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

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 21, 2020 (December 16, 2020)

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   001-33672   52-2007292

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Commission File No.)   (IRS Employee Identification No.)

 

20271 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown, Maryland 20876

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(301) 366-4960

(Issuer Telephone number)

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

x 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))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Class   Trading Symbol   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share   SNCA   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company 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.

 

Merger Agreement and Transaction

 

On December 16, 2020, Seneca Biopharma, Inc. (the “Company” or “Seneca”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“LBS”), and Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”). Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions described in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into LBS (the “Merger”), with LBS surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Merger is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”):

 

(a) Each share of LBS’s common stock (“LBS Common Stock”) and each share of LBS’s preferred stock (“LBS Preferred Stock” and together with LBS Common Stock, “LBS Capital Stock”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, excluding any dissenting shares but including any shares of LBS Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Pre-Merger Financing (as defined below) will be automatically converted solely into the right to receive a number of shares of the Company’s common stock (“Company Common Stock”) equal to the exchange ratio described below.

 

(b) Each option to purchase shares of LBS Common Stock (each, a “LBS Option”) that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time under LBS’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “LBS Plan”), whether or not vested, will be converted into and become an option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock, and the Company will assume the LBS Plan and each such LBS Option in accordance with the terms of the LBS Plan (the “Assumed Options”). The number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each Assumed Option will be determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares of LBS Common Stock that were subject to such Assumed Option, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (ii) the exchange ratio, and rounding the resulting number down to the nearest whole number of shares of Company Common Stock, and the per share exercise price for the Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of each Assumed Option will be determined by dividing (A) the per share exercise price of such Assumed Option, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (B) the exchange ratio and rounding the resulting per share exercise price up to the nearest whole cent. Any restriction on the exercise of any Assumed Option will continue in full force and effect and the term, exercisability, vesting schedule, accelerated vesting provisions, and any other provisions of such Assumed Option will otherwise remain unchanged.

 

(c) Each warrant to purchase shares of LBS Common Stock (the “LBS Warrants”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be assumed by the Company and converted into warrants to purchase Company Common Stock (the “Assumed Warrants”) and thereafter (i) each Assumed Warrant may be exercised solely for shares of Company Common Stock; (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each Assumed Warrant will be determined by multiplying (A) the number of shares of LBS Common Stock that were subject to such LBS Warrant, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (B) the exchange ratio, and rounding the resulting number down to the nearest whole number of shares of Company Common Stock; (iii) the per share exercise price for the Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of each Assumed Warrant will be determined by dividing (A) the exercise price per share of the LBS Capital Stock subject to such LBS Warrant, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (B) the exchange ratio, and rounding the resulting exercise price up to the nearest whole cent.

 

The Merger Agreement provides that certain milestone payments may become payable for each share of LBS Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding (i) shares of LBS Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Pre-Merger Financing, (ii) shares of LBS Capital Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of LBS Options or LBS Warrants, unless exercised prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) dissenting shares) (the “Milestone Recipients”). A milestone payment may be made following the 135th day following the final Reset Date (as defined below) to the extent any Converted Additional Shares (as defined below) not issued to the investor in the Pre-Merger Financing are returned from escrow to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Pre-Merger Financing. If this occurs, the Milestone Recipients will be entitled to receive additional shares of Company Common Stock equal to the number of Converted Additional Shares that are returned to the Company, on a pro rata basis to each such Milestone Recipient. Further, a Milestone Payment may also be made if the proceeds from a Legacy Monetization (as defined below) have not been received, or any portion thereof, by the Company within 60 days following the Closing (as defined below) or such later date at the Company’s election (to the extent the proceeds of such potential Legacy Monetization were included in the calculation of the Company’s net cash at Closing) (the “Asset Milestone Payment”).

 

 

 

Under the exchange ratio formula in the Merger Agreement, the equityholders of LBS immediately prior to the Closing of the Merger (inclusive of the investor in the Pre-Merger Financing) are expected to own approximately 73.8% of the aggregate number of outstanding Company Capital Stock immediately after the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing”), and the equityholders of the Company immediately prior to the Closing of the Merger are expected to own approximately 26.2% of the aggregate number of outstanding Company Capital Stock immediately after the Closing, in each case as calculated on an adjusted fully diluted treasury stock method basis and after giving effect to the Pre-Merger Financing (as defined below), but including 50% of the shares subject to the Equity Warrants (as defined below), and subject to certain assumptions, including that the (i) proceeds of the Pre-Merger Financing being equal to at least $20,000,000 and (ii) the net cash of the Company being between $4,500,000 and $5,000,000.

 

Following the Closing, Thomas Hallam, Ph.D., will serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, following the Closing, the board of directors of the Company (“Company Board”) will consist of eight directors and will be comprised of five members designated by LBS and three members designated by the Company.

 

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants made by LBS and the Company, including covenants relating to obtaining the requisite approvals of each of the stockholders of LBS and the Company, indemnification of directors and officers, and LBS’s and the Company’s conduct of their respective businesses between the date of signing the Merger Agreement and the Closing.

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company will prepare and file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”), in which a proxy statement will be included (the “Proxy Statement”) and seek the approval of the Company’s stockholders with respect to certain actions, including (i) the amendment of the Company’s certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock at a reverse stock split ratio in a range to be mutually agreed by the Company and LBS, to be effective immediately prior to the Merger, (ii) the issuance of Company Common Stock that represents more than 20% of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Closing to the LBS stockholders in connection with the Merger and related transactions and the change of control of the Company resulting therefrom, in each case pursuant to the Nasdaq rules, (iii) a new equity incentive plan, (iv) a new employee stock purchase plan, and (v) on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation that may be paid or become payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the completion of the Merger (collectively, the “Company Stockholder Matters”).

 

The Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including among other things: (i) the required approvals by the parties’ stockholders, (ii) the accuracy of the parties’ representations and warranties, subject to certain materiality qualifications, (iii) compliance by the parties with their respective covenants, (iv) no law or order preventing the Merger and related transactions, (v) the continuous listing of the Company Common Stock on Nasdaq from the date of the Merger Agreement through the Closing Date, (vi) the shares of Company Common Stock to be issued in the Merger being approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on Nasdaq as of the Closing and (vii) the Registration Statement having become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and not being subject to any stop order or proceeding (or threatened proceeding by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) seeking a stop order with respect to the Registration Statement which has not been withdrawn.

 

The Merger Agreement contains certain customary termination rights, including, among others: (i) mutual written consent of the Company and LBS, (ii) the right of either the Company or LBS to terminate the Merger Agreement if the Company’s stockholders fail to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement, (iii) the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement if the other party’s board of directors changes or withdraws its recommendation in favor of the Merger and related transactions, (vi) the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger has not occurred within seven months of the date of the Merger Agreement, subject to certain conditions, provided that such date may be extended, in certain circumstances, (v) the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement due to a material breach by the other party of any of its representations, warranties or covenants which would result in the closing conditions not being satisfied, subject to certain conditions, and (vi) the right of either party, if a court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental body issues a final and non-appealable order, decree or ruling, or has taken any other action, having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and related transactions.

 

 

 

If the Merger Agreement is terminated (1) by LBS in certain circumstances, including in the event of a termination in connection with a change in recommendation by the LBS board of directors, then a termination fee of $1.5 million will be payable by LBS to the Company, (2) by the Company in connection with entering into a definitive agreement in connection with a superior offer, a termination fee of $1.5 million will be payable by the Company to LBS, and (3) in certain circumstances the parties have agreed to expense reimbursement of up to $250,000.

 

Support Agreements

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the officers and directors of the Company entered into support agreements in favor of LBS relating to the Merger covering less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, as of the date of the Merger Agreement (the “Company Support Agreements”). The Company Support Agreements provide, among other things, that the officers and directors that are a party to the Company Support Agreements will vote all of their respective shares of Company Common Stock held by them in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement and approving the Merger and related transactions, and the Company Stockholder Matters.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain officers, directors and stockholders of LBS (the “LBS Supporting Stockholders”) entered into support agreements in favor of the Company covering approximately 65.15% of the outstanding shares of LBS Capital Stock, as of the date of the Merger Agreement (the “LBS Support Agreements,” and together with the Company Support Agreements, the “Support Agreements”). The LBS Support Agreements provide, among other things, that the LBS Supporting Stockholders will vote all of the shares of LBS Capital Stock held by them in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement and approving the Merger, matters set forth in the LBS stockholder written consent, and the other actions and transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. However, in the event the LBS board of directors changes its recommendation regarding the approval of the Merger, then the obligation of the LBS Supporting Stockholders to vote their shares of LBS Capital Stock will be modified and the LBS Supporting Stockholders will only be required to collectively vote an aggregate number of LBS Capital Stock equal to 35% of the total voting power of the outstanding LBS Capital Stock.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the officers and directors of the Company entered into lock-up agreements (the “Company Lock-Up Agreements”), pursuant to which such officers, and directors accepted certain restrictions on transfers of the shares of Company Common Stock held by such officer, director or stockholder during the period commencing upon the Effective Time and ending on the date that is 180 days after the date of Closing.

 

The officers, directors and certain stockholders of LBS (solely in their respective capacities as LBS stockholders) previously entered into lock-up arrangements, pursuant to which such individuals have agreed not to, except in limited circumstances, transfer or dispose of, any shares of the Company Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of the Company Common Stock, including, as applicable, shares received in the Merger and issuable upon exercise of LBS Warrants and LBS Options, for a period of 180 days after the date of Closing. In addition, in connection with the Pre-Merger Financing, the officers and directors of LBS will enter into lock-up arrangements (the “LBS Lock-Up Agreements”), pursuant to which such officers and directors have agreed not to, except in limited circumstances, transfer or dispose of, any shares of the Company Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of the Company Common Stock, including, as applicable, shares received in the Merger and issuable upon exercise of certain warrants and stock options, for a period of 90 days after the earliest of (x) the Registrable Securities (as defined below) may be sold without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1), (y) the one (1) year anniversary of the Pre-Merger Financing closing date, and (z) the date that the Initial Registration Statement (as defined below) has been declared effective by the SEC, except for certain exceptions.

