UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

January 26, 2018 (January 23, 2018)

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

 

SHINECO, INC.

(Exact Name of Small Business Issuer as Specified in Its Charter)

 

DELAWARE   001-37776   52-2175898

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Room 1001, Building T5,
DaZu Square, Daxing District,
Beijing, People’s Republic of China

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(+86) 10-87227366

(Issuer’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company   ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ¨

  

 

 

 

 

  

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On January 23, 2018, Shineco, Inc. (“ we ” or the “ Company ”) entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) with IFG OPPORTUNITY FUND LLC (“ IFG Fund ”) whereby, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, the Company has the right, from time to time in its sole discretion during the 24-month term of the Purchase Agreement, to direct IFG Fund to purchase up to a total of $15,000,000 (the “ Available Amount ”) of shares of common stock (the “ Shares ”), par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). The Shares are being offered in an indirect primary offering consisting of an equity line of credit (the “ Offering ”), in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement. The Offering is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) on January 26, 2018 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) and an accompanying prospectus dated November 21, 2017, under the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 declared effective by the SEC on December 19, 2017 (File No. 333-221711 ) (the “ Registration Statement ”).  Prior to the Company’s entry into the Purchase Agreement, as of January 23, 2018, 21,034,072 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding. Capitalized terms that are not defined herein shall have the same meanings as defined in the Purchase Agreement.

 

Concurrently with entering into the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement with IFG Fund (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), in which the Company agreed to prepare and file under the Securities Act and under its current registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-221711), if needed, one or more registration statements, as permissible and necessary, for the sale or potential sale of the shares of the Company’s common stock that have been and may be issued to IFG Fund under the Purchase Agreement.

 

As long as the Company provides one day prior written notice (the “Purchase Notice”), at any time on or after the date of the Purchase Agreement, until the earlier of (i) the date on which IFG Fund has purchased all Purchase Shares (not to exceed $15 million in the aggregate), or (ii) January 26, 2020 (such period, the “ Commitment Period ”), the Company has the right, in our sole discretion, to direct IFG Fund to purchase, on the following business day (such following business day after the Purchase Notice is herein referred to as the “Purchase Date”), purchase an amount of common stock equal to up to 10% of the aggregate shares of our Common Stock’s percentage (the “Share Purchase Amount”) traded on the then principal trading market (the “Principal Market”) during normal trading hours up to the a maximum number of shares determined by us (the “Purchase Share Volume Maximum”) and a minimum threshold sale price (the “Minimum Price Threshold”), which is equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock on the business day immediately preceding the Purchase Date or (b) such higher price as set forth by the Company in the Purchase Notice. The purchase price for the Share Purchase Amount is equal to:

 

  97% of the volume-weighted average price for our common stock traded on the Principal Market:

 

  on the Purchase Date, if the aggregate shares to be purchased on that date have not exceeded the Purchase Share Volume Maximum; or

 

  during that portion of the Purchase Date until such time as the sooner to occur of (i) the time at which the aggregate shares traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market exceed the Purchase Share Volume Maximum or (ii) the time at which the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock falls below the Minimum Price Threshold.

 

The Company and IFG Fund may not affect any sales under the Purchase Agreement on any Purchase Date where the closing sale price of our Common Stock on the date of the Purchase Notice is less than the Minimum Price Threshold, which shall be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction. We may deliver multiple Purchase Notices to IFG Fund from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement, so long as the most recent purchase has been completed.

 

The total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Purchase Agreement, including the Commitment Shares shall be limited to 4,200,000 shares of Common Stock, which is equal to approximately 19.99% of the common stock outstanding on the date of the Purchase Agreement; provided, however,  that at no time shall IFG Fund (together with its affiliates) beneficially own more than 19.99% of our then outstanding common stock .

 

The Company may deliver multiple Purchase Notices to IFG Fund from time to time during the term of the Purchase Agreement, so long as the most recent purchase has been completed.

 

Each Purchase Notice must be accompanied by instructions to the Company’s Transfer Agent to immediately issue to IFG Fund an amount of Common Stock equal to the Purchase Share Estimate, a good faith estimate by the Company of the number of Purchase Shares that IFG Fund shall have the obligation to buy pursuant to the Purchase Notice.

 

 

 

 

The Purchase Agreement provides that the Company and IFG Fund shall not effect any sales under the Purchase Agreement on any purchase date where the closing sale price of the Company’s Common Stock is a Minimum Price Threshold.  There are no trading volume requirements or restrictions under the Purchase Agreement, and the Company will control the timing and amount of sales of the Company’s Common Stock to IFG FUND.  IFG Fund has no right to require any sales by the Company, but is obligated to make purchases from the Company as directed by the Company in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.  There are no limitations on use of proceeds, financial or business covenants, restrictions on future fundings, rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement.  However, any proceeds that the Company receives under the Purchase Agreement are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include the Luobuma Industrial Project. The Purchase Agreement includes several events of default, including if we reach the Exchange Cap and do not receive the required stockholder approval to exceed such cap. So long as an event of default has occurred and is continuing, or if any event which, after notice and/or lapse of time, would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing, or so long as the closing sale price of our Common Stock is below the Minimum Price Threshold, the Company may not require and IFG Fund shall not be obligated or permitted to purchase any shares of Common Stock under the Purchase Agreement.

 

The Company may terminate the Purchase Agreement at any time, at its discretion, without any penalty or cost; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until one business day after IFG Fund receives same.

 

The Purchase Agreement shall automatically terminate on the date that the Company sells and IFG Fund purchases the full Available Amount, without any action or notice on the part of any party and without any liability whatsoever of any party to any other party under the Purchase Agreement except for those certain sections that are to survive termination.

 

If by January 26, 2020, which is 24 months from the date of the Company’s Prospectus Supplement, for any reason or for no reason the full Available Amount has not been purchased, the Purchase Agreement shall automatically terminate, without any action or notice on the part of any party and without any liability whatsoever of any party to any other party under the Purchase Agreement except for those certain sections that are to survive termination.

 

IFG Fund has agreed that neither it nor any of its agents, representatives and affiliates shall engage in any direct or indirect short-selling or hedging of the Company’s Common Stock during any time prior to the termination of the Purchase Agreement.

 

With regard to the purchase and resale of the Purchase Shares, IFG Fund is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). Any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in resales of Purchase Shares may be deemed “underwriters.” The Company will receive proceeds from the sale of the Purchase Shares to IFG Fund pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, however the Company will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the Purchase Shares by IFG Fund thereafter.

 

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and IFG Fund, including for liabilities under the Securities Act other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.

 

Copies of the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement are attached as Exhibit 1.1 and 10.1 to this Report and is incorporated by reference herein. The foregoing descriptions of the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are only a summary of the material terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, do not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.

