona
the principal sum of:
Seventy-Five thousand & no/100 ($75,000.00) dollars together with interest
thereon from date at the rate of:
9.18% Per Annum
until maturity, said principal and interest shall be paid in 24 equal monthly
payments of $3,757.37, beginning on August 15, 1999 with the last payment
submitted on July 15, 2001. (Please see attached Loan Amortization).
Each maker and endorser severally waives demand, protest and notice of maturity, non-payment or protest and all requirements necessary to hold each of them liable as makers and endorsers and, should litigation be necessary to enforce this note, each maker and endorser waives trial by jury and consents to the personal jurisdiction and venue of a court of subject matter jurisdiction located in the State of Arizona, and County of Maricopa.
Each maker and endorser further agrees, jointly and severally, to pay all costs of collection, including a reasonable attorney's fee in case the principal of this note or any payment on the principal or any interest thereon is not paid at the respective maturity thereof, or in case it becomes necessary to protest the security hereof, whether suit be brought or not.
This note is to be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Arizona; upon default in the payment of principal and/or interest when due, the whole sum of principal and interest remaining unpaid shall, at the option of the holder, become immediately due and payable and it shall accrue interest at the highest rate allowable by law, or, if no highest rate is otherwise indicated, at ten (10%) percent, from the date of default.
Default shall include, but not be limited to non-payment within ten (10) days from the due date set out herein.
Unless specifically disallowed by law, should litigation arise hereunder, service of process therefore may be obtained through certified mail, return receipt requested; the parties hereto waiving and all rights they may have to object to the method by which service was perfected.
/s/MWS /s/TPS |
Taser International, Inc. herein acknowledges and agrees to the following, regarding the herein described Promissory Note.
A. The monies being borrowed are to secure tooling and equipment for that product as described in the enclosed attachment, marked "A" and listed as "Steman International Procurement, Quotation No: 98Q01-1-AT," Taser International, Inc. purchase order numbers: 021025-00, 021026-00, 021027-00, 021028-00, 021024-00 additionally known as "The Advanced Taser." Additional components as secured by Taser International, Inc. to complete the production of this product are included in the UCC filing and are described as electrical components, finished product or packaging.
B. Taser International, Inc. agrees to the tooling and components as purchased by the funds of this Promissory Note being subject to a UCC filing in favor of Malcolm W. Sherman i.e., lender. Said UCC filing to be valid for the full period of the listed payment schedule. Taser International, Inc. agrees to the UCC filing of this lien and its permission is granted for a "floating lien" to be issued to Malcolm W. Sherman.
C. Taser International, Inc. agrees and acknowledges that they have no right to sell, transfer, assign, sublease or encumber the equipment or this agreement or material covered under this agreement.
D. All cost relative to the filing of the above listed UCC filings are to be born by Taser International, Inc.
All matters pertinent to this Agreement (including its interpretation, application, validity, performance and breech), shall be governed by, construed and enforce in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona. The parties herein waive trial by jury and agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction and venue of a court of subject matter jurisdiction located in Maricopa County, State of Arizona. In the event that litigation results from or arises out of this Agreement or the performance thereof, the parties agree to reimburse the prevailing party's reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, and all other expenses, whether or not taxable by the court as costs in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled. In such event, no action shall be entertained by said court or any court of competent jurisdiction if filed more than one year subsequent to the date of the cause(s) of action actually accrued regardless of whether damages were otherwise as of said time calculable.
Corporation /s/ Malcolm W. Sherman By: /s/ Patrick Smith ---------------------- --------------------- Payee - Signature President - Signature M. W. Sherman Patrick Smith --------------------- --------------------- Payee Name Printed President Corporate Seal Attest: /s/ Thomas P. Smith [Corporate Seal] --------------------------- Treasurer - Signature Thomas P. Smith --------------------------- Treasurer |
Exhibit 10.16
[TASER INTERNATIONAL LETTERHEAD]
May 26, 2000
Malcolm Sherman
9068 E. Hillery Dr.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Dear Malcolm,
This letter is to confirm our previous discussions regarding your pending retirement as a full time employee of TASER International.
- As we discussed, we would like you to work directly with Tom Smith to train him to maintain the current export customer base during the time between now and your formal retirement on June 30, 2000.
- The company will continue to pay your normal salary and car allowance up through June 30, although your work schedule between now and that time will be at your discretion in order to effectively train Tom and close any pending deals.
- After June 30, the company will pay your vacation time of 4 weeks in the month of July. These payments will be made on a biweekly basis concurrent with our normal payroll.
- Your outstanding balance of non-reimbursed expenses (approximately $30,000) will be repaid in full on a biweekly basis starting on August 15. These payments will be of the same amount as your current salary plus car allowance, paid on a biweekly basis concurrent with our payroll disbursements.
- You will be asked to continue to serve on the board of directors and as an active significant shareholder. As you are aware, we do not remunerate our board members with cash compensation. However, the company will extend your current stock options (20,000 shares) for an additional 5 years after your formal retirement (i.e. Expiration date of 7/1/2005). All of these options shall be considered vested as of June 30, 2000 if they have not already vested prior to that time.
- Further, the company shall work with you as an independent contractor (effective May 27th, 2000) in certain foreign countries. Specifically, you shall be considered the exclusive foreign agent for the countries of:
- India
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
PAGE 1 PWS:/s/PWS MWS:/s/MWS --- --- |
- BANGLADESH - UKRAINE - JORDAN - ISRAEL |
For a period of 12 months (i.e. Through June 30, 2001), these countries shall be reserved for you, operating as an independent contractor, to close an exclusive distribution deal. You will be paid a 10% commission for all sales in these countries for the period of time that you remain the exclusive agent. This 10% commission shall not include the $20,000 deposit already received from Jordan, but shall include any additional sums received from the distributor in Jordan. Commissions will be paid to Sherman as payments are received by TASER International regardless of shipping dates as listed on purchase orders. Sales prices offered to Sherman during the course of his appointment as "exclusive agent" shall be equal to the best of prices offered to any other exclusive agreement granted by the company. In those instances which requires overages in billing, i.e. over the export selling price of TASER, these amount are to be forwarded to third parties for "commissions". TASER International, Inc, Agrees to forward via wire transfer or company check to such accounts as directed upon instructions from Sherman after these funds have been secured. Sherman's 10% commission is based on the net product prices as given to Sherman by TASER (less freight and miscellaneous charges). Once payment of commissions or overages has been remitted as instructed by Sherman, TASER shall be released of all liability associated with the specific transactions.