 

 

 

Contingent Value Rights Agreement

 

Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company, an agent to be determined (the “CVR Agent”) and a representative to be determined (the “CVR Holders’ Representative”) will enter into a Contingent Value Rights Agreement (the “CVR Agreement”). Pursuant to the CVR Agreement, each share of Company Common Stock held by Seneca stockholders of record immediately prior to the Effective Time will receive one contingent value right (“CVR”) entitling holders of such shares (the “CVR Holders”) to receive certain net proceeds, if any, derived from the sale or license of all or any part of the intellectual property owned, licensed or controlled by Seneca that is necessary for the operation of the business of Seneca as conducted as of the Effective Time and in existence as of the Effective Time (the “Seneca Legacy Technology”) pursuant to an agreement entered into: (i) during the period beginning at the Effective Time and ending on the date that is 18 months following the Effective Time or (ii) prior to the Effective Time and not consummated prior to the Asset Milestone Payment (a “Legacy Monetization”) and entitled to be received prior to the 48-month anniversary of the Effective Time. The CVRs will not be transferable by the CVR Holders, except in certain limited circumstances, will not have any voting or dividend rights, will not be certificated or evidenced by any instrument, will not accrue interest and will not be registered with the SEC or listed for trading on any exchange. Each CVR will entitle the CVR Holder to receive a pro rata portion of 80% of the net proceeds, if any, from each respective Legacy Monetization event

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement, the CVR Agreement, the Company Support Agreements, the LBS Support Agreements, the Company Lock-Up Agreements and the LBS Lock-Up Agreements, are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to those agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.1, 2.2, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4, respectively, to this report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Pre-Merger Financing

 

Securities Purchase Agreement (Bridge Financing)

 

In connection with signing the Merger Agreement, LBS entered into a securities purchase agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020 (the “Bridge SPA”) with an institutional investor (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Investor has agreed to purchase, and LBS agreed to issue, senior secured promissory notes (the “Bridge Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of up to $5.0 million, in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of up to $3.75 million, representing an aggregate original issue discount of up to $1.25 million (the “Bridge Loan”). Pursuant to the terms of the Bridge SPA, the Investor agreed to purchase the Bridge Notes in three closings: (i) the first closing for $1,666,666.67 in aggregate principal amount (in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of $1.25 million), which closed on December 17, 2020; (ii) the second closing for $1,666,666.67 in aggregate principal amount (in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of $1.25 million), which is currently anticipated to close on February 1, 2021; and (iii) a third closing for $1,666,666.66 in aggregate principal amount (in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of $1.25 million), which would be required to close before the closing of the Merger, if at all, at the election of LBS. The Bridge Notes bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum (25% premium upon the occurrence of an event of default thereunder) and are repayable upon the earlier of (i) June 17, 2021 (provided that such date will be extended by 120 days if the Merger does not close solely for reasons outside of LBS’s control), (ii) the date on which LBS’s equity is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or is exchanged for equity so registered or (iii) immediately prior to the closing under the Equity SPA (as defined below). The Bridge Notes are secured by a lien on all of LBS’s assets, other than intellectual property. In addition, upon the funding of each tranche as described above, the Investor shall also receive warrants to purchase such number of shares of LBS Common Stock equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Bridge Notes issued at such funding divided by the initial per share exercise price of $0.4816 (the “Bridge Warrants”), subject to adjustment as disclosed below. The Bridge Warrants shall have a term of five years from the date all of the shares underlying the Bridge Warrants have been registered for resale, and the exercise price shall be subject to price-only full ratchet anti-dilution protection upon the issuance of any shares of LBS Common Stock or securities convertible into LBS Common Stock for a period of two years from the effective date of the registration statement covering such shares. The Bridge Warrants also contain certain participation rights with regard to asset distributions and fundamental transactions. As a result of the Merger, at the Effective Time, each Bridge Warrant will automatically be converted into a warrant to purchase that number of shares of Company Common Stock equal to the number of shares underlying the Bridge Warrants immediately prior to the closing of the Merger multiplied by the Exchange Ratio and the exercise price shall be proportionately adjusted.

 

 

 

Securities Purchase Agreement (Equity Financing)

 

In connection with signing the Merger Agreement, on December 16, 2020, LBS, Seneca and the Investor entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Equity SPA”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Investor agreed to invest $20.0 million in cash and cancel any outstanding principal and interest on the Bridge Notes immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (the aggregate amount of such cash investment and the cancellation of the outstanding principal and interest on the Bridge Notes, the “Purchase Price” and the financing arrangement described herein, the “Pre-Merger Financing”) to fund the combined company following the Merger. In return, LBS will issue an amount of shares (the “Initial Shares”) of LBS Series 1 Preferred Stock to the Investor equal to the Purchase Price divided by the per share purchase price of $0.4816. The Pre-Merger Financing will close on the same date as the closing of the Merger. In addition, the combined company will deposit three times (3x) the number of Initial Shares of LBS Series 1 Preferred Stock (the “Additional Shares,” and together with the Initial Shares the “Pre-Merger Financing Shares”) into escrow with an escrow agent, to be exchanged for Company Common Stock in the Merger, and to be delivered, in whole or in part, based on the formula provided below. As a result of the Merger, at the Effective Time, each Initial Share will automatically be converted into the right to receive a number of shares (the “Converted Initial Shares”) of Company Common Stock equal to the number of Initial Shares multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. Further, at the Effective Time, each Additional Share placed into escrow with the escrow agent will automatically be converted into the right to receive a number of shares (the “Converted Additional Shares”) of Company Common Stock equal to the number of Additional Shares multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. If 85% of the sum of the five lowest weighted average prices of Company Common Stock during the 10 trading day period immediately preceding the 16th trading day following the Effective Time (the “Initial Reset Date”), divided by five, is lower than the per share Purchase Price or if the five lowest weighted average prices of Company Common Stock during the 10 trading day period immediately preceding each of the 45th, 90th and 135th days following the Effective Time (together with the Initial Reset Date, each a “Reset Date”), divided by five, is lower than the per share Purchase Price, then, in each case, the Investor will be issued such number of Converted Additional Shares equal to the Purchase Price divided by the lowest of such weighted average prices. Any Converted Additional Shares not delivered to the Investor from escrow will be returned to Seneca.

 

In addition, Seneca will issue to the Investor, warrants to purchase shares of Company Common Stock (the “Equity Warrants”). The Equity Warrants will be issued on the 17th trading day following the closing of the Merger, will have an initial exercise price per share equal to the lower of (x) the Purchase Price divided by the Initial Shares and (y) the per share price as reset on the 16th trading day following the closing of the Merger, as described above, and will be exercisable for that number of shares as is equal to the Purchase Price divided by the lower of (a) the Purchase Price divided by the Initial Shares and (b) the Purchase Price divided by the per share price as reset on the 16th trading day following the closing of the Merger, as described above, and will be immediately exercisable and will have a term of five years from the date of issuance.

 

The Bridge Warrants and Equity Warrants will provide that, until the second anniversary of the date on which all shares of Company Common Stock issued to the Investor (including any shares underlying the Equity Warrants) are registered on one or more registration statements, if the combined company publicly announces, issues or sells, enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which Seneca is required to issue or sell or is deemed, pursuant to the provisions of the Bridge Warrants and Equity Warrants, to have issued or sold, any shares of Company Common Stock for a price per share lower than the exercise price then in effect, subject to certain limited exceptions, then the exercise price of the Bridge Warrants and Equity Warrants shall be reduced to such lower price per share. Further, on each Reset Date, the exercise price of the Bridge Warrants and Equity Warrants will be adjusted downward (but not increased) such that (i) the exercise price of the Bridge Warrants on the Initial Reset Date becomes 85% of the weighted average of the five lowest weighted average prices of the Company Common Stock as measured during each of the 10 trading day periods immediately preceding the Initial Reset Date and (ii) the exercise price of the Bridge Warrants on all Reset Dates other than the Initial Reset Date and the exercise price of the Equity Warrants on all Reset Dates, become the weighted average of the five lowest weighted average prices of the Company Common Stock as measured during each of the 10 trading day periods immediately preceding the Reset Date, and the number of shares underlying the Bridge Warrants and Equity Warrants will be increased (but not decreased) to the quotient of (a) (i) the exercise price in effect prior to such reset multiplied by (ii) the number of shares underlying the applicable warrants prior to the reset divided by (b) the exercise price resulting from the reset. Further, the Equity Warrants include a provision such that, beginning six months after the closing of the Merger, if the volume weighted average price of Company Common Stock is less than the then-applicable exercise price for five consecutive trading days, the holder of the Equity Warrant shall be entitled to receive 1.0 share of Company Common Stock for each share underlying the Equity Warrants being exercised thereunder in a cashless exercise. The exercise price and the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Bridge Warrants and Equity Warrants will also be subject to adjustment in the event of any stock splits, dividends or distributions or other similar transactions as well as fundamental transactions.

 

 

 

The Equity SPA contains customary representations and warranties of LBS, Seneca and the Investor. Each party’s obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Equity SPA is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions precedent to the closing of the Merger contained in the Merger Agreement, other than any conditions precedent relating to consummation of the Pre-Merger Financing.

 

Pursuant to the Equity SPA, until 180 calendar days after the earliest of (x) such time as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1), (y) the six month anniversary of the closing of the Merger, and (z) the date that the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, except for certain exceptions, neither LBS nor Seneca shall, (1) directly or indirectly, offer, sell, grant any option to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition of) any of its or its subsidiaries’ debt, equity or equity equivalent securities, (2) enter into, or effect a transaction under, any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit or “at-the-market” offering, whereby LBS or Seneca may issue securities at a future determined price or (3) be party to any solicitations, negotiations or discussions with regard to the foregoing.

 

Beneficial Ownership Limitations

 

The Investor will be prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from exercising a Bridge Warrant or Equity Warrant to the extent that immediately prior to or after giving effect to such exercise, the Investor, together with its affiliates and other attribution parties, would own more than 4.99% of the total number of shares of Company Common Stock then issued and outstanding, which percentage may be changed at the Investor’s election to a lower percentage at any time or to a higher percentage not to exceed 9.99% upon 61 days’ notice to Seneca. In addition, the Investor will be prohibited from receiving shares of Company Common Stock in exchange for the Converted Initial Shares or Converted Additional Shares to the extent that immediately prior to or after giving effect to such receipt, the Investor, together with its affiliates or other attribution parties would own more than 9.99% of the total number of shares of Company Common Stock then issued and outstanding. In that situation, the escrow agent shall hold such shares in excess of the ownership limitation in abeyance for the benefit of the Investor. The Investor may increase or decrease the applicable ownership limitation percentage to a lower percentage at any time or to a higher percentage not to exceed 9.99% upon 61 days’ notice to Seneca.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

In connection with the Pre-Merger Financing, Seneca entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investor (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, provided the Merger is completed, Seneca is required to file an initial resale registration statement (the “Initial Registration Statement”) with respect to the maximum number of shares of Company Common Stock held by or issuable to the Investor pursuant to the Equity Warrants (the “Registrable Securities”), within 15 days after the 135th calendar day following the closing date. The combined company will be required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investor may sell all of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement(s) without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which the Investor has sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement(s).

 

Subject to a limited exception, if Seneca fails to file and obtain and maintain effectiveness of the resale registration statements required under the Registration Rights Agreement or fails, subject to limited grace periods, to maintain the effectiveness of the resale registration statements, then Seneca shall be obligated to pay to each affected holder of Registrable Securities an amount equal to 2.0% of the aggregate Purchase Price of such holder’s Registrable Securities whether or not included in such registration statement on the date of such failure and 1.5% on every thirtieth day thereafter (pro-rated for periods of less than 30 days) until the date such failure is cured, provided that the aggregate of all such payments will not exceed 8.0% of the aggregate Purchase Price for the Investor’s Registrable Securities.

 

 

 

These registration rights granted under the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including Seneca’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances. The registration rights granted in the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to customary indemnification and contribution provisions.

 

Leak-Out Agreements

 

In connection with the Pre-Merger Financing, the Investor will enter into a leak-out agreement, ending on the 135th day following the Pre-Merger Financing closing date, with the combined company (collectively, the “Leak-Out Agreements”) limiting its daily sales to no more than its pro rata portion, based on such Investor’s investment amount, of up to 20% of the daily traded volume as reported by Bloomberg, LP.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Bridge SPA, the Equity SPA, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Bridge Warrants, the Equity Warrants, and the Leak-Out Agreements, are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to those agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5, 10.6, 4.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 10.7, respectively, to this report and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This communication contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements related to the anticipated consummation of the proposed transactions, and other statements that are not historical facts.  Any statements contained in this communication that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words referencing future events or circumstances such as “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “will,” and similar expressions and their variants.  These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s 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, which include, without limitation, risks relating to the completion of the Merger, including the need for stockholder approval and the satisfaction of closing conditions; the risk that as a result of adjustments to the exchange ratio, the Company’s stockholders and LBS’s stockholders could own more or less of the combined company than is currently anticipated; the anticipated Pre-Merger Financing to be completed immediately prior the closing of the Merger; the cash balances of the combined company following the closing of the Merger and the Pre-Merger Financing; the ability of the Company to remain listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC; and expected restructuring-related cash outlays, including the timing and amount of those outlays. Risks and uncertainties related to LBS that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: LBS’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, including LB1148; the timing of initiation of LBS’s planned clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from LBS’s clinical trials; the timing of any planned investigational new drug application or new drug application; LBS’s plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; LBS’s ability to enter into new collaborations, and to fulfill its obligations under any such collaboration agreements; the clinical utility, potential benefits and market acceptance of LBS’s product candidates; LBS’s commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; LBS’s ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential; developments and projections relating to LBS’s competitors and its industry; the impact of government laws and regulations; LBS’s ability to protect its intellectual property position; and LBS’s estimates regarding future revenue, expenses, capital requirements and need for additional financing following the proposed transaction. The risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the Company’s business, operations, and financial results, including the duration and magnitude of such effects, will depend on numerous factors, which are unpredictable, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.