 

In connection with the offering and sale of the Common Stock, the following exhibits are being filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement: (1) the Purchase Agreement (Exhibit 1.1); (2) the opinion of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li as to the validity of the sale and issuance of the Shares in the Offering (Exhibit 5.1); (3) the Registration Rights Agreement (Exhibit 10.1), and (3) the consent of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC (Exhibit 23.1, included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company, including, but not limited to, the statement regarding “Puts” pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including those risks detailed under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere included the Company’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. The Company cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Form 8-K as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
     
1.1   Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated January 23, 2018
5.1   Opinion of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
10.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 23, 2018
23.1   Consent of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)

 

 

 

 

   

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: January 26, 2018 By: /s/ Yuying Zhang
    Yuying Zhang, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 23, 2018, by and between Shineco, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and IFG OPPORTUNITY FUND LLC , a Georgia limited liability company (the “ Buyer ”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in Section 10 hereof.

 

WHEREAS:

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company wishes to sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer wishes to buy from the Company, up to Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 (the “ Common Stock ”).  The shares of Common Stock to be purchased hereunder are referred to herein as the “ Purchase Shares ”.

 

NOW THEREFORE , the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:

 

1.              PURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company has the right to sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer has the obligation to purchase from the Company, Purchase Shares as follows:

 

(a)           Commencement of Purchases of Common Stock . After the Commencement Date (as defined below), the purchase and sale of Purchase Shares hereunder shall occur from time to time upon written notices by the Company to the Buyer on the terms and conditions as set forth herein following the satisfaction of the conditions (the “ Commencement ”) as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below (the date of satisfaction of such conditions, the “ Commencement Date ”).

 

(b)           Purchases .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, with one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice (as long as such notice is delivered on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Business Day immediately preceding the Purchase Date), the Company shall have the right but not the obligation to direct the Buyer by the Company’s delivery to the Buyer of a Purchase Notice from time to time, and the Buyer thereupon shall have the obligation, to buy the Purchase Share Percentage of the trading volume of the Common Stock on the Purchase Date up to the Purchase Share Volume Maximum on the Purchase Date (each such purchase, a “ Purchase ”) at the Purchase Price.  Each Purchase Notice must be accompanied by instructions to the Company’s Transfer Agent to immediately issue to the Buyer an amount of Common Stock equal to the Purchase Share Estimate, a good faith estimate by the Company of the number of Purchase Shares that the Buyer shall have the obligation to buy pursuant to the Purchase Notice.  In no event shall the Buyer, pursuant to any Purchase, purchase a number of Purchase Shares that exceeds the Purchase Share Estimate issued on the Purchase Date in connection with such Purchase Notice; however, the Buyer will immediately return to the Company any amount of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Share Estimate that exceeds the number of Purchase Shares the Buyer actually purchases in connection with such Purchase.  Upon completion of each Purchase Date, the Buyer shall submit to the Company a confirmation of the Purchase in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company.  The Company may deliver additional Purchase Notices to the Buyer from time to time so long as the most recent purchase has been completed.  The Company is required to deliver Common Stock within 2 trading days of the applicable Purchase Date.  Each such purchase of Common Stock will have an individual closing (each a “Closing”) within 1 trading day following the end of the applicable Valuation Period. The “Valuation Period” shall be the period of 10 trading days immediately before and following the date on which the Purchase Shares are delivered to Buyer’s brokerage account.

 

(c)           Payment for Purchase Shares .  For each Purchase, the Buyer shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the Purchase Amount as full payment for such Purchase Shares via wire transfer of immediately available funds on the fifth Business Day following the Purchase Date. 

The Purchase Amount shall constitute the aggregate Purchase Price for the Common Stock to the Company, minus clearing costs payable to Buyer’s broker or to the transfer agent for the issuance of the shares (the “Clearing Costs”). All payments made under this Agreement shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America via wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Company may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.  Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Agreement is due on any day that is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day.

 

(d)           Purchase Price Floor .  The Company and the Buyer shall not affect any sales under this Agreement on any Purchase Date if the Closing Sale Price is below the Minimum Price Threshold.

 

(e)            Records of Purchases .  The Buyer and the Company shall each maintain records showing the remaining Available Amount at any given time and the dates and Purchase Amounts for each purchase, or shall use such other method reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer and the Company to reconcile the remaining Available Amount.

 

(f)           Taxes .  The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp or similar taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of any shares of Common Stock to the Buyer made under this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

(g)           Compliance with Principal Market Rules .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and in addition to the limitations set forth in Section 1(d), the total number of shares   of Common Stock that may be issued under this Agreement, excluding the Commitment Shares (as defined in Section 4(e) hereof), shall be limited to 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Exchange Cap ”),   which equals or is less than 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the date hereof, unless stockholder approval is obtained to issue more than such 19.99%.     The Exchange Cap shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction. The foregoing limitation shall not apply if stockholder approval has not been obtained and at any time the Exchange Cap is reached and at all times thereafter the average price paid for all shares of Common Stock issued under this Agreement is equal to or greater than the “ Minimum Price ”, a price equal to the Closing Sale Price on the date hereof (in such circumstance, for purposes of the Principal Market, the transaction contemplated hereby would not be “below market” and the Exchange Cap would not apply).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required or permitted to issue, and the Buyer shall not be required to purchase, any shares of Common Stock under this Agreement if such issuance would violate the rules or regulations of the Principal Market.

 

(h)            Beneficial Ownership Limitation .  The Company shall not issue and the Buyer shall not purchase any shares of Common Stock under this Agreement if such shares proposed to be issued and sold, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Stock then owned beneficially (as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated thereunder) by the Buyer and its affiliates would result in the beneficial ownership by the Buyer and its affiliates of more than 19.99% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

2.              BUYER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

 

The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that as of the date hereof and as of the Commencement Date:

 

(a)           Investment Purpose .  The Buyer is entering into this Agreement and acquiring the Commitment Shares (as defined in Section 4(e) hereof) and the Purchase Shares (the Purchase Shares and the Commitment Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities ”), for its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof; provided however, by making the representations herein, the Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term.

 

(b)           Accredited Investor Status .  The Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D of the 1933 Act.

 

(c)           Reliance on Exemptions .  The Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Buyer’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Buyer to acquire the Securities.

 

(d)           Information .  The Buyer has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities that have been reasonably requested by the Buyer, including, without limitation, the SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3(f) hereof).  The Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk.  The Buyer (i) is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities including a total loss, (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the proposed investment in the Securities and (iii) has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the officers of the Company concerning the financial condition and business of the Company and other matters related to an investment in the Securities.  Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by the Buyer or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect the Buyer’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in Section 3 below.  The Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

 

(e)           No Governmental Review .  The Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

(f)            Transfer or Sale .  The Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof): (i) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder or (B) an exemption exists permitting such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred without such registration; (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the  Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

 

 

 

 

(g)           Organization .  The Buyer is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

 

(h)           Validity; Enforcement .  This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Buyer and is a valid and binding agreement of the Buyer enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforceability to (i) general principles of equity and to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies and (ii) public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) with regards to indemnification, contribution or exculpation. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof) by the Buyer and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not conflict with the Buyer’s certificate of organization or operating agreement or similar documents, and do not require further consent or authorization by the Buyer, its managers or its members.