In order to maintain your exclusive agency for these areas, the following performance criteria must be met (the numbers in each column represent the number of ADVANCED TASERs sold within the territory):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Country 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 3/30 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- India 500 600 720 864 1036 1244 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine 300 360 432 518 622 748 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sri Lanka 100 120 144 172 208 248 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangladesh 200 240 288 346 414 498 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nepal 50 60 72 86 104 124 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jordan 200 240 288 346 414 498 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Israel 200 240 288 346 414 498 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
The sales in each column represent sales in the 12 calendar months proceeding the date atop the column. Should sales not meet or exceed this number, the exclusivity will expire without notice and the company will have the option to pursue other sales opportunities in those markets without further compensation due.
All inquiries from these territories will be forwarded to Sherman directly, and no pricing information shall be given to inquiries without Sherman's prior consent.
- Under the terms of this representation, you will be responsible for all travel and other related expense for you to develop these markets. This shall include telephone
charges, cellular air time and all other related incidental expenses. We will, of course, support your efforts with reasonable collateral materials. Although you will remain on the payroll for the month of June as an employee, any sales in these territories (as listed above) beyond the $20,000 deposit already received from Jordan shall be treated as commissioned sales in your relationship as an independent contractor.
- For purposes of supporting your role as a sales agent in the above listed countries, you may continue to use the title of "Director of Sales and Marketing." But this exception is FOR THOSE TERRITORIES ONLY. Accordingly, you may use your existing business cards in conjunction with these countries.
- Any potential business outside the scope of countries listed in this agreement, including any initiated by distributors in the countries listed within this document (specifically: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Jordan and Israel), must be approved by TASER International in advance. The company may accept or reject any offers for additional countries at its sole discretion. The company has current prospects in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and shall pursue those prospects directly.
- Effective May 27th, you will be operating as an independent sales representative and independent contractor in relation to these foreign sales activities. You will also be responsible for ensuring that all distribution agreements in those countries comply with US export law and relevant laws concerning foreign commerce.
- Although you will remain a member of our board of directors, any commitments on behalf of the company subsequent to the date of this letter must be approved, and joint signed by either Tom or Rick Smith as active officers in the company.
- All foreign orders shall be prepaid prior to shipment.
- In the event the company is going to go public through an IPO, be acquired by another entity, or raise a significant amount of capital to fund operations, the company shall have the right to buy-out the exclusivity provisions outlined above by a single payment equivalent to 6 months' historical commissions.
- I trust that the above accurately memorializes our discussion of yesterday. Should a disagreement arise over any of the provisions relating to your retirement, or the subsequent sales representation outlined above, we shall first sit over a beer and work it out. If this is unsuccessful, both parties (TASER International and Malcolm Sherman) hereby agree that any disputes shall be settled in binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Specifically, this agreement sets forth the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other representations and understandings both written and oral. This agreement is drafted under the laws of the state of Arizona, and the venue for any legal recourse shall take place under laws as written in Arizona, and the venue for any legal recourse shall take place under these laws and be adjudicated within its jurisdiction. Further, the parties agree that any controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to, this contract, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association in the state of Arizona, USA under their auspices and the parties agree to have any dispute heard and adjudicated under these rules in the state of Arizona USA and both parties agree to be bound by the decision of the arbitrator and to pay their proportionate fees as required under the rules of the association and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof.
- This agreement may be amended or modified only in writing, signed in advance by the parties hereto or their designated representatives. This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.
- This memorandum outlines all terms related to your pending retirement, and the parties agree that any and all documents and or agreements entered into or/of prior date to this agreement are herein cancelled and mutually abrogated by the parties.
- This memorandum outlines all terms related to your pending retirement, and the parties hereby mutually release each other from any and all claims and/or obligations related to your employment as Director of Sales and Marketing for TASER International other than those obligations outlined herein. Pre-existing financial obligations currently owed to you (such as your salary, vacation pay, notes payable and accrued expenses) shall survive this agreement in their current form.
- TASER agrees to pay Sherman all outstanding balances owed as outlined above regardless and excluded from the releases in the preceding paragraph. These expenses will carry an effective interest rate of 10% per annum, accrued monthly on the unpaid balance only, until the entire principal and accrued interest is paid in full. Such interest shall be calculated from the beginning date at which the expenses were outstanding (i.e. the average monthly balance). However, any prior financing charges will be applied as credits against the interest owed.
- Regarding office space, TASER will make temporary office space available through the end of July, 2000. After that time, the company will plan to redistribute the use of space within our offices. Further, TASER will make partial secretarial support available for preparation of formal letters and contracts in conjunction with TASER sales for those territories assigned to Sherman as a part of this contract only.
Malcolm, I've truly enjoyed the past 6 years together. I've grown tremendously working with you. I wish you nothing but the best and hope you find more time over the coming months and years to take some well-deserved personal time.
Sincerely, Understood and Agreed, /s/ Rick W. Smith 5/26/2000 /s/ Malcolm W. Sherman 5/26/2000 ----------------- --------- ---------------------- --------- Rick W. Smith date Malcolm W. Sherman date President, TASER International PAGE 4 PWS:/s/PWS MWS:/s/MWS --- --- |
[SILICON VALLEY BANK LETTERHEAD]
IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. SVB0IIS3615
DATE: APRIL 13, 2001
BENEFICIARY:
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
7860 E. MCCLAIN DRIVE, SUITE 2
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
ATTN: KATHY HANRAHAN, CONTROLLER
(480) 905-2012
APPLICANT:
BRUCE R. CULVER & DONNA T. CULVER
6592 E. OAK SPRING DRIVE
OAK PARK, CA 91377
(818) 991-9950
AMOUNT: US$500,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 U.S. DOLLARS)
EXPIRATION DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2001
LOCATION: AT OUR COUNTERS IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
DEAR SIR/MADAM:
WE HEREBY ESTABLISH OUR IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. SVB0IIS3615 IN YOUR FAVOR AVAILABLE BY YOUR DRAFTS DRAWN ON US AT SIGHT AND ACCOMPANIED BY THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
1. THE ORIGINAL OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT AND ALL AMENDMENT(S), IF ANY.
PARTIAL DRAWS ARE ALLOWED. THIS LETTER OF CREDIT MUST ACCOMPANY ANY DRAWINGS HEREUNDER FOR ENDORSEMENT OF THE DRAWING AMOUNT AND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BENEFICIARY UNLESS IT IS FULLY UTILIZED.