 

 

 

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to complete the proposed transactions on the anticipated terms, or at all. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to the Company and its business can be found under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s filings and reports with the SEC, including in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2020 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on November 11, 2020. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

 

Important Additional Information Will be Filed with the SEC

 

In connection with the proposed transactions between LBS and the Company, the Company will file a registration statement on Form S-4 that will contain a proxy statement and prospectus with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for the registration statement or the proxy statement or any other documents that the Company may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY URGES INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THESE MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

 

You may obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, proxy statement and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Once filed, the Registration Statement will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at https://senecabio.com, or by contacting the Company’s Investor Contact, investor@senecabio.com. Investors and stockholders are urged to read the registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

The Company and LBS, and each of their respective directors and executive officers and certain of their other members of management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the Company’s directors and executive officers is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2020, and the proxy statement for the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on June 24, 2020. Additional information regarding these persons and their interests in the transaction, as well as information regarding LBS’s directors and executive officers, will be included in the proxy statement relating to the transaction when it is filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This report will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities in connection with the proposed merger shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

 

 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
   
2.1*   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 16, 2020, by and among Seneca Biopharma, Inc., Leading BioSciences, Inc. and Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc.
   
2.2*   Form of CVR Agreement.
     
4.1   Form of Bridge Warrant.
     
4.2   Form of Equity Warrant.
     
4.3*   Registration Rights Agreement, by and between Seneca Biopharma, Inc. and the investor party thereto, dated December 16, 2020.
   
10.1   Form of Company Support Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020, by and between Leading BioSciences, Inc. and each of the parties named in each agreement therein.
   
10.2   Form of LBS Support Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020, by and between Seneca Biopharma, Inc. and each of the parties named in each agreement therein.
   
10.3   Form of Company Lock-Up Agreement.
     
10.4   Form of LBS Lock-Up Agreement.
   
10.5*   Securities Purchase Agreement, by and between Leading BioSciences, Inc. and the investor party thereto, dated December 16, 2020.
     
10.6*   Securities Purchase Agreement, by and among Seneca Biopharma, Inc., Leading BioSciences, Inc. and the investor party thereto, dated December 16, 2020.
     
10.7   Form of Leak-Out Agreement, by and between Seneca Biopharma, Inc. and the investor party thereto.
     
*  

Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. Seneca undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: December 21, 2020 Seneca Biopharma, Inc.  
       
       
    /s/ Kenneth Carter  
    By: Kenneth Carter  
    Executive Chairman  
       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

among:

 

SENECA BIOPHARMA INC.;

 

TOWNSGATE ACQUISITION SUB 1, INC.; and

 

LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

Dated as of December 16, 2020

 

________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

  Page
Section 1. Definitions and Interpretative Provisions 2
1.1   Definitions 2
1.2   Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions 20
Section 2. Description of Transaction 21
2.1   The Merger 21
2.2   Effects of the Merger 21
2.3   Closing; Effective Time 21
2.4   Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; Directors and Officers 21
2.5   Conversion of Shares 22
2.6   Closing of the Company’s Transfer Books 23
2.7   Surrender of Certificates 23
2.8   Appraisal Rights 24
2.9   Calculation of Net Cash and Company Valuation. 25
2.10   Further Action 27
2.11   Tax Consequences 27
2.12   Contingent Value Right. 27
2.13   Milestone Payment 28
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company 29
3.1   Due Organization; Subsidiaries 29
3.2   Organizational Documents 29
3.3   Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement 30
3.4   Vote Required 30
3.5   Non-Contravention; Consents 30
3.6   Capitalization. 31
3.7   Financial Statements 32
3.8   Absence of Changes 33
3.9   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities 33
3.10   Title to Assets 33
3.11   Real Property; Leasehold 33
3.12   Intellectual Property 33
3.13   Agreements, Contracts and Commitments 36
3.14   Compliance; Permits; Restrictions 38

 

- i -

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

  Page
3.15   Legal Proceedings; Orders 40
3.16   Tax Matters 40
3.17   Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans 41
3.18   Environmental Matters 44
3.19   Insurance 45
3.20   No Financial Advisor 45
3.21   Transactions with Affiliates 45
3.22   Anti-Bribery 45
3.23   No Other Representations or Warranties 45
Section 4. Representations and Warranties of PubCo and Merger Sub 45
4.1   Due Organization; Subsidiaries 46
4.2   Organizational Documents 46
4.3   Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement 46
4.4   Vote Required 47
4.5   Non-Contravention; Consents 47
4.6   Capitalization 48
4.7   SEC Filings; Financial Statements 49
4.8   Absence of Changes 51
4.9   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities 51
4.10   Title to Assets 52
4.11   Real Property; Leasehold 52
4.12   Intellectual Property 52
4.13   Agreements, Contracts and Commitments 55
4.14   Compliance; Permits; Restrictions 56
4.15   Legal Proceedings; Orders 58
4.16   Tax Matters 59
4.17   Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans 60
4.18   Environmental Matters 64
4.19   Insurance 65
4.20   Transactions with Affiliates 65
4.21   No Financial Advisors 65
4.22   Valid Issuance 65

 

- ii -

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

  Page
4.23   Privacy and Data Security 65
4.24   Opinion of Financial Advisor 66
4.25   Shell Company Status 66
4.26   Anti-Bribery 66
4.27   No Other Representations or Warranties 66
Section 5. Certain Covenants of the Parties 66
5.1   Operation of PubCo’s Business 66
5.2   Operation of the Company’s Business. 68
5.3   Access and Investigation. 70
5.4   No Solicitation 71
5.5   Notification of Certain Matters 72
5.6   Potentially Transferrable Assets 72
Section 6. Additional Agreements of the Parties 73
6.1   Registration Statement; Proxy Statement 73
6.2   Company Stockholder Written Consent 75
6.3   PubCo Stockholder Meeting 76
6.4   Efforts; Regulatory Approvals 78
6.5   Company Options and Company Warrants 79
6.6   PubCo Options 80
6.7   Employee Benefits 81
6.8   PubCo RSU Awards 81
6.9   Indemnification of Officers and Directors 81
6.10   Disclosure 82
6.11   Listing 82
6.12   Tax Matters 83
6.13   Legends 83
6.14   Directors 83
6.15   Termination of Certain Agreements and Rights 83
6.16   Section 16 Matters 84
6.17   Allocation Certificates 84
6.18   PubCo Reverse Stock Split 84
6.19   Takeover Statutes 84

 

- iii -

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

  Page
6.20   Stockholder Litigation 84
6.21   PubCo SEC Documents 85
6.22   Obligations of Merger Sub 85
6.23   Further Assurances 85
Section 7. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Each Party 85
7.1   Effectiveness of Registration Statement 85
7.2   No Restraints 86
7.3   Stockholder Approval 86
7.4   Listing 86
Section 8. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligations of PubCo and Merger Sub 86
8.1   Accuracy of Representations 86
8.2   Performance of Covenants 86
8.3   Closing Certificate 86
8.4   FIRPTA Certificate 87
8.5   No Company Material Adverse Effect 87
8.6   Company Lock-Up Agreements 87
8.7   Termination of Investor Agreements 87
Section 9. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligation of the Company 87
9.1   Accuracy of Representations 87
9.2   Performance of Covenants 87
9.3   Documents 88
9.4   No PubCo Material Adverse Effect 88
9.5   PubCo Lock-Up Agreements 88
9.6   Listing 88
9.7   Sarbanes-Oxley Certifications 88
9.8   Termination of PubCo Material Contracts 88
9.9   Charter Amendment 88
9.10   D&O Policy 88
9.11   Exchange Agent Agreement 88
9.12   Management Options 88

 

- iv -

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

  Page
Section 10. Termination 88
10.1   Termination 89
10.2   Effect of Termination 91
10.3   Expenses; Termination Fees 91
Section 11. Miscellaneous Provisions 93
11.1   Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties 93
11.2   Amendment 93
11.3   Waiver 93
11.4   Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Exchanges by Electronic Transmission 93
11.5   Applicable Law; Jurisdiction 94
11.6   Assignability 94
11.7   Notices 94
11.8   Cooperation 95
11.9   Severability 95
11.10   Other Remedies; Specific Performance 95
11.11   No Third Party Beneficiaries 96
11.12   Attorneys’ Fees 96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- v -

 

 

   
Exhibits:  
   
Exhibit A Form of PubCo Stockholder Support Agreement
   
Exhibit B Form of Company Stockholder Support Agreement
   
Exhibit C Form of Lock-Up Agreement
   
Exhibit D Form of Securities Purchase Agreement
   
Exhibit E Form of CVR Agreement
   
Exhibit F Form of Equity Incentive Plan
   
Exhibit G Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 16, 2020, by and among Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned Subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub”), and Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1.

 

Recitals

 

A.                 PubCo and the Company intend to effect a merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”) in accordance with this Agreement and the DGCL. Upon consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will cease to exist and the Company will become a wholly owned Subsidiary of PubCo.

 

B.                  The Parties intend that the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. By executing this Agreement, the Parties hereby adopt a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3 and intend to file the statement required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-3(a).

 

C.                 The PubCo Board has (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of PubCo and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including the issuance of shares of PubCo Capital Stock to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of PubCo vote to approve this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including the (a) issuance of shares of PubCo Capital Stock to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (b) amendment of PubCo’s certificate of incorporation to effect the PubCo Reverse Stock Split.

 

D.                 The Merger Sub Board has (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable, and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the sole stockholder of Merger Sub vote to adopt this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions.

 

E.                  The Company Board has (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions.

 

F.                  Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the officers and directors set forth on Section A of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule (solely in their capacity as stockholders of PubCo) are executing support agreements in favor of the Company in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “PubCo Stockholder Support Agreement”), pursuant to which such Persons have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, agreed to vote all of their shares of capital stock of PubCo in favor of the approval of this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions and against any competing proposals.

 

G.                 Within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, directors and stockholders of the Company listed on Section A of the Company Disclosure Schedule (solely in their capacity as stockholders of the Company) shall execute support agreements in favor of PubCo in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Company Stockholder Support Agreement”), pursuant to which such Persons have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, agreed to vote all of their shares of Company Capital Stock in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions and against any competing proposals.

 

1

 

 

H.                 Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to PubCo’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the officers, directors and stockholders of the Company listed on Section B of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the extent not presently bound by a similar lock-up agreement, are each executing a lock-up agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Lock-Up Agreement”).

 

I.                    Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the officers and directors of PubCo set forth on Section B of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule are each executing the form of Lock-Up Agreement.

 

J.                   It is expected that within five (5) Business Days after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, the holders of shares of Company Capital Stock sufficient to adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger as required under the DGCL and the Company’s Organizational Documents will execute and deliver an action by written consent adopting this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to PubCo, in order to obtain the Required Company Stockholder Vote (each, a “Company Stockholder Written Consent” and collectively, the “Company Stockholder Written Consents”).