 

(i)            Residency .  The Buyer is a registered limited liability company in good standing in the State of Georgia.

 

(j)            No Prior Short Selling .  The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that at no time prior to the date of this Agreement has any of the Buyer, its agents, representatives or affiliates engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, any (i) “short sale” (as such term is defined in Section 242.200 of Regulation SHO of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”)) of the Common Stock or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock.

 

3.              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer that as of the date hereof and as of the Commencement Date:

 

(a)           Organization and Qualification .  The Company and its “Subsidiaries” (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns more than 50% of the voting stock or capital stock or other similar equity interests) are corporations or limited liability companies duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are incorporated or organized, and have the requisite corporate or organizational power and authority to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted.  Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  As used in this Agreement, “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any material adverse effect on any of: (i) the business, properties, assets, operations, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, or (ii) the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof).  The Company has no material Subsidiaries except as set forth on Schedule 3(a).

 

(b)           Authorization; Enforcement; Validity .  (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and each of the other agreements entered into by the parties on the Commencement Date and attached hereto as exhibits to this Agreement (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”), and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including without limitation, the issuance of the Commitment Shares and the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the Purchase Shares issuable under this Agreement, have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors or duly authorized committee thereof, do not conflict with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, and do not require further consent or authorization by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders (other than as contemplated by Section 1(g) hereof), (iii) this Agreement has been, and each other Transaction Document shall be on the Commencement Date, duly executed and delivered by the Company and (iv) this Agreement constitutes, and each other Transaction Document upon its execution on behalf of the Company, shall constitute, the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (y) general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies and (z) public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or states securities law, rule or regulation) with regards to indemnification, contribution or exculpation.  The Board of Directors of the Company or duly authorized committee thereof has approved the resolutions (the “ Signing Resolutions ”) substantially in the form as set forth as Exhibit B-1 attached hereto to authorize this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Signing Resolutions are valid, in full force and effect and have not been modified or supplemented in any material respect other than by the resolutions set forth in Exhibit B-2 attached hereto regarding the registration statement referred to in Section 4 hereof.  The Company has delivered to the Buyer a true and correct copy of the Signing Resolutions as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or an appropriate Board committee.

 

(c)           Capitalization .  As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001, of which as of the date hereof, 21,098,660 shares are issued and outstanding, zero shares are held as treasury shares, 500,000 shares are reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans, of which approximately zero share remain available for future option grants or stock awards, and 500,000 shares are issuable and reserved for issuance pursuant to securities (other than stock options or equity based awards issued pursuant to the Company’s stock incentive plans) exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which have been designated or are issued or outstanding.  All of such outstanding shares have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(c), (i) no shares of the Company’s capital stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company, (ii) there are no outstanding debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) there are no material agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except the Registration Rights Agreement), (v) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities as described in this Agreement and (vii) the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement.  The Company has furnished or made available to the Buyer true and correct copies of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Bylaws ”).

 

 

 

 

(d)           Issuance of Securities .  The Commitment Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, the Commitment Shares shall be (i) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof.  At least an additional 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock  have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon future purchase as Purchase Shares under this Agreement.  Upon issuance and payment therefor in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, such additional Purchase Shares shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock.

 

(e)           No Conflicts .  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Purchase Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company, or the Bylaws or (ii) constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or result, to the Company’s knowledge, in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Principal Market applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except in the case of defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations under clause (ii), which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company, or Bylaws or their organizational charter or bylaws, respectively.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or is in default under any material contract, agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for possible violations, defaults, terminations or amendments that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not being conducted, and shall not be conducted, in violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation of any governmental entity, except for possible violations, the sanctions for which either individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, reporting obligations under the 1934 Act or as required under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws or the filing of a Listing of Additional Shares Notification Form with the Principal Market, the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof.  Except for reporting obligations under the 1934 Act, all consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be obtained or effected on or prior to the Commencement Date.  The Company is not subject to any notices or actions from or to the Principal Market, other than routine matters incident to listing on the Principal Market and not involving a violation of the rules of the Principal Market.  To the Company’s knowledge, the Principal Market has not commenced any delisting proceedings against the Company.

 

(f)            SEC Documents; Financial Statements . Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(f), since September 30, 2017   , the Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “ SEC Documents ”).  As of their respective dates (except as they have been correctly amended), the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC (except as they may have been properly amended), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  As of their respective dates (except as they have been properly amended), the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.  Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(f) or routine correspondence, such as comment letters and notices of effectiveness in connection with previously filed registration statements or periodic reports publicly available on EDGAR, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are not presently the subject of any inquiry, investigation or action by the SEC.

 

 

 

 

(g)           Absence of Certain Changes .  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(g), since September 30, 2017, there has been no material adverse change in the business, properties, operations, financial condition or results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.  For purposes of this Agreement, neither a decrease in cash or cash equivalents nor losses incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business shall be deemed or considered a material adverse change.  The Company has not taken any steps, and does not currently expect to take any steps, to seek protection pursuant to any Bankruptcy Law nor does the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have any knowledge or reason to believe that its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.  The Company is financially solvent and is generally able to pay its debts as they become due .

 

(h)           Absence of Litigation .  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(h), to the Company’s knowledge, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or the Company’s Subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (each, an “ Action ”).  A description of each such Action, if any, is set forth in Schedule 3(h).

 

(i)            Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Status .  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The Company further acknowledges that the Buyer is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any advice given by the Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the Buyer’s purchase of the Securities.  The Company further represents to the Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives and advisors.

 

(j)           Intellectual Property Rights . To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all material trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted, except as set forth in Schedule 3(j) or to the extent that the failure to own, possess, license or otherwise hold adequate rights to use Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(j), to the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company’s active and registered Intellectual Property will expire or terminate by the terms and conditions thereof within two years from the date of this Agreement which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any Intellectual Property of others and, except as set forth on Schedule 3(j), there is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought against, or to the Company’s knowledge, being threatened against, the Company or its Subsidiaries regarding Intellectual Property, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k)           Environmental Laws .  To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in material compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment or human health and safety and with respect to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received all material permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in material compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where, in each of the three foregoing clauses, the failure to so comply or receive such approvals could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(l)            Title .  The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in Schedule 3(l) or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, to the Company’s knowledge, are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(m)          Insurance .  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be reasonable and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged.  To the Company’s knowledge, since September 30, 2017, neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary, to the Company’s knowledge, will be unable to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

 

(n)           Regulatory Permits .  The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, except when the failure to so possess such certificates, authorizations or permits could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such material certificate, authorization or permit.