DRAFT(S) AND DOCUMENTS MUST INDICATE THE NUMBER AND DATE OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT.
DOCUMENTS MUST BE FORWARDED TO US BY OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE TO:
SILICON VALLEY BANK, 3003 TASMAN DRIVE, SANTA CLARA CA 95054, ATTN:
INTERNATIONAL DIVISION.
WE HEREBY AGREE WITH THE DRAWERS, ENDORSERS AND BONAFIDE HOLDERS THAT THE DRAFTS DRAWN UNDER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LETTER OF CREDIT SHALL BE DULY HONORED UPON PRESENTATION TO THE DRAWEE, IF NEGOTIATED ON OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THIS CREDIT.
[SILICON VALLEY BANK LETTERHEAD]
IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT NO. SVB011S3615
DATE: APRIL 13, 2001
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN THIS LETTER OF CREDIT IS SUBJECT TO THE UNIFORM CUSTOMS AND PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTARY CREDITS (1993 REVISION), INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PUBLICATION NO. 500.
/s/ Danny J. Rowan /s/ Dawn Y. Shinsato -------------------- -------------------- AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE DANNY J. ROWAN DAWN Y. SHINSATO |
March 30, 2001
Board of Directors
TASER, International, Inc.
7860 East McClain Drive, Suite 2
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260-1627
Letter of Support
Gentlemen:
The undersigned Phillips W. Smith and Bruce R. Culver are directors of TASER International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Through loans, advances, provisions of guarantees, and other arrangements, we have from time-to-time supported financially and otherwise the business of the Company.
We agree, by this letter, to continue to support the Company by establishing an irrevocable, standby letter of credit issued by a bank of recognized standing in an amount not less than $500,000. The letter of credit is intended to provide additional financial resources on which the Company may rely in the event of its suffering a working capital deficit or otherwise. Such letter of credit may be drawn upon by the Company at any time prior to December 31, 2001 upon presentation to the bank of a resolution validly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company confirming a determination by the Board of Directors of the Company's need for additional funds and electing to draw upon such letter of credit.
In consideration of this letter of support and the provision of the letter of credit, the Company shall pay each of us $10,000, and in the event of a draw upon the letter of credit, enter into commercially reasonable arrangements for the repayment to us of amounts so drawn.
If the foregoing accurately reflects our understanding, please so indicate by signing the enclosed copy of this letter and returning it to us.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Phillips W. Smith --------------------------------- Phillips W. Smith /s/ Bruce R. Culver --------------------------------- Bruce R. Culver Agreed and accepted this 30th day of March 2001. |
TASER International, Inc.
/s/ Patrick W. Smith --------------------------------- Patrick W. Smith Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Exhibit 10.18
[TASER INTERNATIONAL(R) LOGO]
7339 East Evans Road - Scottsdale, AZ - 85280 - USA - (480) 991-0791 -
Fax (480) 991-0791
AMENDMENT TO PROMISSORY NOTE(S)
Note Balance: __________
City/State: Scottsdale, Arizona
Date of Amendment: 3/30/01
This Amendment No. __ to the Original Loans and Security Agreement (this "Amendment") is made as of March 30, 2001 by and between TASER International Inc. ("Borrower") and _____________ ("Lender").
Borrower and Lender are parties to, among other documents, a Promissory Note agreement as of ______ (date of initial investment). Borrower and Lender desire to amend the Promissory Notes in accordance with the following terms.
NOW THEREFORE, Borrower and Lender agree as follows:
4. The Maturity Dates are hereby amended to July 1, 2002. With an additional provision that the company may at its discretion, extend the maturity date 2 consecutive terms of 12 months each to cover working capital shortfalls.
Unless otherwise defined, all other terms specified in the Promissory Notes shall remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date above written.
Borrower: Lender:
TASER International Inc.
By: /s/ Patrick W. Smith _____________________ ____________________ Name: Patrick W. Smith Name: |
Exhibit 10.19
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page ---- 1 ACCOUNTING AND OTHER TERMS.............................................................................. 4 2 LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT............................................................................... 4 2.1 Promise to Pay................................................................................. 4 2.2 Interest Rate, Payments........................................................................ 4 2.3 Fees........................................................................................... 5 3 CONDITIONS OF LOANS..................................................................................... 5 3.1 Conditions Precedent to Initial Advance........................................................ 5 3.2 Conditions Precedent to all Advances........................................................... 5 4 CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST........................................................................... 5 4.1 Grant of Security Interest..................................................................... 5 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................................................... 5 5.1 Due Organization and Authorization............................................................. 5 5.2 Collateral..................................................................................... 6 5.3 Litigation..................................................................................... 6 5.4 No Material Adverse Change in Financial Statements............................................. 6 5.5 Solvency....................................................................................... 6 5.6 Regulatory Compliance.......................................................................... 6 5.7 Subsidiaries................................................................................... 7 5.8 Full Disclosure................................................................................ 7 6 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................................................... 7 6.1 Government Compliance.......................................................................... 7 6.2 Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates.................................................... 7 6.3 Inventory; Returns............................................................................. 7 6.4 Taxes.......................................................................................... 8 6.5 Insurance...................................................................................... 8 6.6 Primary Accounts............................................................................... 8 6.7 Further Assurances............................................................................. 8 7 NEGATIVE COVENANTS...................................................................................... 8 7.1 Dispositions................................................................................... 8 7.2 Changes in Business, Ownership, Management or Business Locations............................... 8 7.3 Mergers or Acquisitions........................................................................ 9 7.4 Indebtedness................................................................................... 9 7.5 Encumbrance.................................................................................... 9 7.6 Distributions; Investments..................................................................... 9 7.7 Transactions with Affiliates................................................................... 9 7.8 Subordinated Debt.............................................................................. 9 7.9 Compliance..................................................................................... 9 8 EVENTS OF DEFAULT....................................................................................... 9 8.1 Payment Default................................................................................ 10 8.2 Covenant Default............................................................................... 10 8.3 Material Adverse Change........................................................................ 10 8.4 Attachment..................................................................................... 10 8.5 Insolvency..................................................................................... 10 8.6 Other Agreements............................................................................... 10 |