 

K.                 Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, certain investors have executed a Securities Purchase Agreement among the Company and the Persons named therein (representing an aggregate commitment no less than the Concurrent Investment Amount), pursuant to which such Persons will have agreed to purchase the number of shares of Company Capital Stock set forth therein concurrently with the Closing in connection with the Company Financing.

 

Agreement

 

The Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Definitions and Interpretative Provisions.

 

1.1               Definitions.

 

(a)                For purposes of this Agreement (including this Section 1):

 

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement with respect to the Company or PubCo that is either (a) in effect as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or (b) executed, delivered and effective after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, in either case, that (i) contains confidentiality and use provisions and other provisions contained therein that are no less favorable in the aggregate, to the Company or PubCo, as applicable, than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, (ii) contains a “standstill” or similar provision that prohibits the making of an Acquisition Proposal to the applicable Party (other than an Acquisition Proposal to the applicable Party on a confidential, non-public basis) and (iii) does not contain any provision (A) granting any exclusive right to negotiate with such counterparty, (B) expressly prohibiting the Company or PubCo from satisfying its obligations under this Agreement or (C) requiring the Company or its Affiliates or PubCo or its Affiliates, as applicable, to pay or reimburse the counterparty or its Affiliates’ fees, costs or expenses in connection with an Acquisition Proposal. 

 

2

 

 

Acquisition Inquiry” means, with respect to a Party, an inquiry, indication of interest or request for information (other than an inquiry, indication of interest or request for information made or submitted by the Company, on the one hand, or PubCo, on the other hand, to the other Party) that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal.

 

Acquisition Proposal” means, with respect to a Party, any offer or proposal, whether written or oral (other than an offer or proposal made or submitted by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, or by or on behalf of PubCo or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, to the other Party) contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction with such Party.

 

Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving:

 

(a)                any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, share exchange, business combination, issuance of securities, acquisition of securities, reorganization, recapitalization, tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction: (i) in which a Party is a constituent Entity, (ii) in which a Person or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Persons directly or indirectly acquires beneficial or record ownership of securities representing more than 20% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of a Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) in which a Party or any of its Subsidiaries issues securities representing more than 20% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of such Party or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however that in the case of the Company, to the extent the Company Financing is effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Company Financing shall not constitute an Acquisition Transaction, or

 

(b)                any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, license, acquisition or disposition of any business or businesses or assets that constitute or account for 20% or more of the consolidated book value or the fair market value of the assets of a Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than licenses by the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transaction with regard to the Potentially Transferable Assets pursuant to Section 5.6 will not constitute an Acquisition Transaction.

 

Additional Company Shares” means up to three hundred percent (300%) of the Company Initial Financing Shares. The Additional Company Shares will be held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.

 

Affiliate” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

Affordable Care Act” means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

 

Ancillary Documents” means, collectively, the PubCo Stockholder Support Agreement, the Company Stockholder Support Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the CVR Agreement.

 

Applicable Time” means (a) with respect to the prospectus registering the public offering and sale of PubCo Common Stock, (i) the time the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, is filed with the SEC, (ii) the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, and (iii) at the Effective Time, and (b) with respect to the Proxy Statement, (i) the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, (ii) the date the Proxy Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, is first mailed to the stockholders of PubCo, and (iii) at the time of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting.

 

3

 

 

Asset Milestone Shares” means (i) the Company Outstanding Shares multiplied by (ii)(a) the Revised Exchange Ratio minus (b) the Exchange Ratio. For these purposes, the “Revised Exchange Ratio” means the Exchange Ratio recalculated by reducing the PubCo Valuation by the Potentially Transferable Assets Sale Amount not received by PubCo, but otherwise leaving all other elements of the calculation unchanged.

 

Black-Scholes Warrants” means, collectively: (i) the Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by PubCo on May 6, 2016, exercisable for an aggregate of 26,263 shares of PubCo Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) the Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by PubCo on May 12, 2016, exercisable for an aggregate of 10,386 shares of PubCo Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement, (iii) the Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by PubCo on August 1, 2017, exercisable for an aggregate of 112,500 shares of PubCo Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement, (iv) the Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by PubCo on October 29, 2018, exercisable for an aggregate of 150,000 shares of PubCo Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement, and (v) the Placement Agent Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by PubCo on October 29, 2018, exercisable for an aggregate of 9,000 shares of PubCo Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement.

 

Bridge Loan Cash Amount” means $2,500,000.

 

Bridge Loan Principal Amount” means $3,333,333.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a day on which banks in the State of New York, State of California or State of Delaware are authorized or obligated to be closed.

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub. L. 116-136) and any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Authority, or any other Law intended to address the consequences of COVID-19.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents” means all (a) cash and cash equivalents and (b) marketable securities, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding (i) any cash which is not freely usable by the PubCo because it is subject to restrictions, limitations or Taxes on use or distribution by Law, Contract, agreement or otherwise, including restrictions on dividends and repatriations or any other form of restriction and (ii) any amounts that are not convertible to cash within thirty (30) days.

 

COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as set forth in Section 4980B of the Code and Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Company Associate” means any current or former employee, independent contractor, officer or director of the Company.

 

Company Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Company Capital Stock” means the Company Common Stock, the Company Preferred Stock, and any shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company issued pursuant to the Company Financing.

 

4

 

 

Company Capitalization Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.6(a), 3.6(c) and 3.6(d).

 

Company Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

Company Contract” means any Contract: (a) to which the Company is a Party, (b) by which the Company is or may become bound or under which the Company has, or may become subject to, any obligation or (c) under which the Company has or may acquire any right or interest.

 

Company Employee Plan” means any Employee Plan (a) that the Company sponsors, contributes to, or provides benefits under or through, or has any obligation to contribute to or provide benefits under or through, (b) that provides benefits to or otherwise covers any current or former employee, officer, director or other service provider of the Company (or their spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries) or (c) pursuant to which the Company has or may have any liability (including as an ERISA Affiliate).

 

Company Financing” means the sale of Company Capital Stock to be consummated concurrently with the Closing pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement with aggregate gross cash proceeds to the Company of at least the Concurrent Investment Amount, plus the conversion of the Bridge Loan Principal Amount (such Concurrent Investment Amount not including the Company Notes, or any other promissory notes, debt or payables or any Company obligations in connection therewith).

 

Company Financing Milestone Shares” means, to the extent PubCo receives any distribution of PubCo Common Stock held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock equal to such distribution.

 

Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b), 3.3, 3.4 and 3.20.

 

Company Initial Financing Shares” means the number of shares of Company Common Stock issued in the Company Financing that will be converted into PubCo Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Company In-the-Money Price” means the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Company Valuation by (b) the Company Outstanding Shares.

 

Company IP Rights” means all Intellectual Property owned, licensed, or controlled by the Company that is necessary for or used in the operation of the business of the Company as presently conducted.

 

Company IP Rights Agreement” means any instrument or agreement governing, related to or pertaining to any Company IP Rights.

 

Company Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, considered together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of a Company Material Adverse Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company; provided, however, that Effects arising or resulting from the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect: (a) the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the Contemplated Transactions, (b) the taking of any action, or the failure to take any action, by the Company that is required to comply with the terms of this Agreement, (c) any natural disaster or epidemics, pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks (collectively, “COVID-19”) or other outbreaks of diseases or quarantine restrictions), or other force majeure events, or any act or threat of terrorism or war, any armed hostilities or terrorist activities (including any escalation or general worsening of any of the foregoing) anywhere in the world or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (d) any change in GAAP or applicable Law or the interpretation thereof, (e) general economic or political conditions or conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company operates, (f) changes in financial, banking or securities markets or (g) any change in the cash position of the Company which results from operations in the Ordinary Course of Business; except in each case with respect to clauses (c), (d) and (e), to the extent materially and disproportionately affecting the Company, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which the Company operates.

 

5

 

 

Company Notes” means the outstanding unsecured promissory notes set forth in Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

 

Company Options” means options to purchase shares of Company Capital Stock issued by the Company.

 

Company Preferred Stock” means the Series C preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

Company Registered IP” means all Company IP Rights that are owned or exclusively licensed by the Company that are registered, filed or issued under the authority of, with or by any Governmental Authority, including all patents, registered copyrights and registered trademarks and all applications and registrations for any of the foregoing.

 

Company Transaction Expenses” means all unpaid fees and expenses incurred by the Company at or prior to the Effective Time in connection with the Contemplated Transactions and this Agreement, including: (a) any fees and expenses of legal counsel and accountants, the maximum amount of fees and expenses payable to financial advisors, investment bankers, brokers, consultants, and other advisors of the Company, including for preparing of the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement, and any amendments and supplements thereto, preparing responses to any SEC comments, and drafting any charter amendments (and in each case, the related disclosure required in the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement); (b) any fees and expenses incurred by PubCo’s transfer agent, and the proxy solicitor (to be determined at the time retained), in connection with the filing and distribution of the Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto with the SEC and the issuance of PubCo Common Stock; 50% of (i) the fees and expenses paid or payable to the Exchange Agent pursuant to the engagement agreement with the Exchange Agent; (ii) any fees and expenses incurred by American Stock and Trust Company, PubCo’s transfer agent, in connection with the filing and distribution of the Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto with the SEC (without duplication of the fees and expenses addressed in clause (b) above) and (iii) D&O Tail Policy; (c) the fees paid to the SEC in connection with filing the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement, and any amendments and supplements thereto with the SEC; (d) the fees payable to Nasdaq associated with the Nasdaq Listing Application and the PubCo Reverse Stock Split, if any; and (e) any and all cost and expense for which Company is liable (up to the unpaid retention or deductible payment amounts due under any insurance policy, including a PubCo policy) with respect to any Stockholder Litigation related to a Company security holder’s interest in Company Capital Stock, including, without limitation, any such Stockholder Litigation that is resolved or settled, subject to Section 6.20.

 

Company Triggering Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if: (a) the Company Board or any committee thereof shall have made a Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change or approved, endorsed or recommended any Acquisition Proposal, (b) the Company shall have entered into any letter of intent or similar document or any Contract relating to any Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement permitted pursuant to Section  5.4), or (c) the Company, or any director or officer of the Company, shall have willfully and intentionally breached the provisions set forth in Section 5.4.

 

6

 

 

“Company Warrants” means any warrant to purchase shares of Company Capital Stock.

 

Concurrent Investment Amount” means $20,000,000.

 

Confidentiality Agreement” means the Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement dated September 18, 2020, by and between the Company and PubCo.

 

Consent” means any approval, consent, ratification, permission, waiver or authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).

 

Contemplated Transactions” means the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including the PubCo Reverse Stock Split.

 

Contract” means, with respect to any Person, any written agreement, contract, subcontract, lease (whether for real or personal property), mortgage, license, or other legally binding commitment or undertaking of any nature to which such Person is a party or by which such Person or any of its assets are bound or affected under applicable Law.

 

D&O Insurance” means the Director and Officer Liability Insurance of PubCo in effect as of the date of this Agreement or as may be renewed subsequent hereto.

 

Deferred Payroll Taxes” means (i) any “applicable employment taxes” (as defined in Section 2302(d)(1) of the CARES Act) that PubCo has elected to defer pursuant to Section 2302 of the CARES Act and (ii) any payroll Tax obligations deferred pursuant to or in connection with the Presidential Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, as issued on August 8, 2020 and including any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Authority (including IRS Notice 2020-65).

 

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Effect” means any effect, change, event, circumstance, or development.

 

Employee Plan” means: (a) an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA whether or not subject to ERISA; (b) stock option plans, stock purchase plans, bonus (including any annual bonus and retention bonus) or incentive plans, severance pay plans, programs or arrangements, deferred compensation arrangements or agreements, employment agreements, compensation plans, programs, agreements or arrangements, change in control plans, programs or arrangements, supplemental income arrangements, vacation plans, and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, and arrangements, not described in (a) above; and (c) plans or arrangements providing compensation to employee and non-employee directors.