 

(o)           Tax Status .  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has made or filed all federal and state income and all other material tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject (unless and only to the extent that the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has set aside on its books reserves reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and unreported taxes or filed valid extensions) and has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith.  To the Company’s knowledge, there are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction.

 

(p)           Transactions With Affiliates .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3(p), and other than the grant or exercise of stock options or any other equity securities offered pursuant to duly adopted stock or incentive compensation plans as disclosed on Schedule 3(c), as of the date hereof, none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for services as employees, officers and directors and reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company) that is required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents and is not disclosed, including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a material interest or is an officer, director, trustee or general partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any employee benefit plan of the Company.

 

(q)           Application of Takeover Protections .  The Company and its board of directors have taken or will take prior to the Commencement Date all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the state of its incorporation which is or could become applicable to the Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Buyer’s ownership of the Securities.

 

4.              COVENANTS.

 

(a)           Filing of Form 8-K and Registration Statement .  The Company agrees that it shall, within the time required under the 1934 Act, file a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing this Agreement and the transaction contemplated hereby.  The Company shall also file within thirty (30) Business Days from the date hereof a new registration statement covering the sale of the Securities by the Buyer in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Buyer, dated as of the date hereof (“ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

 

(b)           Blue Sky . The Company shall take such action, if any, as is reasonably necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify (i) the initial issuance of the Securities to the Buyer under this Agreement and (ii) any subsequent sale of the Securities by the Buyer, in each case, under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States in such states as is reasonably requested by the Buyer from time to time, and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyer.

 

(c)           Listing .  The Company shall promptly secure the listing of all of the Securities upon each national securities exchange and automated quotation system that requires an application by the Company for listing, if any, upon which shares of Common Stock are then listed (subject to official notice of issuance) and shall maintain such listing, so long as any other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the Common Stock’s listing on the Principal Market in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action that would be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on the Principal Market, unless the Common Stock is immediately thereafter traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the OTC Bulletin Board, or the OTCQB or OTCQX market places of the OTC Markets.  The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section.

 

(d)           Limitation on Short Sales and Hedging Transactions .  The Buyer agrees that beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 11(k), the Buyer and its agents, representatives and affiliates shall not in any manner whatsoever enter into or effect, directly or indirectly, any (i) “short sale” (as such term is defined in Section 242.200 of Regulation SHO of the 1934 Act) of the Common Stock or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

(e)           Issuance of Commitment Shares .  Immediately upon the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall issue to the Buyer as consideration for the Buyer entering into this Agreement 200,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Commitment Shares ”) The Commitment Shares shall be issued in certificated form and (subject to Section 5 hereof) shall bear a restrictive legend substantially similar to the following:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO: (1) RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (2) AN OPINION OF HOLDER’S COUNSEL, IN A CUSTOMARY FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

(f)            Due Diligence .  The Buyer shall have the right, from time to time as the Buyer may reasonably deem appropriate, to perform reasonable due diligence on the Company during normal business hours and subject to reasonable prior notice to the Company.  The Company and its officers and employees shall provide information and reasonably cooperate with the Buyer in connection with any reasonable request by the Buyer related to the Buyer’s due diligence of the Company, including, but not limited to, any such request made by the Buyer in connection with (i) the filing of the registration statement described in Section 4(a) hereof and (ii) the Commencement; provided, however, that at no time is the Company required or permitted to disclose material nonpublic information to the Buyer or breach any obligation of confidentiality or non-disclosure to a third party or make any disclosure that could cause a waiver of attorney-client privilege.  Except as may be required by law, court order or governmental authority, each party hereto agrees not to disclose any Confidential Information of the other party to any third party and shall not use the Confidential Information of such other party for any purpose other than in connection with, or in furtherance of, the transactions contemplated hereby.  Each party hereto acknowledges that the Confidential Information shall remain the property of the disclosing party and agrees that it shall take all reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of any Confidential Information disclosed by the other party.

 

(g)           Disposition of Securities .  The Buyer shall not sell any Securities except as provided in this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.  The Buyer shall not transfer any Securities except pursuant to sales described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act.  In the event of any sales of Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Buyer will (i) effect such sales pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, and (ii) will comply with all applicable prospectus delivery requirements.

  

5.              TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.

 

Immediately upon the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to the Transfer Agent a letter in the form as set forth as Exhibit D attached hereto with respect to the issuance of the Commitment Shares.  On the Commencement Date, the Company shall cause any restrictive legend on the Commitment Shares to be removed upon surrender of the originally issued certificate(s) for such shares.  So long as the Buyer complies with its obligations in Section 4(g), all of the additional Purchase Shares to be issued under this Agreement shall be issued without any restrictive legend unless the Buyer expressly consents otherwise.  The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent, and any subsequent transfer agent, to issue Common Stock in the name of the Buyer for the Purchase Shares (the “ Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions” ).  The Company warrants to the Buyer that, so long as the Buyer complies with its obligations in Section 4(g), no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section 5, will be given by the Company to the Transfer Agent with respect to the Purchase Shares and that the Commitment Shares and the Purchase Shares shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent provided in this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 4(e) in the case of the Commitment Shares.

 

6.             CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO COMMENCE SALES OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

 

The right of the Company hereunder to commence sales of the Purchase Shares is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions on or before the Commencement Date (the date that the Company may begin sales of Purchase Shares):

 

(a)           The Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents and delivered the same to the Company;

 

(b)           The representations and warranties of the Buyer shall be true and correct as of the Commencement Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specific date) and the Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Buyer at or prior to the Commencement Date; and

 

(c)           A registration statement covering the sale of the Securities by the Buyer shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act by the SEC and no stop order with respect to the registration statement shall be pending or threatened by the SEC.

 

 

 

 

7.              CONDITIONS TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO MAKE PURCHASES OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

 

The obligation of the Buyer to buy Purchase Shares under this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions on or before the Commencement Date (the date that the Company may begin sales of Purchase Shares) and once such conditions have been initially satisfied, there shall not be any ongoing obligation to satisfy such conditions after the Commencement has occurred:

 

(a)           The Company shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents and delivered the same to the Buyer;

 

(b)           The Company shall have issued to the Buyer the Commitment Shares and, in the event that the Buyer shall have surrendered the originally issued certificate(s), shall have removed the restrictive transfer legend from the certificate representing the Commitment Shares;

 

(c)           The Common Stock shall be authorized for quotation on the Principal Market, trading in the Common Stock shall not have been within the last 365 days suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market, other than a general halt in trading in the Common Stock by the Principal Market under halt codes indicating pending or released material news, and the Securities shall be approved for listing upon the Principal Market;

 

(d)           The Buyer shall have received the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel dated as of the Commencement Date in customary form and substance;

 

(e)           The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that any of such representations and warranties is already qualified as to materiality in Section 3 above, in which case, such representations and warranties shall be true and correct without further qualification) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Commencement Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specific date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Commencement Date.  The Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of the Commencement Date, to the foregoing effect in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ;

 

(f)           The Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have adopted resolutions substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 , which shall be in full force and effect without any amendment or supplement thereto as of the Commencement Date;

 

(g)           As of the Commencement Date, the Company shall have reserved out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting future purchases of Purchase Shares hereunder, 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock;

 

(h)           The Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in form acceptable to the Buyer shall have been signed by the Company and the Buyer and have been delivered to the Transfer Agent;

 

(i)           The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate evidencing the incorporation and good standing of the Company in the State of Delaware issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of a date within ten (10) Business Days of the Commencement Date;

 

(j)           [Intentionally Omitted.]