8.7 Judgments...................................................................................... 10 8.8 Misrepresentations............................................................................. 11 8.9 Guaranty....................................................................................... 11 9 BANK'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.............................................................................. 11 9.1 Rights and Remedies............................................................................ 11 9.2 Power of Attorney.............................................................................. 11 9.3 Accounts Collection............................................................................ 12 9.4 Bank Expenses.................................................................................. 12 9.5 Bank's Liability for Collateral................................................................ 12 9.6 Remedies Cumulative............................................................................ 12 9.7 Demand Waiver.................................................................................. 12 10 NOTICES................................................................................................. 12 11 CHOICE OF LAW , VENUE AND JURY TRIAL WAIVER............................................................. 13 12 GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................................................... 13 12.1 Successors and Assigns......................................................................... 13 12.2 Indemnification................................................................................ 13 12.3 Time of Essence................................................................................ 13 12.4 Severability of Provision...................................................................... 13 12.5 Amendments in Writing, Integration............................................................. 13 12.6 Counterparts................................................................................... 13 12.7 Survival....................................................................................... 14 12.8 Confidentiality................................................................................ 14 12.9 Attorneys' Fees, Costs and Expenses............................................................ 14 13 DEFINITIONS............................................................................................. 14 13.1 Definitions.................................................................................... 14 Bruce R. Culver and Donna T. Culver.............................................................................. 5 Silicon Valley Bank.............................................................................................. 5 |
THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated April 26, 2001, between SILICON VALLEY BANK ("Bank"), whose address is 3003 Tasman Drive, Santa Clara, California 95054 with a loan production office located at 4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite E-290, Phoenix, Arizona 85018 and TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC. ("Borrower"), whose address is 7860 East McClain Drive, Suite 2, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 provides the terms on which Bank will lend to Borrower and Borrower will repay Bank. The parties agree as follows: 1 ACCOUNTING AND OTHER TERMS Accounting terms not defined in this Agreement will be construed |
following GAAP. Calculations and determinations must be made following GAAP. The term "financial statements" includes the notes and schedules. The terms "including" and "includes" always mean "including (or includes) without limitation," in this or any Loan Document.
2 LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT 2.1 PROMISE TO PAY. Borrower promises to pay Bank the unpaid principal amount of all Credit |
Extensions and interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Credit Extensions.
2.1.1 REVOLVING ADVANCES.
(a) Bank will make Advances not exceeding the Committed Revolving Line. Amounts borrowed under this Section may be repaid and reborrowed during the term of this Agreement.
(b) To obtain an Advance, Borrower must notify Bank by facsimile or telephone by 12:00 p.m. Pacific time on the Business Day the Advance is to be made. Borrower must promptly confirm the notification by delivering to Bank the Payment/Advance Form attached as Exhibit B. Bank will credit Advances to Borrower's deposit account. Bank may make Advances under this Agreement based on instructions from a Responsible Officer or his or her designee or without instructions if the Advances are necessary to meet Obligations which have become due. Bank may rely on any telephone notice given by a person whom Bank believes is a Responsible Officer or designee. Borrower will indemnify Bank for any loss Bank suffers due to such reliance.
(c) The Committed Revolving Line terminates on the Revolving Maturity Date, when all Advances are immediately payable.
(d) Bank's obligation to lend the undisbursed portion of the Obligations will terminate if, in Bank's sole discretion, there has been a material adverse change in the general affairs, management, results of operation, condition (financial or otherwise) or the prospect of repayment of the Obligations, or there has been any material adverse deviation by Borrower from the most recent business plan of Borrower presented to and accepted by Bank prior to the execution of this Agreement.
2.2 INTEREST RATE, PAYMENTS.
(a) Interest Rate. Advances accrue interest on the outstanding principal balance at a per annum rate of 1 percentage point above the Prime Rate. After an Event of Default, Obligations accrue interest at 5 percent above the rate effective immediately before the Event of Default. The interest rate increases or decreases when the Prime Rate changes. Interest is computed on a 360 day year for the actual number of days elapsed.
(b) Payments. Interest due on the Committed Revolving Line is payable on the last day of each month. Bank may debit any of Borrower's deposit accounts including Account Number ___________________ for principal and interest payments owing or any amounts Borrower owes
Bank. Bank will promptly notify Borrower when it debits Borrower's accounts. These debits are not a set-off. Payments received after 12:00 noon Pacific time are considered received at the opening of business on the next Business Day. When a payment is due on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment is due the next Business Day and additional fees or interest accrue.
2.3 FEES.
Borrower will pay:
(a) Facility Fee. A fully earned, non-refundable Facility Fee of $45,000 due no later than May 15, 2001; and
(b) Bank Expenses. All Bank Expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and reasonable expenses) incurred through and after the date of this Agreement, are payable when due.
3 CONDITIONS OF LOANS 3.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO INITIAL ADVANCE. Bank's obligation to make the initial Advance is subject to the |
condition precedent that it receive the agreements, documents and fees it requires.
3.2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL ADVANCES.
Bank's obligations to make each Advance, including the initial Advance, is subject to the following:
(a) timely receipt of any Payment/Advance Form; and
(b) the representations and warranties in Section 5 must be materially true on the date of the Payment/Advance Form and on the effective date of each Advance and no Event of Default may have occurred and be continuing, or result from the Advance. Each Advance is Borrower's representation and warranty on that date that the representations and warranties of Section 5 remain true.
4 CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST 4.1 GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. Borrower grants Bank a continuing security interest in all presently |
existing and later acquired Collateral to secure all Obligations and performance of each of Borrower's duties under the Loan Documents. Except for Permitted Liens, any security interest will be a first priority security interest in the Collateral. Bank may place a "hold" on any deposit account pledged as Collateral. If this Agreement is terminated, Bank's lien and security interest in the Collateral will continue until Borrower fully satisfies its Obligations.
5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES Borrower represents and warrants as follows: 5.1 DUE ORGANIZATION AND AUTHORIZATION. Borrower and each Subsidiary is duly existing and in good standing in |
its state of formation and qualified and licensed to do business in, and in good standing in, any state in which
the conduct of its business or its ownership of property requires that it be qualified, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized, and do not conflict with Borrower's formation documents, nor constitute an event of default under any material agreement by which Borrower is bound. Borrower is not in default under any agreement to which or by which it is bound in which the default could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
5.2 COLLATERAL.
Borrower has good title to the Collateral, free of Liens except Permitted Liens. All Inventory is in all material respects of good and marketable quality, free from material defects.