 

Encumbrance” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, lease, exclusive license, option, easement, reservation, servitude, adverse title, claim, infringement, interference, option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, community property interest or restriction or encumbrance of any nature (including any restriction on the voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).

 

7

 

 

Enforceability Exceptions” means the (a) Laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and (b) rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.

 

Entity” means any corporation (including any non-profit corporation), partnership (including any general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any company limited by shares, limited liability company or joint stock company), firm, society or other enterprise, association, organization or entity, and each of its successors.

 

Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign Law relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), including any law or regulation relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Entity, any other Person that is, or at any applicable time, was a member of a group described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes such Entity.

 

Escrow Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon.

 

Escrow Agreement” means those certain escrow agreements by and among the Company, PubCo, the Escrow Agent and the parties named therein, related to the Additional Company Shares.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Ratio” means, subject to Section  2.5(f), the following ratio (rounded to four decimal places): the quotient obtained by dividing (a) (i) the Company Valuation divided by (ii) the Company Outstanding Shares by (b) (i) the PubCo Valuation divided by (ii) the PubCo Outstanding Shares, in which:

 

· Company Outstanding Shares” means, subject to Section 2.5(f), the total number of shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and taking into account the issuance of the Company Initial Financing Shares (the total shares issued in connection with both the Concurrent Investment Amount and the conversion of the Bridge Loan Principal Amount), the Additional Company Shares, expressed on a fully-diluted and as converted to Company Common Stock, with any in-the-money Company Options (whether then vested or unvested, exercisable or not exercisable) or Company Warrants calculated, in each case, based on the treasury stock method using the Company In-the-Money Price, provided however, the following will be excluded (a) any out-of-the money Company Options, (b) any out-of-the-money Company Warrants, and (c) any shares of Company Common Stock (or otherwise) to be issued to Evolution Partners LLC (“EVP”) in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated pursuant to that certain engagement letter, by and among the Company, EVP and Ecoban Securities, LLC, dated April 22, 2019, as amended, and further provided that 50% of the Company Initial Financing Shares (the total shares issued in connection with both the Company Financing and the conversion of the Bridge Loan Principal Amount) shall be added to the total shares as an adjustment to account for Series A warrants to be issued post-closing in connection with the Company Financing. A Company Option or Company Warrant is out-of-the-money if its exercise price is equivalent to, or greater than, the Company In-the-Money Price, and is in-the-money if its exercise price is less than such Company In-the-Money Price. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, and for purposes of clarity, Company Options and Company Warrants that are out-of-the-money (as adjusted for any stock splits or reverse stock splits after the date hereof) shall not be included in the total number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding for purposes of determining the Company Pre-Money Shares.

 

8

 

 

· Company Valuation” means $75,350,000 plus the Concurrent Investment Amount and the Bridge Loan Cash Amount.

 

· PubCo Outstanding Shares” means, subject to Section 2.5(f) (including the effects of the PubCo Reverse Stock Split), the total number of shares of PubCo Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time expressed on a fully-diluted and as converted to PubCo Common Stock basis, with any in-the-money PubCo Options (whether then vested or unvested, exercisable or not exercisable), PubCo RSU Award, or PubCo Warrants calculated based on the treasury stock method using the PubCo In-the-Money Price, and assuming, without limitation or duplication, (i) the net settlement in shares of each in-the-money PubCo Option outstanding as of the Effective Time pursuant to Section 6.6(c) solely to the extent such PubCo Option will not be canceled at or prior to the Effective Time pursuant to Section 6.6(c) or exercised prior thereto, (ii) the net settlement in shares of each in-the-money PubCo Warrants outstanding as of the Effective Time, (iii) with respect to each PubCo RSU Award, the settlement of such PubCo RSU Award for shares of PubCo Common Stock on a net settlement basis as provided in Section 6.8 and (iv) any PubCo Capital Stock not requiring additional consideration will be deemed converted pursuant to its terms, provided however, the following will be excluded (a) any PubCo Options canceled at or prior to the Effective Time pursuant to Section 6.6), (b) any out-of-the-money PubCo Options (c) any out-of-the-money PubCo Warrants, and (d) any shares of PubCo Common Stock reserved for future issuance pursuant to the PubCo Employee Plans. A PubCo Option or PubCo Warrant is out-of-the-money if its exercise price is equivalent to, or greater than, the PubCo In-the-Money Price, and is in-the-money if its exercise price is less than such PubCo In-the-Money Price. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, and for purposes of clarity, PubCo Options and PubCo Warrants that are out-of-the-money (as adjusted for any stock splits or reverse stock splits after the date hereof) shall not be included in the total number of shares of PubCo Common Stock outstanding for purposes of determining the PubCo Outstanding Shares. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, any warrants issued in connection with the Company Financing will not be included in the PubCo Outstanding Shares.

 

· PubCo Base Equity Value” means $34,650,000.

 

· PubCo Valuation” means (i) if Net Cash is equal to or greater than $4,500,000, the sum of (x) the PubCo Base Equity Value, plus (y) the amount by which Net Cash is greater than $5,000,000, or (ii) if Net Cash is equal to or less than $4,500,000 the sum of (x) the PubCo Base Equity Value, minus (y) the amount by which Net Cash is less than $4,500,000.

 

Set forth on Section 1.1(a)(i) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule is an illustrative example of Exchange Ratio calculations.

 

9

 

 

Governmental Authority” means any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature, (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, supra-national or other government, (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, bureau, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or other tribunal, and for the avoidance of doubt, any taxing authority) or (d) self-regulatory organization (including Nasdaq).

 

Governmental Authorization” means any: (a) permit, license, certificate, franchise, permission, variance, exception, order, approval, clearance, registration, qualification or authorization issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or pursuant to any Law or (b) right under any Contract with any Governmental Authority.

 

Hazardous Materials” means any pollutant, chemical, substance and any toxic, infectious, carcinogenic, reactive, corrosive, ignitable or flammable chemical, or chemical compound, or hazardous substance, material or waste, whether solid, liquid or gas, that is subject to regulation, control or remediation under any Environmental Law, including, crude oil or any fraction thereof, and petroleum products or by-products.

 

Intellectual Property” means (a) United States, foreign and international patents, patent applications, including all provisionals, nonprovisionals, substitutions, divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions, supplementary protection certificates, reexaminations, term extensions, certificates of invention and the equivalents of any of the foregoing, statutory invention registrations, invention disclosures and inventions (collectively, “Patents”), (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, corporate names, brand names, URLs, trade dress, logos and other source identifiers, including registrations and applications for registration thereof, (c) copyrights, including registrations and applications for registration thereof, (d) software, including all source code, object code and related documentation, formulae, customer lists, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information and other proprietary rights and intellectual property, whether patentable or not and (e) all United States and foreign rights arising under or associated with any of the foregoing.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Key Employee” means, with respect to the Company or PubCo, an executive officer of such Party.

 

Knowledge” means, with respect to an individual, that such individual is actually aware of the relevant fact or such individual would reasonably be expected to know such fact in the ordinary course of the performance of such individual’s employment responsibilities. Any Person that is an Entity shall have Knowledge if any executive officer or director of such Person as of the date such knowledge is imputed has or should reasonably be expected to have Knowledge of such fact or other matter; provided that the individuals named on Schedule 1.1 shall not be included in this definition. With respect to any matters relating to Intellectual Property, such awareness or reasonable expectation to have knowledge does not require any such individual to conduct or have conducted or obtain or have obtained any freedom to operate opinions or similar opinions of counsel or any Intellectual Property rights clearance searches.

 

Law” means any federal, state, national, supra-national, foreign, local or municipal or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority (including under the authority of Nasdaq or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).

 

10

 

 

Legal Proceeding” means any action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), hearing, inquiry, audit, examination or investigation commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator or arbitration panel.

 

Merger Sub Board” means the board of directors of Merger Sub.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means (a) a “multiemployer plan,” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or (b) a plan which if maintained or administered in or otherwise subject to the laws of the United States would be described in paragraph (a).

 

Multiple Employer Plan” means (a) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or Section 210 of ERISA or (b) a plan which if maintained or administered in or otherwise subject to the laws of the United States would be described in paragraph (a).

 

Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement” means (a) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA or (b) a plan which if maintained or administered in or otherwise subject to the laws of the United States would be described in paragraph (a) of this definition.

 

Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Net Cash” means without duplication, on the Closing Date: (a) PubCo’s Cash and Cash Equivalents determined, to the extent in accordance with GAAP, in a manner consistent with the manner in which such items were historically determined and in accordance with the financial statements (including any related notes) contained or incorporated by reference in the PubCo SEC Documents and the unaudited interim balance sheet of PubCo as of September 30, 2020 (the “PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet”), minus (b) the sum of the consolidated short-term and long-term liabilities of PubCo and its Subsidiaries accrued, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP but including all Unpaid Pre-Closing Taxes, minus (c) $500,000 for estimated post-Closing expenses related to wind down activities of PubCo associated with the termination of its research and development activities and Monetization Expenses (as defined in the CVR Agreement) pursuant ot the CVR Agreement (the “Ongoing Support Funding”), minus (d) any and all Liabilities of PubCo (I) to any current or former officer, director, employee, consultant or independent contractor of PubCo or its Subsidiaries (including change of control payments, retention payments, severance and other employee-, consultant- or independent contractor-related termination costs, or other payments), and (II) pursuant to any PubCo Employee Plan, including deferred compensation accrued but unpaid bonuses and accrued but unpaid vacation or paid time off (including related employer employment taxes on all the foregoing), minus (e) any cost and expense for which PubCo is liable (up to the unpaid retention or deductible payment amounts due under any insurance policy) with respect to any Stockholder Litigation related to a PubCo security holder’s interest in PubCo Capital Stock, including, without limitation, any such Stockholder Litigation that is resolved or settled prior to the Closing (or if not resolved or settled prior to the Closing, a reasonable estimate agreed by the parties hereto for any such cost and expenses in connection with a resolution or settlement), subject to Section 6.20, minus (f) the PubCo Transaction Expenses to the extent not paid prior to the Closing Date, minus (g) any amounts payable to holders of Black-Scholes Warrants to the extent not paid prior to the Closing Date, plus (h) solely with respect to PubCo, (1) prepaid expenses (2) expenses paid, or liabilities incurred as of the Closing Date, that are approved in writing to be covered under the D&O Insurance in excess of the deductible, and plus (i) the net cash consideration expected to be received within sixty days after the Closing Date as a result of the consummation of any written binding agreement entered into prior to Closing for the sale of the Potentially Transferable Assets without any contingency (other than the payment of cash consideration for the Potentially Transferable Assets following the Closing Date) and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any earn-out, royalties, escrow, holdback or other contingent payment amounts (net of Tax payable by PubCo on such amounts, if any, determined after taking into account any Tax attributes, such as net operating losses and Tax credits, that reduce or eliminate such Tax) (the “Potentially Transferable Assets Sale Amount”). For illustrative purposes only, a sample statement of PubCo Net Cash as of the date described therein is set forth on Schedule 1.6.

 

11

 

 

Order” means any judgment, order, writ, injunction, ruling, decision or decree of (that is binding on a Party), or any plea agreement, corporate integrity agreement, resolution agreement, or deferred prosecution agreement with, or any settlement under the jurisdiction of, any court or Governmental Authority.

 

Ordinary Course of Business” means, in the case of each of the Company and PubCo, such actions taken in the ordinary course of its normal operations and consistent with its past practices; provided, however, that during the Pre-Closing Period, the Ordinary Course of Business of PubCo shall also include actions reasonably taken by PubCo that are required to effect the winding down of its prior research and development activities or the Asset Disposition provided however that prior to undertaking any winddown activity that could reasonably be expected to result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, PubCo will consult with the Company.