 

(k)           The Company shall have delivered to the Buyer a secretary’s certificate executed by the Secretary of the Company, dated as of the Commencement Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C ;

 

(l)           A registration statement covering the sale of (i) all of the Commitment Shares and (ii) such number of additional Purchase Shares as reasonably determined by the Company shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act by the SEC and no stop order with respect thereto shall be pending or threatened by the SEC.  The Company shall have prepared and delivered to the Buyer a final and complete form of prospectus, dated and current as of the Commencement Date, to be used by the Buyer in connection with any sales of any Securities, and to be filed by the Company one (1) Business Day after the Commencement Date pursuant to Rule 424(b).  The Company shall have made all filings under all applicable federal and state securities laws necessary to consummate the issuance of the Commitment Shares and the Purchase Shares pursuant to this Agreement in compliance with such laws;

 

(m)           No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or any event which, after notice and/or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default has occurred;

 

(n)           On or prior to the Commencement Date, the Company shall take all necessary action, if any, and such actions as reasonably requested by the Buyer, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, stockholder rights plan or poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the state of its incorporation, other than Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, that is or could become applicable to the Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Buyer’s ownership of the Securities; and

 

(o)           The Company shall have provided the Buyer with the information reasonably requested by the Buyer in connection with its due diligence requests made prior to, or in connection with, the Commencement, in accordance with the terms of Section 4(f) hereof.

 

 

 

 

8.            INDEMNIFICATION.

 

In consideration of the Buyer’s execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities hereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer and all of its affiliates, members, officers, directors, and employees, and any of the foregoing person’s agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company contained in the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee and arising out of or resulting from the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, other than with respect to Indemnified Liabilities which directly and primarily result from (A) a breach of any of the Buyer’s representations and warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or (B) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Buyer or any other Indemnitee.  To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law.

 

9.            EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

An “ Event of Default ” shall be deemed to have occurred at any time as any of the following events occurs:

 

(a)           while any registration statement is required to be maintained effective pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the effectiveness of such registration statement lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order) or is unavailable to the Buyer for the sale of all of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of ten (10) consecutive Business Days or for more than an aggregate of thirty (30) Business Days in any 365-day period, which is not in connection with a post-effective amendment to any such registration statement or the filing of a new registration statement; provided, however, that in connection with any post-effective amendment to such registration statement or filing of a new registration statement that is required to be declared effective by the SEC, such lapse or unavailability may continue for a period of no more than thirty (30) consecutive Business Days, which such period shall be extended for up to an additional thirty (30) Business Days if the Company receives a comment letter from the SEC in connection therewith;

 

(b)           the suspension from trading or failure of the Common Stock to be listed on a Principal Market for a period of three (3) consecutive Business Days;

 

(c)           the delisting of the Common Stock from the Principal Market, and the Common Stock is not immediately thereafter trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTCQB marketplace or OTCQX marketplace of the OTC Markets Group;

 

(d)           the failure for any reason by the Transfer Agent to issue Purchase Shares to the Buyer within five (5) Business Days after the applicable Purchase Date that the Buyer is entitled to receive;

 

(e)           the Company’s breach of any representation or warranty (as of the dates made), covenant or other term or condition under any Transaction Document if such breach could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except, in the case of a breach of a covenant which is reasonably curable, only if such breach continues uncured for a period of at least five (5) Business Days;

 

(f)           if any Person commences a proceeding against the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(g)           if the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law; (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (E) becomes insolvent;

 

(h)           a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary; or

 

(i)           if at any time after the Commencement Date, the Exchange Cap is reached unless and until stockholder approval is obtained pursuant to Section 1(g) hereof. The Exchange Cap shall be deemed to be reached at such time if, upon submission of a Purchase Notice under this Agreement, the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would exceed that number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue under this Agreement without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market.

 

 

 

 

In addition to any other rights and remedies under applicable law and this Agreement, including the Buyer termination rights under Section 11(k) hereof, so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if any event which, after notice and/or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing, or so long as the Closing Sale Price on the date of the Purchase Notice is below the Minimum Price Threshold, the Company may not require and the Buyer shall not be obligated or permitted to purchase any shares of Common Stock under this Agreement.  If pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, the Company commences a voluntary case or any Person commences a proceeding against the Company, a Custodian is appointed for the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or the Company makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (any of which would be an Event of Default as described in Sections 9(f), 9(g) and 9(h) hereof) this Agreement shall automatically terminate without any liability or payment to the Company without further action or notice by any Person.  No such termination of this Agreement under Section 11(k)(i) shall affect the Company’s or the Buyer’s obligations under this Agreement with respect to pending purchases and the Company and the Buyer shall complete their respective obligations with respect to any pending purchases under this Agreement.

 

10.           CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)           “ 1933 Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(b)           “ Available Amount ” means initially Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) in the aggregate which amount shall be reduced by the Purchase Amount each time the Buyer purchases shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 1 hereof.

 

(c)           “ Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

(d)           “ Business Day ” means any day on which the Principal Market is open for trading during normal trading hours (i.e., 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), including any day on which the Principal Market is open for trading for a period of time less than the customary time.

 

(e)           “ Closing Sale Price ” means the last closing trade price for the Common Stock on the Principal Market as reported by the Principal Market.

 

(f)           “ Confidential Information ” means any information disclosed by either party to the other party, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally or by inspection of tangible objects (including, without limitation, documents, prototypes, samples, plant and equipment), which is designated as “Confidential,” “Proprietary” or some similar designation. Information communicated orally shall be considered Confidential Information if such information is confirmed in writing as being Confidential Information within ten (10) Business Days after the initial disclosure. Confidential Information may also include information disclosed to a disclosing party by third parties. Confidential Information shall not, however, include any information which (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure by the disclosing party; (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure by the disclosing party to the receiving party through no action or inaction of the receiving party; (iii) is already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of disclosure by the disclosing party as shown by the receiving party’s files and records immediately prior to the time of disclosure; (iv) is obtained by the receiving party from a third party without a breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality; (v) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information, as shown by documents and other competent evidence in the receiving party’s possession; or (vi) is required by law to be disclosed by the receiving party, provided that the receiving party gives the disclosing party prompt written notice of such requirement prior to such disclosure and assistance in obtaining an order protecting the information from public disclosure.