5.3 LITIGATION.
Except as shown in the Schedule, there are no actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower's Responsible Officers, threatened by or against Borrower or any Subsidiary in which a likely adverse decision could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
5.4 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
All consolidated financial statements for Borrower, and any Subsidiary, delivered to Bank fairly present in all material respects Borrower's consolidated financial condition and Borrower's consolidated results of operations. There has not been any material deterioration in Borrower's consolidated financial condition since the date of the most recent financial statements submitted to Bank.
5.5 SOLVENCY.
The fair salable value of Borrower's assets (including goodwill minus disposition costs) exceeds the fair value of its liabilities; the Borrower is not left with unreasonably small capital after the transactions in this Agreement; and Borrower is able to pay its debts (including trade debts) as they mature.
5.6 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act. Borrower is not engaged as one of its important activities in extending credit for margin stock (under Regulations T and U of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors). Borrower has complied in all material respects with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Borrower has not violated any laws, ordinances or rules, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. None of Borrower's or any Subsidiary's properties or assets has been used by Borrower or any Subsidiary or, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, by previous Persons, in disposing, producing, storing, treating, or transporting any hazardous substance other than legally. Borrower and each Subsidiary has timely filed all required tax returns and paid, or made adequate provision to pay, all material taxes, except those being contested in good faith with adequate reserves under GAAP. Borrower and each Subsidiary has obtained all consents, approvals and authorizations of, made all declarations or filings with, and given all notices to, all government authorities that are necessary to continue its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
5.7 SUBSIDIARIES.
Borrower does not own any stock, partnership interest or other equity securities except for Permitted Investments.
5.8 FULL DISCLOSURE.
No written representation, warranty or other statement of Borrower in any certificate or written statement given to Bank (taken together with all such written certificates and written statements to Bank) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained in the certificates or statements not misleading. Bank recognizes that the projections and forecasts provided by Borrower in good faith and based upon reasonable assumptions are not viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and forecasts may differ from the projected and forecasted results.
6 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS Borrower will do all of the following for so long as Bank has an obligation to lend, or there are outstanding Obligations: 6.1 GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE. Borrower will maintain its and all Subsidiaries' legal existence and |
good standing in its jurisdiction of formation and maintain qualification in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to cause a material adverse effect on Borrower's business or operations. Borrower will comply, and have each Subsidiary comply, with all laws, ordinances and regulations to which it is subject, noncompliance with which could have a material adverse effect on Borrower's business or operations or would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
6.2 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, REPORTS, CERTIFICATES.
(a) Borrower will deliver to Bank: (i) as soon as available, but no later than 30 days after the last day of each month, a company prepared consolidated balance sheet and income statement covering Borrower's consolidated operations during the period certified by a Responsible Officer and in a form acceptable to Bank; (ii) as soon as available, but no later than 90 days after the last day of Borrower's fiscal year, audited consolidated financial statements prepared under GAAP, consistently applied, together with an unqualified opinion on the financial statements from an independent certified public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Bank; (iii) a prompt report of any legal actions pending or threatened against Borrower or any Subsidiary that could result in damages or costs to Borrower or any Subsidiary of $100,000 or more; and (iv) budgets, sales projections, operating plans or other financial information Bank reasonably requests.
(b) Allow Bank to audit Borrower's Collateral at Borrower's expense. Such audits will be conducted no more often than every year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
6.3 INVENTORY; RETURNS.
Borrower will keep all Inventory in good and marketable condition, free from material defects. Returns and allowances between Borrower and its account debtors will follow Borrower's customary practices as they exist at execution of this Agreement. Borrower must promptly notify Bank of all returns, recoveries, disputes and claims, that involve more than $50,000.
6.4 TAXES.
Borrower will make, and cause each Subsidiary to make, timely payment of all material federal, state, and local taxes or assessments (other than taxes and assessments which Borrower is contesting in good faith, with adequate reserves maintained in accordance with GAAP) and will deliver to Bank, on demand, appropriate certificates attesting to the payment.
6.5 INSURANCE.
Borrower will keep its business and the Collateral insured for risks and in amounts standard for Borrower's industry, and as Bank may reasonably request. Insurance policies will be in a form, with companies, and in amounts that are satisfactory to Bank in Bank's reasonable discretion. All property policies will have a lender's loss payable endorsement showing Bank as an additional loss payee and all liability policies will show the Bank as an additional insured and provide that the insurer must give Bank at least 20 days notice before canceling its policy. At Bank's request, Borrower will deliver certified copies of policies and evidence of all premium payments. Proceeds payable under any policy will, at Bank's option, be payable to Bank on account of the Obligations.
6.6 PRIMARY ACCOUNTS.
Borrower will maintain its primary depository and operating accounts with Bank.
6.7 FURTHER ASSURANCES.
Borrower will execute any further instruments and take further action as Bank reasonably requests to perfect or continue Bank's security interest in the Collateral or to effect the purposes of this Agreement.
7 NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Borrower will not do any of the following without Bank's prior written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, for so long as Bank has an obligation to lend or there are any outstanding Obligations:
7.1 DISPOSITIONS.
Convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (collectively "Transfer"), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to Transfer, all or any part of its business or property, except for Transfers (i) of Inventory in the ordinary course of business; (ii) of non-exclusive licenses and similar arrangements for the use of the property of Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; or (iii) of worn-out or obsolete Equipment.
7.2 CHANGES IN BUSINESS, OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT OR BUSINESS LOCATIONS.
Engage in or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any business other than the businesses currently engaged in by Borrower or reasonably related thereto or have a material change in its ownership or management of greater than 25% (other than by the sale of Borrower's equity securities in a public offering or to venture capital investors so long as Borrower identifies the venture capital investors prior to the closing of the investment). Borrower will not, without at least 30 days prior written notice, relocate its chief executive office or add any new offices or business locations in which Borrower maintains or stores over $5,000 in Borrower's assets or property.
7.3 MERGERS OR ACQUISITIONS.
Merge or consolidate, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to merge or consolidate, with any other Person, or acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to acquire, all or substantially all of the capital stock or property of another Person, except where (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such action during the term of this Agreement and (ii) such transaction would not result in a decrease of more than 25% of Tangible Net Worth. A Subsidiary may merge or consolidate into another Subsidiary or into Borrower.