 

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person (other than an individual), (a) the certificate or articles of association or incorporation or organization or limited partnership or limited liability company, and any joint venture, limited liability company, operating or partnership agreement and other similar documents adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or organization of such Person and (b) all bylaws, regulations and similar documents or agreements relating to the organization or governance of such Person, in each case, as amended or supplemented.

 

Party” or “Parties” means the Company, Merger Sub and PubCo.

 

Per Share Asset Milestone Consideration” for each stockholder of the Company means (i) the Asset Milestone Shares multiplied by (ii)(a) the number of shares of outstanding Company Capital Stock (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Company Financing) on an as-converted to Company Common Stock basis held by such stockholder as of immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (b) the number of shares of outstanding Company Capital Stock (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Company Financing) on an as-converted to Company Common Stock basis held by all stockholders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

Per Share Company Financing Milestone Consideration” for each stockholder of the Company means (i) the Company Financing Milestone Shares multiplied by (ii)(a) the number of shares of outstanding Company Capital Stock (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Company Financing) on an as-converted to Company Common Stock basis held by such stockholder as of immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (b) the number of shares of outstanding Company Capital Stock (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Company Financing) on an as-converted to Company Common Stock basis held by all stockholders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

Permitted Alternative Agreement” means a definitive agreement that contemplates or otherwise relates to an Acquisition Transaction that constitutes a Superior Offer.

 

Permitted Encumbrance” means (a) any liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been made on the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet or the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, as applicable, (b) minor liens that have arisen in the Ordinary Course of Business and that do not (in any case or in the aggregate) materially detract from the value of the assets subject thereto or materially impair the operations of the Company or PubCo, as applicable, (c) statutory liens to secure obligations to landlords, lessors or renters under leases or rental agreements, (d) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or similar programs mandated by Law and (e) statutory liens in favor of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen, to secure claims for labor, materials or supplies.

 

12

 

 

Person” means any individual, Entity or Governmental Authority.

 

Personal Information” means information about an identified or identifiable individual.

 

Potentially Transferable Assets” means the tangible and intangible assets, including but not limited to any inventory, data, records, trade secrets and result of clinical trials (other than Cash and Cash Equivalents except with respect to the payment of any costs and expenses associated with the transfer of these assets or presently held by PubCo’s Chinese subsidiary) used in or related to NSI-556 and NSI-189, PubCo’s stem cell therapies and small molecule compound, respectively, as well as all the assets of PubCo’s Chinese subsidiary.

 

Pre-Closing Tax Period” shall mean any taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date and the portion through the end of the Closing Date in the case of any Straddle Tax Period.

 

Privacy Laws” mean Laws relating to privacy, security and/or collection, use or other processing of Personal Information.

 

PubCo Associate” means any current or former employee, independent contractor, officer or director of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

PubCo Board” means the board of directors of PubCo.

 

PubCo Capitalization Representations” means the representations and warranties of PubCo and Merger Sub set forth in Sections  4.6(a), Section 4.6(c) and 4.6(d).

 

PubCo Capital Stock” means the PubCo Common Stock and the PubCo Preferred Stock.

 

PubCo Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of PubCo.

 

PubCo Contract” means any Contract: (a) to which PubCo is a party, (b) by which PubCo is or may become bound or under which PubCo has, or may become subject to, any obligation or (c) under which PubCo has or may acquire any right or interest.

 

PubCo Employee Plan” means any Employee Plan (i) that PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries sponsors, contributes to, or provides benefits under or through, or has any obligation to contribute to or provide benefits under or through, (ii) that provides benefits to or otherwise covers any current or former employee, officer, director or other service provider of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (or their spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries) or (iii) pursuant to which the PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have any liability (including as an ERISA Affiliate).

 

PubCo Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of PubCo and Merger Sub set forth in Sections 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.3, 4.4, 4.21, 4.25 and 4.26.

 

13

 

 

PubCo Indemnification Agreements” means PubCo’s standard form of indemnification agreement entered into with PubCo’s officer and directors with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors and officers.

 

PubCo In-the-Money Price” means $1.60.

 

PubCo IP Rights” means all Intellectual Property owned, licensed or controlled by PubCo that is necessary for the operation of the business of PubCo as presently conducted.

 

PubCo IP Rights Agreement” means any instrument or agreement governing, related or pertaining to any PubCo IP Rights.

 

PubCo Management Options” means the outstanding stock options issued to Thomas Hazel, PhD, Dane Saglio, Matthew Kalnik, PhD and Kenneth Carter, PhD, whereby collectively, the foregoing Persons may purchase up to 9.75% of the outstanding PubCo Common Stock subject to anti-dilution protection at a price per share of $0.6199, that were issued pursuant to the PubCo 2020 Plan and the PubCo Inducement Plan.

 

PubCo Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, considered together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of PubCo and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or ability to consummate the Contemplated Transactions; provided, however, that Effects arising or resulting from the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a PubCo Material Adverse Effect: (a) general business, economic or political conditions affecting the industry in which PubCo operates, (b) any natural disaster or epidemics, pandemics (including COVID-19 or other outbreaks of diseases or quarantine restrictions), or other force majeure events, or any act or threat of terrorism or war, any armed hostilities or terrorist activities (including any escalation or general worsening of any of the foregoing) anywhere in the world or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (c) the taking of any action required to be taken by this Agreement, (d) any change in the stock price or trading volume of PubCo Common Stock (it being understood, however, that any Effect causing or contributing to any change in stock price or trading volume of PubCo Common Stock may be taken into account in determining whether a PubCo Material Adverse Effect has occurred, unless such Effects are otherwise excepted from this definition), (e) any change in, or any compliance with or action taken for the purpose of complying with, any Law or GAAP (or interpretations of any Law or GAAP), (g) resulting from the taking of any action or the failure to take any action, by PubCo that is required to be taken by this Agreement, or (h) decrease in operation or decrease in cash balances of PubCo, except in each case with respect to clauses (a) and (b), to the extent disproportionately affecting PubCo or its Subsidiaries relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which PubCo or its Subsidiaries operates.

 

PubCo Options” means options to purchase shares of PubCo Common Stock issued by PubCo.

 

PubCo Preferred Stock” means the Series A 4.5% Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of PubCo.

 

PubCo Registered IP” means all PubCo IP Rights that are owned or exclusively licensed by PubCo that are registered, filed or issued under the authority of, with or by any Governmental Authority, including all Patents, registered copyrights and registered trademarks and all applications for any of the foregoing.

 

14

 

 

PubCo RSU Award” means any equity award with respect to PubCo Common Stock that represents the right to receive in the future shares of PubCo Common Stock pursuant to any PubCo Stock Plan.

 

PubCo Transaction Committee” means the transaction committee of the PubCo Board.

 

PubCo Transaction Expenses” means the sum of: (a) (i) the cash cost of any change of control payments or severance, termination or similar payments that are due or become due to any current or former employee, director or independent contractor of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries upon the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions and (ii) Transaction Payroll Taxes that are unpaid as the Closing Date; (b) any fees and expenses of legal counsel, accountants, financial advisors, investment bankers, brokers, consultants, and other advisors of PubCo, including, for preparation of the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement, and any amendments and supplements thereto, preparing responses to any SEC comments, and drafting any charter amendments (and in each case, the related disclosure required in the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement); and (c) 50% of (i) the fees and expenses paid or payable to the Exchange Agent pursuant to the engagement agreement with the Exchange Agent; (ii) any fees and expenses incurred by American Stock and Trust Company, PubCo’s transfer agent in connection with the filing and distribution of the Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto with the SEC; and (iii) the D&O Tail Policy.

 

PubCo Triggering Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if: (a) PubCo shall have failed to include in the Proxy Statement the PubCo Board Recommendation, (b) the PubCo Board or any committee thereof shall have made a PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change or approved, endorsed or recommended any Acquisition Proposal, (c) PubCo shall have entered into any letter of intent or similar document or any Contract relating to any Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement permitted pursuant to Section  5.4), or (d) PubCo, or any director or officer of the PubCo, shall have willfully and intentionally breached the provisions set forth in Section 5.4.

 

PubCo Warrants” means any warrant to purchase shares of PubCo Capital Stock.

 

Representatives” means directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, advisors and representatives.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Securities Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit D, among the Company and the Persons named therein, pursuant to which such Persons have agreed to purchase the number of shares of Company Capital Stock set forth therein in connection with the Company Financing.

 

Stockholder Litigation” shall mean any potential or actual security holder litigation arising or resulting from this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Contemplated Transactions that may be brought in connection with, or on behalf of, any PubCo security holder’s interest in PubCo Capital Stock or Company security holder’s interest in Company Capital Stock.

 

Straddle Tax Period” shall mean any taxable period beginning on or prior to, and ending after, the Closing Date.

 

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Subsequent Transaction” means any Acquisition Transaction (with all references to 20% in the definition of Acquisition Transaction being treated as references to 85% for these purposes).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, another Entity of which such Person directly or indirectly owns or purports to own, beneficially or of record, (a) an amount of voting securities or other interests that is sufficient to enable such Person to elect at least a majority of the members of such entity’s board of directors or other governing body, or (b) at least 50% of the outstanding equity, voting, beneficial or financial interests in such Entity.

 

Superior Offer” means an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal (with all references to 20% in the definition of Acquisition Transaction being treated as references to 80% for these purposes) that: (a) was not obtained or made as a direct or indirect result of a breach of (or in violation of) this Agreement; (b) is on terms and conditions that the PubCo Board or the Company Board, as applicable, determines in good faith, based on such matters that it deems relevant (including the likelihood of consummation thereof and the financing terms thereof), as well as any written offer by the other Party to this Agreement to amend the terms of this Agreement, and following consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors, if any, are more favorable, from a financial point of view, to PubCo’s stockholders or the Company’s stockholders, as applicable, than the terms of the Contemplated Transactions; (c) is not subject to any financing conditions (and if financing is required, such financing is then fully committed to the third party); and (d) is reasonably capable of being completed on the terms proposed without unreasonable delay.

 

Tax” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other tax, including any income tax, franchise tax, capital gains tax, gross receipts tax, value-added tax, surtax, estimated tax, unemployment tax, national health insurance tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax, transfer tax, stamp tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, business tax, withholding tax, payroll tax, customs duty, alternative or add-on minimum or other tax of any kind whatsoever, and including any fine, penalty, addition to tax or interest imposed by a Governmental Authority with respect thereto.

 

Tax Return” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, declaration, estimate, schedule, notice, notification, form, election, certificate or other document or information, and any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation or enforcement of or compliance with any Law relating to any Tax.

 

Transaction Payroll Taxes” shall mean the employer’s portion of any employment, payroll or similar Taxes with respect to (a) any payments described in the definition of PubCo Transaction Expenses, (b) any exercise or payments in respect of PubCo Options, (c) the vesting and settlement of PubCo RSU Awards (including in accordance with Section 6.8), (d) any vesting of PubCo Capital Stock, or (e) other compensatory payments, in each case made in connection with the Contemplated Transactions (whether payable by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries).