 

(g)           “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

(h)           “ Maturity Date ” means the date that is twenty four (24) months from the Commencement Date.

 

(i)           “ Minimum Price Threshold ” means, with respect to any particular Purchase Notice, a sale price of the Common Stock on the Principal Market that is equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the Closing Sale Price on the Purchase Date or (ii) such higher price as set forth by the Company in the Purchase Notice.

 

(j)           “ Person ” means an individual or entity including any limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(k)           “ Principal Market ” means the Nasdaq Capital Market; provided however, that in the event the Company’s Common Stock is ever listed or traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market, the OTC Bulletin Board or either of the OTCQB marketplace or the OTCQX marketplace of the OTC Markets Group, then the “Principal Market” shall mean such other market or exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is then listed or traded.

 

(l)           “ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 

 

(m)           “ Transfer Agent ” means the transfer agent of the Company as set forth in Section 11(f) hereof or such other person who is then serving as the transfer agent for the Company in respect of the Common Stock.

 

(n)           “ Purchase Amount ” means, with respect to any particular Purchase Notice, the portion of the Available Amount to be purchased by the Buyer pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof as set forth in a valid Purchase Notice which requires the Buyer to buy the Purchase Share Percentage of the aggregate shares traded on the Principal Market during normal trading hours on the Purchase Date up to the Purchase Share Volume Maximum.

 

(o)           “ Purchase Date ” means, with respect to any Purchase made hereunder, the Business Day following the receipt by the Buyer of a valid Purchase Notice that the Buyer is to buy Purchase Shares pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof.

 

(p)           “ Purchase Notice ” shall mean an irrevocable written notice from the Company to the Buyer directing the Buyer to buy Purchase Shares on the Purchase Date pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof as specified by the Company therein at the applicable Purchase Price with the applicable Purchase Share Percentage specified therein.

 

(q)           “ Purchase Share Percentage ” means, with respect to any particular Purchase Notice pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof, the percentage set forth in the Purchase Notice which the Buyer will be required to buy as a specified percentage of the aggregate shares traded on the Principal Market during normal trading hours up to the Purchase Share Volume Maximum on the Purchase Date subject to Section 1(b)  hereof but in no event shall this percentage exceed ten percent (10%) of such Purchase Date’s share trading volume of the Common Stock on the Principal Market during normal trading hours.

 

(r)           “ Purchase Price ” means the ninety-seven percent (97%) of volume weighted average price for the Common Stock traded on the Principal Market during normal trading hours on (A) the Purchase Date if the aggregate shares traded on the Principal Market on the Purchase Date have not exceeded the Purchase Share Volume Maximum, or (B) the portion of the Purchase Date until such time as the sooner to occur of (1) the time at which the aggregate shares traded on the Principal Market has exceeded the Purchase Share Volume Maximum, or (2) the time at which the sale price of Common Stock falls below the Minimum Price Threshold (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction).

  

(s)           “ Purchase Share Estimate ” means the number of shares of Common Stock that the Company has in its sole discretion irrevocably instructed its Transfer Agent to issue to the Buyer via the Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program in connection with a Purchase Notice pursuant to Section 1(b) hereof and issued to the Buyer’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal At Custodian (DWAC) system on the Purchase Date (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction).

 

(t)           “ Purchase Share Volume Maximum ” means a number of shares of Common Stock traded on the Principal Market during normal trading hours on the Purchase Date equal to: (i) the Purchase Share Estimate, divided by (ii) the Purchase Share Percentage (to be appropriately adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction).

   

11.            MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)           Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial .  The corporate laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders.  All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Florida or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Florida.  Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of Sarasota, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents or in connection herewith or therewith, or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper.  Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.  EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(b)           Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile or pdf (or other electronic reproduction) signature shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile or PDF (or other electronic reproduction) signature.

 

(c)           Headings .  The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

(d)           Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

 

(e)           Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyer, the Company, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that is has not relied on, in any manner whatsoever, any representations or statements, written or oral, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(f)           Notices .  Any notices, consents or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); (iii) upon receipt, when sent by electronic message (provided the recipient responds to the message and confirmation of both electronic messages are kept on file by the sending party); or (iv) one (1) Business Day after timely deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Company:
   
SHINECO, INC.
2nd Floor, Wanyuan Business Center
10 N Hongda Road
Daxing District, Beijing
People’s Republic of China
Telephone: (+86) 10-87227366
Facsimile:  
Attention: Yuying Zhang, CEO
Email:  
   
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
   
Ying Li, Esq.
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li, LLC
1450 Broadway, Floor 26
New York, NY 10018
Tel: (212) 530-2210
Facsimile: (212) 202-6380
   
If to the Buyer:
   
IFG Opportunity Fund LLC
6151 Lake Osprey Dr. Ste 300
Sarasota, Florida 34240
Telephone: 941-227-4102
Facsimile:  
Attention: Anthony Gentile
Email: tgentile@useifg.com
   
   
If to the Transfer Agent:
   
Island Stock Transfer, L.L.C.
15500 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 301
Clearwater, FL 33760
Telephone: 727-289-0010
Facsimile: 727.289.0069
Attention:  
Email: info@islandstocktransfer.com

 

or at such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party one (1) Business Day prior to the effectiveness of such change.  Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, and recipient facsimile number , (C) electronically generated by the sender’s electronic mail containing the time, date and recipient email address or (D) provided by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, shall be rebuttable evidence of receipt in accordance with clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, respectively.

 

 

 

 

(g)           Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns.  The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Buyer, including by merger or consolidation; provided, however, that any transaction, whether by merger, reorganization, restructuring, consolidation, financing or otherwise, whereby the Company remains the surviving entity immediately after such transaction shall not be deemed a succession or assignment.  The Buyer may not assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement.

 

(h)           No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.

 

(i)           Publicity .  The Buyer shall have the right to approve before issuance any press release, SEC filing or any other public disclosure made by or on behalf of the Company whatsoever with respect to, in any manner, the Buyer, its purchases hereunder or any aspect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of the Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure (including any filings with the SEC) with respect to such transactions as is required by applicable law and regulations so long as the Company and its counsel consult with the Buyer in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure at least two (2) Business Days prior to its release.  The Buyer must be provided with a copy thereof at least one (1) Business Day prior to any release or use by the Company thereof.

 

(j)           Further Assurances .  Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(k)           Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated only as follows:

 

(i)           By the Buyer any time an Event of Default exists without any liability or payment to the Company.  However, if pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, the Company commences a voluntary case or any Person commences a proceeding against the Company, a Custodian is appointed for the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or the Company makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (any of which would be an Event of Default as described in Sections 9(f), 9(g) and 9(h) hereof) this Agreement shall automatically terminate without any liability or payment to the Company without further action or notice by any Person.  No such termination of this Agreement under this Section 11(k)(i) shall affect the Company’s or the Buyer’s obligations under this Agreement with respect to pending purchases and the Company and the Buyer shall complete their respective obligations with respect to any pending purchases under this Agreement.