7.4 INDEBTEDNESS.
Create, incur, assume, or be liable for any Indebtedness, or permit any Subsidiary to do so, other than Permitted Indebtedness.
7.5 ENCUMBRANCE.
Create, incur, or allow any Lien on any of its property, or assign or convey any right to receive income, including the sale of any Accounts, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except for Permitted Liens, or permit any Collateral not to be subject to the first priority security interest granted here, subject to Permitted Liens.
7.6 DISTRIBUTIONS; INVESTMENTS.
Directly or indirectly acquire or own any Person, or make any Investment in any Person, other than Permitted Investments, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so. Pay any dividends or make any distribution or payment or redeem, retire or purchase any capital stock.
7.7 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.
Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any material transaction with any Affiliate of Borrower except for transactions that are in the ordinary course of Borrower's business, upon fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to Borrower than would be obtained in an arm's length transaction with a nonaffiliated Person.
7.8 SUBORDINATED DEBT.
Make or permit any payment on any Subordinated Debt, except under the terms of the Subordinated Debt, or amend any provision in any document relating to the Subordinated Debt without Bank's prior written consent.
7.9 COMPLIANCE.
Become an "investment company" or a company controlled by an "investment company," under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or undertake as one of its important activities extending credit to purchase or carry margin stock, or use the proceeds of any Advance for that purpose; fail to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, permit a Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction, as defined in ERISA, to occur; fail to comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act or violate any other law or regulation, if the violation could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower's business or operations or would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so.
8 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Any one of the following is an Event of Default:
8.1 PAYMENT DEFAULT.
If Borrower fails to pay any of the Obligations within 3 days after their due date. During the additional period the failure to cure the default is not an Event of Default (but no Advance will be made during the cure period);
8.2 COVENANT DEFAULT.
If Borrower violates any covenant in Section 7 or does not perform or observe any other material term, condition or covenant in this Agreement, any Loan Documents, or in any agreement between Borrower and Bank and as to any default under a term, condition or covenant that can be cured, has not cured the default within 10 days after it occurs, or if the default cannot be cured within 10 days or cannot be cured after Borrower's attempts within 10 day period, and the default may be cured within a reasonable time, then Borrower has an additional period (of not more than 30 days) to attempt to cure the default. During the additional time, the failure to cure the default is not an Event of Default (but no Advances will be made during the cure period);
8.3 MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.
If there (i) occurs a material adverse change in the business, operations, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower; or (ii) is a material impairment of the prospect of repayment of any portion of the Obligations; or (iii) is a material impairment of the value or priority of Bank's security interests in the Collateral.
8.4 ATTACHMENT.
If any material portion of Borrower's assets is attached, seized, levied on, or comes into possession of a trustee or receiver and the attachment, seizure or levy is not removed in 10 days, or if Borrower is enjoined, restrained, or prevented by court order from conducting a material part of its business or if a judgment or other claim becomes a Lien on a material portion of Borrower's assets, or if a notice of lien, levy, or assessment is filed against any of Borrower's assets by any government agency and not paid within 10 days after Borrower receives notice. These are not Events of Default if stayed or if a bond is posted pending contest by Borrower (but no Advances will be made during the cure period);
8.5 INSOLVENCY.
If Borrower becomes insolvent or if Borrower begins an Insolvency Proceeding or an Insolvency Proceeding is begun against Borrower and not dismissed or stayed within 30 days (but no Advances will be made before any Insolvency Proceeding is dismissed);
8.6 OTHER AGREEMENTS.
If there is a default in any agreement between Borrower and a third party that gives the third party the right to accelerate any Indebtedness exceeding $100,000 or that could cause a Material Adverse Change;
8.7 JUDGMENTS.
If a money judgment(s) in the aggregate of at least $50,000 is rendered against Borrower and is unsatisfied and unstayed for 10 days (but no Advances will be made before the judgment is stayed or satisfied);
8.8 MISREPRESENTATIONS.
If Borrower or any Person acting for Borrower makes any material misrepresentation or material misstatement now or later in any warranty or representation in this Agreement or in any writing delivered to Bank or to induce Bank to enter this Agreement or any Loan Document; or
8.9 GUARANTY.
Any guaranty of any Obligations ceases for any reason to be in full force or any Guarantor does not perform any obligation under any guaranty of the Obligations, or any material misrepresentation or material misstatement exists now or later in any warranty or representation in any guaranty of the Obligations or in any certificate delivered to Bank in connection with the guaranty, or any circumstance described in Sections 8.4, 8.5 or 8.7 occurs to any Guarantor, or any event of default under that certain Third Party Broker Account Pledge Agreement, of even date, by and between Bruce R. Culver and Donna T. Culver and Bank, securing the guaranty executed by Bruce R. Culver as a Guarantor.
9 BANK'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES 9.1 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. When an Event of Default occurs and continues Bank may, without notice |
or demand, do any or all of the following:
(a) Declare all Obligations immediately due and payable (but if an Event of Default described in Section 0 occurs all Obligations are immediately due and payable without any action by Bank);
(b) Stop advancing money or extending credit for Borrower's benefit under this Agreement or under any other agreement between Borrower and Bank;
(c) Settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with account debtors for amounts, on terms and in any order that Bank considers advisable;
(d) Make any payments and do any acts it considers necessary or reasonable to protect its security interest in the Collateral. Borrower will assemble the Collateral if Bank requires and make it available as Bank designates. Bank may enter premises where the Collateral is located, take and maintain possession of any part of the Collateral, and pay, purchase, contest, or compromise any Lien which appears to be prior or superior to its security interest and pay all expenses incurred. Borrower grants Bank a license to enter and occupy any of its premises, without charge, to exercise any of Bank's rights or remedies;
(e) Apply to the Obligations any (i) balances and deposits of Borrower it holds, or (ii) any amount held by Bank owing to or for the credit or the account of Borrower;
(f) Ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain, repair, prepare for sale, advertise for sale, and sell the Collateral; and
(g) Dispose of the Collateral according to the Code.