 

Treasury Regulations” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

Unpaid Pre-Closing Taxes” means all Taxes of PubCo and its Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period (including Deferred Payroll Taxes and any Taxes imposed pursuant to Sections 951 or 951A of the Code with respect to income earned by a Subsidiary in any Pre-Closing Tax Period) that are unpaid as of the Cash Determination Time. For this purpose, in the case of Taxes based on or measured by income, receipts, or payroll, the amount of such Taxes that have accrued through the Closing Date for a Straddle Tax Period shall be deemed to be the amount that would be payable if the taxable year or period ended at the end of the day on the Closing Date based on an interim closing of the books (and in the case of any Taxes attributable to the ownership of any equity interest in any partnership or other “flowthrough” entity or “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code or any comparable state, local or non-U.S. Law), as if the taxable period of such partnership or other “flowthrough” entity or “controlled foreign corporation” ended as of the end of the Closing Date), except that exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis (including depreciation and amortization deductions, other than with respect to property placed in service after the Closing), shall be allocated on a per diem basis. In the case of any other Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis for a Straddle Tax Period, the amount of such Taxes that have accrued through the Closing Date shall be the amount of such Taxes for the relevant period (or, in the case of such Taxes determined on an arrears basis, the amount of such Taxes for the immediately preceding period) multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of calendar days from the beginning of the period up to and including the Cosing Date and the denominator of which shall be the number of calendar days in the entire period. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of allocating Taxes imposed under Section 951A of the Code in respect of a Subsidiary of PubCo, the “qualified business asset investment” (as such term is used in Section 951A(d) of the Code) in respect of the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall equal the product of (i) the Subsidiary’s “qualified business asset investment” (as defined in Section 951A(d)(1) of the Code) for the taxable year of the Subsidiary that includes the Closing Date (determined as though such taxable year ended on the Closing Date), and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the portion of such taxable year ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such taxable year.

 

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(a)                Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:

 

Term Section
Agreement Preamble  
Anti-Bribery Laws 3.22  
Asset Disposition 5.6  
Asset Milestone Payment 2.13  
Cash Determination Time 2.9(a)  
Capitalization Date 4.6(a)  
Certificate of Merger 2.3  
Certifications 4.7(a)  
Closing 2.3  
Closing Date 2.3  
Company Preamble  
Company Allocation Certificate 6.17(a)  
Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change 6.2(d)  
Company Board Recommendation 6.2(c)  
Company Disclosure Schedule Section 3  

 

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Term Section
Company Financials 3.7(a)  
Company Financing Milestone Payment 2.13  
Company Interim Financial Statements 6.1  
Company Material Contract 3.13(a)  
Company Milestone Recipient 2.13  
Company Plan 3.6(c)  
Company Permits 3.14(b)  
Company Product Candidates 3.14(d)  
Company Real Estate Leases 3.11  
Company Regulatory Permits 3.14(d)  
Company Stock Certificate 2.6  
Company Stockholder Support Agreement Recitals  
Company Stockholder Written Consents Recitals  
Company Termination Fee 10.3(b)  
Company Valuation Calculation 2.9(f)  
Company Valuation Schedule 2.9(f)  
Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet 3.7(a)  
COVID-19 Measures 5.1  
CVR 2.2(a)  
CVR Agreement 2.2(a)  
D&O Indemnified Parties 6.9(a)  
D&O Tail Policy 6.9(c)  
Dissenting Shares 2.8(a)  
Drug Regulatory Agency 3.14(c)  
Effective Time 2.3  
End Date 10.1(b)  
Exchange Agent 2.7(a)  
FDA 3.14(c)  
FDCA 3.14(c)  
Form S-4 6.1(a)  
GAAP 3.7(a)  
Grant Date 3.6(e)  
Investor Agreements 6.15  

 

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Term Section
Liability 3.9  
Lock-Up Agreement Recitals  
Merger Recitals  
Merger Consideration 2.5(a)(ii)  
Merger Sub Preamble  
Milestone Payment 2.13  
Nasdaq Listing Application 6.11  
Notice Period 6.2(d)  
PHSA 3.14(b)  
Pre-Closing Period 5.1(a)  
Privacy Policies 4.23  
Proxy Statement 6.1(a)  
PubCo Preamble  
PubCo 2005 Plan 4.6(c)  
PubCo 2007 Plan 4.6(c)  
PubCo 2010 Plan 4.6(c)  
PubCo 2019 Plan 4.6(c)  
PubCo 2020 Plan 4.6(c)  
PubCo Inducement Plan 4.6(c)  
PubCo Allocation Certificate 6.17(b)  
PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change 6.3(b)  
PubCo Board Recommendation 6.3(b)  
PubCo Disclosure Schedule Section 4  
PubCo Material Contract 4.13  
PubCo Net Cash Calculation 2.9(a)  
PubCo Net Cash Schedule 2.9(a)  
PubCo Notice Period 6.3(c)  
PubCo Permits 4.14(b)  
PubCo Product Candidates 4.14(d)  
PubCo Regulatory Permits 4.14(b)  
PubCo Real Estate Leases 4.11  
PubCo Reverse Stock Split 6.18  
PubCo SEC Documents 4.7(a)  

 

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Term Section
PubCo Stock Plans 4.6(c)  
PubCo Stockholder Matters 6.3(a)  
PubCo Stockholder Meeting 6.3(a)  
PubCo Stockholder Support Agreement Recitals  
PubCo Termination Fee 10.3(d)  
Registration Statement 6.1(a)  
Required Company Stockholder Vote 3.4  
Required PubCo Stockholder Vote 4.4  
SEC Documents 6.21  
Stockholder Notice 6.2(b)  
Surviving Corporation 2.1  

 

1.2               Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine gender. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. The word “or” is not exclusive. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References to any statute are to that statute and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, modified, re-enacted thereof, substituted, from time to time. References to “$” and “dollars” are to the currency of the United States. All accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all accounting determinations hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP unless otherwise expressly specified. References from or through any date shall mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. All references to “days” shall be to calendar days unless otherwise indicated as a “Business Day.” Except as otherwise specifically indicated, for purposes of measuring the beginning and ending of time periods in this Agreement (including for purposes of “Business Day” and for hours in a day or Business Day), the time at which a thing, occurrence or event shall begin or end shall be deemed to occur in the Eastern time zone of the United States. The Parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The Parties agree that the Company Disclosure Schedule or PubCo Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in sections and subsections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in Section 3 or Section 4, respectively. The disclosures in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Schedule or the PubCo Disclosure Schedule shall qualify other sections and subsections in Section 3 or Section 4, respectively, to the extent it is readily apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other sections and subsections. The words “delivered” or “made available” mean, with respect to any documentation, that prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is two days prior to the date of this Agreement, a copy of such material has been posted to and made available by PubCo and its Representatives in the Egnyte electronic data room maintained by PubCo for the purposes of the Contemplated Transactions, and made available by Company and its Representatives in the Donnelley Financial Solutions Venue electronic data room maintained by Company for the purposes of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

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Section 2. Description of Transaction

 

2.1               The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, and the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease. The Company will continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”).

 

2.2               Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. As a result of the Merger, the Company will become a wholly owned Subsidiary of PubCo.

 

2.3               Closing; Effective Time. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 10, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9, the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely, as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than the second Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9, other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of such conditions), or at such other time, date and place as PubCo and the Company may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually takes place is referred to as the “Closing Date.” At the Closing, the Parties shall cause the Merger to be consummated by executing and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of merger with respect to the Merger, satisfying the applicable requirements of the DGCL and in form and substance as agreed to by the Parties (the “Certificate of Merger”). The Merger shall become effective at the time of the filing of such Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later time as may be specified in such Certificate of Merger with the consent of PubCo and the Company (the time as of which the Merger becomes effective being referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.4               Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; Directors and Officers. At the Effective Time:

 

(a)                the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated as set forth in an exhibit to the Certificate of Merger, until thereafter amended as provided by the DGCL and such certificate of incorporation;

 

(b)                the certificate of incorporation of PubCo shall be identical to the certificate of incorporation of PubCo immediately prior to the Effective Time, until thereafter amended as provided by the DGCL and such certificate of incorporation; provided, however, that at the Effective Time, PubCo shall file an amendment to its certificate of incorporation to (i) effect the PubCo Reverse Stock Split, (ii) change the name of PubCo to “Palisade Bio, Inc.” and (iii) make such other changes as are mutually agreeable to PubCo and the Company;

 

(c)                the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be identical to the bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (except that the name of the Surviving Corporation in such bylaws shall reflect the name identified Section 2.4(a)), until thereafter amended as provided by the DGCL and such bylaws;

 

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(d)                the directors and officers of PubCo, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of PubCo, shall be as set forth in Section 6.14; and

 

(e)                the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, shall be the directors and officers of PubCo as set forth in Section 6.14, after giving effect to the provisions of Section 6.14.

 

2.5               Conversion of Shares.

 

(a)                At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of PubCo, Merger Sub, the Company or any stockholder of the Company or PubCo:

 

(i)                 any shares of Company Capital Stock held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor; and

 

(ii)               subject to Section 2.5(c), each share of Company Capital Stock (including any shares of Company Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Company Financing and including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Additional Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) and excluding Dissenting Shares), and after giving effect to the conversion of Company Preferred Stock) shall be converted solely into the right, subject to Section 2.13, to receive a number of shares of PubCo Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Merger Consideration”).

 

(b)                If any shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time are unvested or are subject to a repurchase option or a risk of forfeiture under any applicable restricted stock unit award agreement or other similar agreement with the Company, then the shares of PubCo Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of Company Capital Stock will to the same extent be unvested and subject to the same repurchase option or risk of forfeiture, and such shares of PubCo Common Stock shall accordingly be marked with appropriate legends. The Company shall take all actions that may be necessary to ensure that, from and after the Effective Time, PubCo is entitled to exercise any such repurchase option or other right set forth in any such restricted stock unit award agreement or other agreement.

 

(c)                No fractional shares of PubCo Common Stock shall be issued in connection with the Merger, and no certificates or scrip for any such fractional shares shall be issued, with no cash being paid for any fractional share eliminated by such rounding. Any fractional shares of PubCo Common Stock a holder of Company Capital Stock would otherwise be entitled to receive shall be aggregated together first prior to eliminating any remaining fractional share.

 

(d)                All Company Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time under the Company Plan shall be treated in accordance with Section 6.5.

 

(e)                Each share of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Surviving Corporation. Each stock certificate of Merger Sub evidencing ownership of any such shares shall, as of the Effective Time, evidence ownership of such shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

 

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(f)                 If, between the time of calculating the Exchange Ratio and the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock or PubCo Capital Stock shall have been changed into, or exchanged for, a different number of shares or a different class, by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split (including the PubCo Reverse Stock Split to the extent such split has not previously been taken into account in calculating the Exchange Ratio), combination or exchange of shares or other like change, the Exchange Ratio shall, to the extent necessary, be equitably adjusted to reflect such change to the extent necessary to provide the holders of Company Capital Stock, Company Options, Company Warrants and PubCo Options, PubCo RSU Awards, and PubCo Capital Stock with the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares or other like change; provided, however, that nothing herein will be construed to permit the Company or PubCo to take any action with respect to Company Capital Stock or PubCo Common Stock, respectively, that is prohibited or not expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.6               Closing of the Company’s Transfer Books. At the Effective Time: (a) all shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be treated in accordance with Section 2.5(a), and all holders of certificates representing shares of Company Capital Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights as stockholders of the Company and (b) the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed with respect to all shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. No further transfer of any such shares of Company Capital Stock shall be made on such stock transfer books after the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, a valid certificate previously representing any shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (a “Company Stock Certificate”) is presented to the Exchange Agent or to the Surviving Corporation, such Company Stock Certificate shall be canceled and shall be exchanged as provided in Sections 2.5 and 2.7.

 

2.7               Surrender of Certificates.

 

(a)                On or prior to the Closing Date, PubCo and the Company shall jointly select a reputable bank, transfer agent or trust company to act as exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”). At the Effective Time, PubCo shall deposit with the Exchange Agent evidence of book-entry shares representing the shares of PubCo Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 2.5(a) in exchange for shares of Company Capital Stock.