 

(ii)           In the event that the Commencement shall not have occurred the Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement for any reason or for no reason without any liability whatsoever of either party to the other party under this Agreement except as set forth in Section 11(k)(viii) hereof.

 

(iii)           In the event that the Commencement shall not have occurred on or before December 31, 2018, due to the failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above with respect to the Commencement, either party shall have the option to terminate this Agreement at the close of business on such date or thereafter without liability of either party to any other party   ; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 11(k)(iii) shall not be available to either party if such failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 is the result of a breach of this Agreement by such party or the failure of any representation or warranty of such party included in this Agreement to be true and correct in all material respects.

 

(iv)           At any time after the Commencement Date, the Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement for any reason or for no reason by delivering notice (a “ Company Termination Notice ”) to the Buyer electing to terminate this Agreement without any liability whatsoever of either party to the other party under this Agreement except as set forth in Section 11(k)(viii) hereof.  The Company Termination Notice shall not be effective until one (1) Business Day after it has been received by the Buyer.

 

(v)           This Agreement shall automatically terminate on the date that the Company sells and the Buyer purchases the full Available Amount as provided herein, without any action or notice on the part of any party and without any liability whatsoever of any party to any other party under this Agreement except as set forth in Section 11(k)(viii) hereof.

 

(vi)           If by the Maturity Date for any reason or for no reason the full Available Amount under this Agreement has not been purchased as provided for in Section 1 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall automatically terminate on the Maturity Date, without any action or notice on the part of any party and without any liability whatsoever of any party to any other party under this Agreement except as set forth in Section 11(k)(viii) hereof.

 

(vii)           Except as set forth in Sections 11(k)(i) (in respect of an Event of Default under Sections 9(f), 9(g) and 9(h)), 11(k)(iv), 11(k)(v) and 11(k)(vi), any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11(k) shall be effected by written notice from the Company to the Buyer, or the Buyer to the Company, as the case may be, setting forth the basis for the termination hereof.

 

 

 

 

(viii)           The representations and warranties of the Company and the Buyer contained in Sections 2, 3 and 5 hereof, the indemnification provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 4(e), 4(g) and 11, shall survive the Commencement and any termination of this Agreement.  No termination of this Agreement shall affect the Company’s or the Buyer’s rights or obligations (A) under the Registration Rights Agreement, which shall survive any such termination in accordance with its terms, or (B) under this Agreement with respect to pending purchases and the Company and the Buyer shall complete their respective obligations with respect to any pending purchases under this Agreement.

 

(l)           No Financial Advisor, Placement Agent, Broker or Finder .  The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer that it has not engaged any financial advisor, placement agent, broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that it has not engaged any financial advisor, placement agent, broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.  Each party shall be responsible for the payment of any fees or commissions, if any, of any financial advisor, placement agent, broker or finder engaged by such party relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby.  Each party shall pay, and hold the other party harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and out of pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such claim.

 

(m)           No Strict Construction .  The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

(n)           Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver .  No failure or delay in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Company have caused this Common Stock Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

  THE COMPANY :
     
  SHINECO, INC.
     
     
  By: /s/ Yuying Zhang
  Name: Yuying Zhang
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
     
  BUYER :
     
  IFG OPPORTUNITY FUND LLC
     
  By: /s/ Anthony Gentile
  Name: Anthony Gentile
  Title: Managing Member

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

January 26, 2018

 

Shineco, Inc.

2nd Floor, Wanyuan Business Center

10 N Hongda Road

Daxing District, Beijing

People’s Republic of China

 

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Shineco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the offer and sale by the Company of up to $15,000,000 in aggregate offering price (the “ Purchase Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), pursuant to the terms of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of January 23, 2018 by and among the Company and IFG Opportunity Fund LLC (“IFG”). Additional shares of Common Stock offered under the Purchase Agreement are 200,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued to IFG in consideration for entering into the Purchase Agreement (the “ Commitment Shares ,” together with the Purchase Shares, the “ Shares ”). The total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Purchase Agreement, including the Commitment Shares shall be limited to 4,200,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

The Shares are being offered and sold under a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-221711, as amended or supplemented, and together with all annexes and exhibits thereto, the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), the related prospectus included within the Registration Statement (the “ Base Prospectus ”), and the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities Act of even date herewith (collectively with the Base Prospectus, the “ Prospectus ”). All of the Shares are to be sold by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. We have assumed that IFG is considered the “underwriter”, within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with its purchase and subsequent resale of that portion of the Shares that consists of the Purchase Shares.

 

We understand that the Shares are to be offered and sold in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.

 

This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

As such counsel, in connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of such records, documents, certificates, opinions, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below, including (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Prospectus, (iii) organizational documents of the Company, including the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as currently in effect, (iv) minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company with respect to the authorization of the sale and issuance of the Shares, and (v) the Purchase Agreement. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents where due authorization, execution and delivery are a prerequisite to the effectiveness thereof.

 

On the basis of the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the qualifications herein stated, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when sold and issued in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

 

 

 

We have not examined and we do not express any opinion or belief herein concerning any laws other than, to the extent expressly set forth herein, the United States federal securities laws, the Delaware General Corporation Law and the laws of the State of New York (collectively, the “ Laws ”), and we express no opinion as to the extent to which the laws of any jurisdiction other than those identified above are applicable to the subject matter hereof . We are not members of the Bar of the State of Delaware and have not obtained any opinions of local counsel. Insofar as the opinions expressed herein relate to matters of the United States federal securities laws or regulations or matters of Delaware General Corporation Law, we have relied exclusively on the latest standard compilations of such statutes and laws as reproduced in commonly accepted unofficial publications available to us.

 

We confirm that we furnish no opinion with respect to the truth and accuracy or the completeness of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. The opinions we express herein are limited to matters involving the Laws and are further expressly limited to the matters set forth herein and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Shares or any of the Company’s other securities. Accordingly, no provision of this letter is intended to be, nor shall any such provision be construed as, an opinion concerning any matter not specified in this letter.

 

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of the date hereof filed by the Company and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. In addition, we consent to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The opinion specified in this letter is as of the date of this letter, and we assume no obligation to update or supplement the opinion set forth herein to reflect any changes of law or fact that may occur.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC

 

Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 23, 2018, by and between SHINECO, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and IFG OPPORTUNITY FUND LLC , a Georgia limited liability company (the “ Investor ”).

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.       In connection with a certain COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT entered into by and between the parties hereto of even date herewith (the “ COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT ”), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, to issue and sell to the Investor up to four million shares (4,000,000) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), which can be purchased pursuant to the terms of the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

 

B.       To induce the Investor to execute the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “ Securities Act ”), and applicable state securities laws.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:

 

1.        DEFINITIONS .

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

a.       “ Person ” means a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.