9.2 POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Effective only when an Event of Default occurs and continues, Borrower irrevocably appoints Bank as its lawful attorney to: (i) endorse Borrower's name on any checks or other forms of payment or security; (ii) sign Borrower's name on any invoice or bill of lading for any Account or drafts against account debtors, (iii) make, settle, and adjust all claims under
Borrower's insurance policies; (iv) settle and adjust disputes and claims about the Accounts directly with account debtors, for amounts and on terms Bank determines reasonable; and (v) transfer the Collateral into the name of Bank or a third party as the Code permits. Bank may exercise the power of attorney to sign Borrower's name on any documents necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of any security interest regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred. Bank's appointment as Borrower's attorney in fact, and all of Bank's rights and powers, coupled with an interest, are irrevocable until all Obligations have been fully repaid and performed and Bank's obligation to provide Advances terminates.
9.3 ACCOUNTS COLLECTION.
When an Event of Default occurs and continues, Bank may notify any Person owing Borrower money of Bank's security interest in the funds and verify the amount of the Account. Borrower must collect all payments in trust for Bank and, if requested by Bank, immediately deliver the payments to Bank in the form received from the account debtor, with proper endorsements for deposit.
9.4 BANK EXPENSES.
If Borrower fails to pay any amount or furnish any required proof of payment to third persons, Bank may make all or part of the payment or obtain insurance policies required in Section 6.5, and take any action under the policies Bank deems prudent. Any amounts paid by Bank are Bank Expenses and immediately due and payable, bearing interest at the then applicable rate and secured by the Collateral. No payments by Bank are deemed an agreement to make similar payments in the future or Bank's waiver of any Event of Default.
9.5 BANK'S LIABILITY FOR COLLATERAL.
If Bank complies with reasonable banking practices and the Code, it is not liable for: (a) the safekeeping of the Collateral; (b) any loss or damage to the Collateral; (c) any diminution in the value of the Collateral; or (d) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee, or other person. Borrower bears all risk of loss, damage or destruction of the Collateral.
9.6 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.
Bank's rights and remedies under this Agreement, the Loan Documents, and all other agreements are cumulative. Bank has all rights and remedies provided under the Code, by law, or in equity. Bank's exercise of one right or remedy is not an election, and Bank's waiver of any Event of Default is not a continuing waiver. Bank's delay is not a waiver, election, or acquiescence. No waiver is effective unless signed by Bank and then is only effective for the specific instance and purpose for which it was given.
9.7 DEMAND WAIVER.
Borrower waives demand, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, notice of any default, nonpayment at maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees held by Bank on which Borrower is liable.
10 NOTICES
All notices or demands by any party about this Agreement or any other related agreement must be in writing and be personally delivered or sent by an overnight delivery service, by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by telefacsimile to the addresses set forth at the beginning of this Agreement. A party may change its notice address by giving the other party written notice.
11 CHOICE OF LAW, VENUE AND JURY TRIAL WAIVER
Arizona law governs the Loan Documents without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Borrower and Bank each submit to the process, venue and exclusive jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts in Maricopa County, Arizona.
BORROWER AND BANK EACH WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY AND ALL OTHER CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR BOTH PARTIES TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS COUNSEL.
12 GENERAL PROVISIONS 12.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement binds and is for the benefit of the successors and |
permitted assigns of each party. Borrower may not assign this Agreement or any rights under it without Bank's prior written consent which may be granted or withheld in Bank's discretion. Bank has the right, without the consent of or notice to Borrower, to sell, transfer, negotiate, or grant participation in all or any part of, or any interest in, Bank's obligations, rights and benefits under this Agreement.
12.2 INDEMNIFICATION.
Borrower will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Bank and its officers, employees, and agents against: (a) all obligations, demands, claims, and liabilities asserted by any other party in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; and (b) all losses or Bank Expenses incurred, or paid by Bank from, following, or consequential to transactions between Bank and Borrower (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses), except for losses caused by Bank's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
12.3 TIME OF ESSENCE.
Time is of the essence for the performance of all obligations in this Agreement.
12.4 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISION.
Each provision of this Agreement is severable from every other provision in determining the enforceability of any provision.
12.5 AMENDMENTS IN WRITING, INTEGRATION.
All amendments to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by Borrower and Bank. This Agreement represents the entire agreement about this subject matter, and supersedes prior negotiations or agreements. All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of this Agreement merge into this Agreement and the Loan Documents.
12.6 COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, are an original, and all taken together, constitute one Agreement.
12.7 SURVIVAL.
All covenants, representations and warranties made in this Agreement continue in full force while any Obligations remain outstanding. The obligations of Borrower in Section 12.2 to indemnify Bank will survive until all statutes of limitations for actions that may be brought against Bank have run.
12.8 CONFIDENTIALITY.
In handling any confidential information, Bank will exercise the same degree of care that it exercises for its own proprietary information, but disclosure of information may be made (i) to Bank's subsidiaries or affiliates in connection with their business with Borrower, (ii) to prospective transferees or purchasers of any interest in the loans (provided, however, Bank shall use commercially reasonable efforts in obtaining such prospective transferee or purchasers agreement of the terms of this provision), (iii) as required by law, regulation, subpoena, or other order, (iv) as required in connection with Bank's examination or audit and (v) as Bank considers appropriate exercising remedies under this Agreement. Confidential information does not include information that either: (a) is in the public domain or in Bank's possession when disclosed to Bank, or becomes part of the public domain after disclosure to Bank; or (b) is disclosed to Bank by a third party, if Bank does not know that the third party is prohibited from disclosing the information.
12.9 ATTORNEYS' FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES.
In any action or proceeding between Borrower and Bank arising out of the Loan Documents, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and other reasonable costs and expenses incurred, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.
13 DEFINITIONS 13.1 DEFINITIONS. In this Agreement: "ACCOUNTS" are all existing and later arising accounts, contract |
rights, and other obligations owed Borrower in connection with its sale or lease of goods (including licensing software and other technology) or provision of services, all credit insurance, guaranties, other security and all merchandise returned or reclaimed by Borrower and Borrower's Books relating to any of the foregoing, as such definition may be amended from time to time.
"ADVANCE" or "ADVANCES" is a loan advance (or advances) under the Committed Revolving Line.
"AFFILIATE" of a Person is a Person that owns or controls directly or indirectly the Person, any Person that controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Person, and each of that Person's senior executive officers, directors, partners and, for any Person that is a limited liability company, that Person's managers and members.
"BANK EXPENSES" are all audit fees and expenses and reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) for preparing, negotiating, administering, defending and enforcing the Loan Documents (including appeals or Insolvency Proceedings).
"BORROWER'S BOOKS" are all Borrower's books and records including ledgers, records regarding Borrower's assets or liabilities, the Collateral, business operations or financial condition and all computer programs or discs or any equipment containing the information.
"BUSINESS DAY" is any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Bank is closed.
"CLOSING DATE" is the date of this Agreement.
"CODE" is the Uniform Commercial Code, as applicable.
"COLLATERAL" is the property described on Exhibit A.
"COMMITTED REVOLVING LINE" is an Advance of up to $1,500,000.
"CONTINGENT OBLIGATION" is, for any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or not, of that Person for (i) any indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation of another such as an obligation directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted or sold with recourse by that Person, or for which that Person is directly or indirectly liable; (ii) any obligations for undrawn letters of credit for the account of that Person; and (iii) all obligations from any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap or collar agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designated to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; but "Contingent Obligation" does not include endorsements in the ordinary course of business. The amount of a Contingent Obligation is the stated or determined amount of the primary obligation for which the Contingent Obligation is made or, if not determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability for it determined by the Person in good faith; but the amount may not exceed the maximum of the obligations under the guarantee or other support arrangement.
"EQUIPMENT" is all present and future machinery, equipment, tenant improvements, furniture, fixtures, vehicles, tools, parts and attachments in which Borrower has any interest, as such definition may be amended from time to time.
"ERISA" is the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and its regulations.
"GAAP" is generally accepted accounting principles.
"GUARANTOR" is any present or future guarantor of the Obligations, including Bruce R. Culver.
"INDEBTEDNESS" is (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred price of property or services, such as reimbursement and other obligations for surety bonds and letters of credit, (b) obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) capital lease obligations and (d) Contingent Obligations.
"INSOLVENCY PROCEEDING" are proceedings by or against any Person under the United States Bankruptcy Code, or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, compositions, extensions generally with its creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other relief.
"INVENTORY" is present and future inventory in which Borrower has any interest, including merchandise, raw materials, parts, supplies, packing and shipping materials, work in process and finished products intended for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, of every kind and description now or later owned by or in the custody or possession, actual or constructive, of Borrower, including inventory temporarily out of its custody or possession or in transit and including returns on any accounts or other proceeds (including insurance proceeds) from the sale or disposition of any of the foregoing and any documents of title.
"INVESTMENT" is any beneficial ownership of (including stock, partnership interest or other securities) any Person, or any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person.
"LIEN" is a mortgage, lien, deed of trust, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance.
"LOAN DOCUMENTS" are, collectively, this Agreement, any note, or notes or guaranties executed by Borrower or Guarantor, and any other present or future agreement between Borrower and/or for the benefit of Bank in connection with this Agreement, all as amended, extended or restated.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" is described in Section 8.3.
"OBLIGATIONS" are debts, principal, interest, Bank Expenses and other amounts Borrower owes Bank now or later, including cash management services, letters of credit and foreign exchange contracts, if any and including interest accruing after Insolvency Proceedings begin and debts, liabilities, or obligations of Borrower assigned to Bank.
"PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS" is:
(a) Borrower's indebtedness to Bank under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and shown on the Schedule;
(c) Subordinated Debt;
(d) Indebtedness to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business; and
(e) Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens.
"PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" are:
(a) Investments shown on the Schedule and existing on the Closing Date; and
(b) (i) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or its agency or any State maturing within 1 year from its acquisition, (ii) commercial paper maturing no more than 1 year after its creation and having the highest rating from either Standard & Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and (iii) Bank's certificates of deposit issued maturing no more than 1 year after issue.
"PERMITTED LIENS" are:
(a) Liens existing on the Closing Date and shown on the Schedule or arising under this Agreement or other Loan Documents;
(b) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other government charges or levies, either not delinquent or being contested in good faith and for which Borrower maintains adequate reserves on its Books, if they have no priority over any of Bank's security interests;
(c) Purchase money Liens (i) on Equipment acquired or held by Borrower
or its Subsidiaries incurred for financing the acquisition of the Equipment, or
(ii) existing on equipment when acquired, if the Lien is confined to the
property and improvements and the proceeds of the equipment;
(d) Licenses or sublicenses granted in the ordinary course of Borrower's business and any interest or title of a licensor or under any license or sublicense, if the licenses and sublicenses permit granting Bank a security interest;
(e) Leases or subleases granted in the ordinary course of Borrower's business, including in connection with Borrower's leased premises or leased property;
(f) Liens incurred in the extension, renewal or refinancing of the indebtedness secured by Liens described in (a) through (c), but any extension, renewal or replacement Lien must be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the indebtedness may not increase.
"PERSON" is any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, company association, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, firm, joint stock company, estate, entity or government agency.
"PRIME RATE" is Bank's most recently announced "prime rate," even if it is not Bank's lowest rate.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" is each of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer and the Controller of Borrower.
"REVOLVING MATURITY DATE" is April 30, 2002.
"SCHEDULE" is any attached schedule of exceptions.
"SUBORDINATED DEBT" is debt incurred by Borrower subordinated to Borrower's indebtedness owed to Bank and which is reflected in a written agreement in a manner and form acceptable to Bank and approved by Bank in writing.
"SUBSIDIARY" is for any Person, or any other business entity of which more than 50% of the voting stock or other equity interests is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Person or one or more Affiliates of the Person.
"TANGIBLE NET WORTH" is, on any date, the consolidated total assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries minus, (i) any amounts attributable to (a) goodwill, (b) intangible items such as unamortized debt discount and expense, Patents, trade and service marks and names, Copyrights and research and development expenses except prepaid expenses, and (c) reserves not already deducted from assets, and (ii) Total Liabilities.
"TOTAL LIABILITIES" is on any day, obligations that should, under GAAP, be classified as liabilities on Borrower's consolidated balance sheet, including all Indebtedness, and current portion Subordinated Debt allowed to be paid, but excluding all other Subordinated Debt.
BORROWER:
TASER International, Inc.
By: /s/ Kathleen Manrahan --------------------------------------- Title: Secretary & Chief Financial Officer |
BANK:
SILICON VALLEY BANK
By: /s/ Amy Lou Blunt --------------------------------------- Title: Vice President, Relationship Manager |
Exhibit 23.2
[AA LETTERHEAD]
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our report dated April 30, 2001 (and to all references to our firm) included in or made a part of Amendment #3 of the Registration Statement on Form SB-2.
Phoenix, Arizona
April 30, 2001