 

b.       “ Register ,” “ registered ,” and “ registration ” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis (“ Rule 415 ”), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”).

 

c.       “ Registrable Securities ” means the Purchase Shares that may from time to time be issued or issuable to the Investors, as defined in the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

 

d.       “ Registration Statement ” means a registration statement under the Securities Act which covers the Registrable Securities.

 

2.        REGISTRATION .

 

a.        Mandatory Registration . The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or on such other form as is available, no later than 30 calendar days from the date hereof (the “ Scheduled Filing Deadline ”). The Company shall cause such Registration Statement to be declared effe ctive by the SEC prior to the first sale to the Investor of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT but in no event later than two hundred and forty (240) calendar days from the date hereof (the “ Scheduled Effective Deadline ”). The Company shall cause the Registration Statement to remain effective until the full completion of the Commitment Period (as such term is defined in the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT). The Company shall within two (2) Business Days from the Commencement Date file with the SEC a prospectus supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement specifically relating to the Registrable Securities (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”).  The Buyer and its counsel shall have had a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon such Prospectus Supplement prior to its filing with the SEC. The Buyer shall furnish all information reasonably requested by the Company for inclusion therein. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the 1933 Act and available for sales of all of the Registrable Securities at all tim es until the earlier of (i) the Company no longer qualifies to make sales under the Shelf Registration Statement (which shall be understood to include the inability of the Company to immediately register sales of Registrable Securities to the Buyer under the Shelf Registration Statement or any New Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3), (ii) the date on which the Company shall have sold all the Registrable Securities and no Available Amount remains under the Purchase Agreement, or (iii) the date on which the Purchase Agreement is terminated (the “ Registration Period ”).

 

 

 

 

b.        Sufficient Number of Shares Registered . In the event the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixty (60) days after the necessity therefore arises. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, until the earlier of (i) the Company no longer qualifies to make sales under the Shelf Registration Statement (which shall be understood to include the inability of the Company to immediately register sales of Registrable Securities to the Buyer under the Shelf Registration Statement or any New Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3), (ii) the date on which the Company shall have sold all the Registrable Securities and no Available Amount remains under the Purchase Agreement, or (iii) the date on which the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT is terminated (the “ Registration Period ”).. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed “insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities” if at any time the number of Registrable Securities issuable on an Advance Notice Date is greater than the number of shares available for resale under such Registration Statement.

 

3.        RELATED OBLIGATIONS .

 

a.       The Company shall keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the end of the Registration Period , which Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

b.       The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company’s filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into the Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.

 

c.       The Company shall furnish to the Investor without charge, (i) at least one copy of such Registration Statement as declared effective by the SEC and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) ten (10) copies of the final prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.

 

d.       The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (w) make any change to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify the Investor of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

 

 

 

e.       The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts either to cause all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement (i) to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or to secure the inclusion for quotation on the OTC Bulletin Board for such Registrable Securities if the Principal Market (as such term is defined in the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT) is an automated quotation system. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section.

 

f.       The Company shall cooperate with the Investor to the extent applicable, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Investor may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investor may request.

 

g.       The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

h.       The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.

 

i.       Within two (2) business days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investor) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

j.       The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investor of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

4.       OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTOR.

 

a. The Investor has furnished to the Company in Exhibit A hereto such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. The Company shall notify the Investor in writing of any other information the Company reasonably requires from the Buyer in connection with any Registration Statement hereunder. The Investor will as promptly as practicable notify the Company of any material change in the information set forth in Exhibit A, other than changes in its ownership of the Common Stock.

 

b. The Investor agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement hereunder.

 

5.        EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION .

 

All reasonable expenses of the Company, other than sales or brokerage commissions and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Buyer, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, shall be paid by the Company.

 

 

 

 

6.        INDEMNIFICATION .

 

With respect to Registrable Securities which are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

 

a.       To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Investor, the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively, “ Claims ”) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (“ Indemnified Damages ”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“ Blue Sky Filing ”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation there under relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, “ Violations ”). The Company shall reimburse the Investor and each such controlling person promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or disbursements or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (x) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (y) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(e); and (z) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person.

 

b.       In connection with a Registration Statement, the Investor agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or is based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), the Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to the Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the prospectus was corrected and such new prospectus was delivered to the Investor prior to the Investor’s use of the prospectus to which the Claim relates.

 

 

 

 

c.       Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

d.       The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.

 

e.       The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.

 

7.        CONTRIBUTION .

 

To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.

 

8.        REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT .

 

With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration (“ Rule 144 ”) the Company agrees to:

 

a.       make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

 

b.       file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company’s obligations under Section 6.3 of the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

 

 

 

 

c.       furnish to the Investor so long as the Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

 

9.        AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS .

 

Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only by a written agreement between the Company and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9 shall be binding upon the Investor and the Company. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

10.        MISCELLANEOUS .

 

a.       A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.

 

b.       Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

 

 

 

 

If to the Company, to:

SHINECO, INC.

2nd Floor, Wanyuan Business Center

10 N Hongda Road

Daxing District, Beijing

People’s Republic of China

Telephone:   (+86) 10-87227366

Facsimile:                                         

Attention: Yuying Zhang, CEO

Email:

   
With a copy to:

Ying Li, Esq.

Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li, LLC

1450 Broadway, Floor 26

New York, NY 10018

Tel: (212) 530-2210

Facsimile: (212) 202-6380 

   
If to the Investor, to:

IFG Opportunity Fund LLC

6151 Lake Osprey Dr. Ste 300

Sarasota, Florida 34240

Telephone: 941-227-4102

Facsimile:                                         

Attention: Anthony Gentile

Email: tgentile@useifg.com

   
If to the Transfer Agent:

Island Stock Transfer, L.L.C.

15500 Roosevelt Blvd, Suite 301

Clearwater, FL 33760

Telephone: 727-289-0010

Facsimile: 727.289.0069

Attention:                                         

Email: info@islandstocktransfer.com 

 

Any party may change its address by providing written notice to the other parties hereto at least five days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

c.       Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.

 

d.       The corporate laws of the State of California shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and the Investor. All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of California and the Federal District Courts for the State of California, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

 

 

 

e.       This Agreement and the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

g. . To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.

 

h.       The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

i.       This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

 

j.       Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

k.       The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

l.       This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.

 

 

SHINECO, INC.

   
   
  By: /s/ Yuying Zhuang
  Name: Yuying Zhuang
  Title: CEO
   
   
  IFG OPPORTUNITY FUND LLC
   
   
  By: /s/ Anthony Gentile
  Name: Anthony Gentile
  Title: Managing Member

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Information About The Investor Furnished To The Company By The Investor

Expressly For Use In Connection With The Registration Statement and Prospectus

 

Anthony Gentile is the sole Managing Member of IFG Opportunity Fund LLC (“IFG Fund”).