 

(b)                Promptly after the Effective Time, the Parties shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to the Persons who were record holders of shares of Company Capital Stock that were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration: (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form and containing such provisions as PubCo may reasonably specify and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of Company Stock Certificates, if any, in exchange for book-entry shares of PubCo Common Stock. Upon surrender of a duly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as may be reasonably required by the Exchange Agent or PubCo, the record holder of such Company Capital Stock shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor book-entry shares representing the Merger Consideration (in a number of whole shares of PubCo Common Stock) that such record holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.5(a).

 

(c)                No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to PubCo Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the record holder of any Company Capital Stock with respect to the shares of PubCo Common Stock that such holder has the right to receive in the Merger until such holder delivers a duly executed letter of transmittal (at which time (or, if later, on the applicable payment date) such record holder shall be entitled, subject to the effect of applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws, to receive all such dividends and distributions, without interest).

 

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(d)                Any shares of PubCo Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent that remain undistributed to record holders of Company Capital Stock as of the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date shall be delivered to PubCo upon demand, and any record holders of Company Capital Stock who have not theretofore delivered a duly executed letter of transmittal in accordance with this Section 2.7 shall thereafter look only to PubCo for satisfaction of their claims for PubCo Common Stock and any dividends or distributions with respect to shares of PubCo Common Stock.

 

(e)                Each of the Exchange Agent, PubCo and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration deliverable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld from such consideration under the Code or under any other applicable Tax Law; provided, that if PubCo intends to deduct or withhold (or intends to instruct the Exchange Agent to deduct or withhold) from any payment of consideration deliverable pursuant to this Agreement, PubCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (1) provide the Company and the applicable payee with reasonably advance notice of such intention to withhold and (2) permit the Company and/or such payee to provide such certifications or other documentation as may be necessary and appropriate to permit such payment to be made free of, or at a reduced rate of, withholding. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or withheld and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Law, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid.

 

(f)                 No Party shall be liable to any record holder of Company Capital Stock or to any other Person with respect to any shares of PubCo Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or for any cash amounts delivered to any public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property Law, escheat Law or similar Law.

 

2.8               Appraisal Rights.

 

(a)                Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Capital Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders who have exercised and perfected appraisal rights for such shares of Company Capital Stock in accordance with the DGCL (collectively, the “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration described in Section 2.5 attributable to such Dissenting Shares. Such stockholders shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such shares of Company Capital Stock held by them in accordance with the DGCL, unless and until such stockholders fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or otherwise lose their appraisal rights under the DGCL. All Dissenting Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost their right to appraisal of such shares of Company Capital Stock under the DGCL (whether occurring before, at, or after the Effective Time) shall thereupon be deemed to be converted into and to have become exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration attributable to such Dissenting Shares upon their surrender in the manner provided in Section 2.5.

 

(b)                The Company shall give PubCo prompt written notice of any demands by dissenting stockholders received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands and any other instruments served on the Company and any material correspondence received by the Company in connection with such demands and the Company shall have the right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, without PubCo’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or agree to do any of the foregoing.

 

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2.9               Calculation of Net Cash and Company Valuation.

 

(a)                No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the date of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting (subject to any adjournment or postponement pursuant to Section 6.3), PubCo will deliver to the Company a schedule (the “PubCo Net Cash Schedule”) setting forth, in reasonable detail, PubCo’s good faith, estimated calculation of Net Cash (the “PubCo Net Cash Calculation”) as of the anticipated Closing Date (the “Cash Determination Time”) prepared and certified by PubCo’s chief financial officer (or if there is no chief financial officer at such time, the principal financial and accounting officer for PubCo). PubCo shall make available to the Company (electronically to the greatest extent possible), as reasonably requested by the Company, the work papers and back-up materials used or useful in preparing the PubCo Net Cash Schedule and, if reasonably requested by the Company, PubCo’s accountants and counsel at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice. The PubCo Net Cash Calculation shall include PubCo’s determination, as of the Cash Determination Time, of the defined terms in Section 1.1(a) necessary to calculate the Exchange Ratio.

 

(b)                Within three (3) days following the delivery of the PubCo Net Cash Calculation (the “Response Date”), the Company will have the right to dispute any part of the PubCo Net Cash Calculation as set forth in the PubCo Net Cash Schedule by delivering a written notice to that effect (a “Dispute Notice”) to PubCo. Any Dispute Notice shall identify in reasonable detail the nature of any proposed revisions to the PubCo Net Cash Calculation.

 

(c)                If on or prior to the Response Date, (i) the Company notifies PubCo in writing that it has no objections to the PubCo Net Cash Calculation or (ii) the Company fails to deliver a Dispute Notice as provided in Section 2.9(a), then the PubCo Net Cash Calculation as set forth in the PubCo Net Cash Schedule shall be deemed to have been finally determined for purposes of this Agreement and to represent the PubCo Net Cash Schedule at the Cash Determination Time for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(d)                If the Company delivers a Dispute Notice on or prior to the Response Date, then Representatives of PubCo and the Company shall promptly meet and attempt in good faith to resolve the disputed item(s) and negotiate an agreed-upon determination of the PubCo Net Cash Schedule.

 

(e)                If Representatives of PubCo and the Company are unable to negotiate an agreed-upon determination of the PubCo Net Cash Schedule, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.9(c) within three (3) days after delivery of the Dispute Notice (or such other period as PubCo and the Company may mutually agree upon), then PubCo and the Company shall jointly select an independent auditor of recognized national standing (the “Accounting Firm”) to resolve any remaining disagreements as to the PubCo Net Cash Calculation that were set forth in the Dispute Notice delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 2.9(a). PubCo shall promptly deliver to the Accounting Firm the work papers and back-up materials used in preparing the PubCo Net Cash Schedule, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.9(a), and PubCo and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Accounting Firm to make its determination within ten (10) days of accepting its selection. The Company and PubCo shall be afforded the opportunity to present to the Accounting Firm any material related to the unresolved disputes and to discuss the issues with the Accounting Firm; provided, however, that no such presentation or discussion shall occur without the presence of a Representative of each of the Company and PubCo. The determination of the Accounting Firm shall be limited to those disagreements submitted to the Accounting Firm, provided, that such disagreements were set forth in the Dispute Notice sent by the Company to PubCo pursuant to Section 2.9(a). The determination made by the Accounting Firm of any such disagreements submitted to the Accounting Firm shall be deemed to have been finally determined for purposes of this Agreement and the PubCo Net Cash Calculation, as adjusted by the Accounting Firm to reflect any such determination made by the Accounting Firm of such disagreements submitted to the Accounting Firm, shall represent the PubCo Net Cash Schedule at the Cash Determination Time, as applicable, for purposes of this Agreement, and the Parties shall delay the Closing Date until the resolution of the matters described in this Section 2.9(e). The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be allocated between PubCo and the Company in the same proportion that the disputed amount of the Net Cash that was unsuccessfully disputed by such Party (as finally determined by the Accounting Firm) bears to the total disputed amount of the Net Cash (and for the avoidance of doubt the portion of such fees and expenses to be paid by PubCo shall reduce the Net Cash); provided, however, that if the Accounting Firm takes longer than ten (10) days to make its determination then Company shall at its election (x) pay the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm or (y) deem any costs and expenses incurred by PubCo following such ten (10) day period to be excluded from Net Cash. If this Section 2.9(e) applies as to the determination of the PubCo Net Cash Schedule at the Cash Determination Time described in Section 2.9(a), upon resolution of the matter in accordance with this Section 2.9(e), the Parties shall not be required to determine the PubCo Net Cash Schedule again even though the Closing Date may occur later than the Cash Determination Time.

 

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(f)                 No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the date of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting, the Company will deliver to PubCo a schedule (the “Company Valuation Schedule”) setting forth, in reasonable detail, the Company’s good faith, estimated calculations of the components of the Company Valuation (the “Company Valuation Calculation”) as of the anticipated Closing Date, (the “Company Valuation Time”) prepared and certified by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Company shall make available to PubCo, as reasonably requested by PubCo, the work papers and back-up materials used or useful in preparing the Company Valuation Schedule and, if reasonably requested by PubCo, the Company’s accountants and counsel at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice.

 

(g)                Within three (3) days following the Company Valuation Time (the “Valuation Response Date”) of the Company Valuation Schedule to the PubCo, the PubCo will have the right to dispute any part of the Company Valuation Calculation as set forth in the Company Valuation Schedule by delivering a written notice to that effect (a “Valuation Dispute Notice”) to Company. Any Valuation Dispute Notice shall identify in reasonable detail the nature of any proposed revisions to the Company Valuation Calculation.

 

(h)                If on or prior to the Valuation Response Date, (i) PubCo notifies the Company in writing that it has no objections to the Company Valuation Calculation or (ii) the PubCo fails to deliver a Valuation Dispute Notice as provided in Section 2.9(f), then the Company Valuation Calculation as set forth in the Company Valuation Schedule shall be deemed to have been finally determined for purposes of this Agreement and to represent the Company Valuation at the Company Valuation Time for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(i)                 If the PubCo delivers a Valuation Dispute Notice on or prior to the Valuation Response Date and such Valuation Dispute Notice complies with the provisions of Section 2.9(f), then Representatives of the Company and PubCo shall promptly meet and attempt in good faith to resolve the disputed item(s) and negotiate an agreed-upon determination of the Company Valuation.

 

(j)                 If Representatives of the Company and PubCo are unable to negotiate an agreed-upon determination of the Company Valuation pursuant to Section 2.9(h) within three (3) days after delivery of the Valuation Dispute Notice (or such other period as the Company and the PubCo may mutually agree upon), then PubCo and the Company shall jointly select an Accounting Firm to resolve any remaining disagreements as to the Company Valuation Calculation that were set forth in the Valuation Dispute Notice delivered by the PubCo pursuant to, and in compliance with, the provisions of Section 2.9(f). PubCo shall promptly deliver to the Accounting Firm the work papers and back-up materials used in preparing the Company Valuation Schedule pursuant to Section 2.9(f), and the Company and PubCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Accounting Firm to make its determination within ten (10) days of accepting its selection. PubCo and the Company shall be afforded the opportunity to present to the Accounting Firm any material related to the unresolved disputes and to discuss the issues with the Accounting Firm; provided, however, that no such presentation or discussion shall occur without the presence of a Representative of each of PubCo and the Company. The determination of the Accounting Firm shall be limited to those disagreements submitted to the Accounting Firm, provided, that such disagreements were set forth in the Valuation Dispute Notice sent by PubCo to the Company pursuant to, and in compliance with, the provisions of Section 2.9(f). The determination made by the Accounting Firm of any such disagreements submitted to the Accounting Firm shall be deemed to have been finally determined for purposes of this Agreement and the Company Valuation Calculation, as adjusted by the Accounting Firm to reflect any such determination made by the Accounting Firm of such disagreements submitted to the Accounting Firm, shall represent the Company Valuation Calculation at the Company Valuation Time for purposes of this Agreement, and the Parties shall delay the Closing Date until the resolution of the matters described in this Section 2.9(j). The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be allocated between the Company and PubCo in the same proportion that the disputed amount of the Company Valuation that was unsuccessfully disputed by such Party (as finally determined by the Accounting Firm) bears to the total disputed amount of the Company Valuation (and for the avoidance of doubt the portion of such fees and expenses to be paid by the Company shall reduce the Company Valuation); provided, however, that if the Accounting Firm takes longer than ten (10) days to make its determination then PubCo shall at its election (x) pay the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm or (y) deem any costs and expenses incurred by the Company following such ten (10) day period to be excluded from the Company Valuation. If this Section 2.9(j) applies as to the determination of the Company Valuation at the Company Valuation Time described in Section 2.9(f), upon resolution of the matter in accordance with this Section 2.9(j) the Parties shall not be required to determine the Company Valuation again even though the Closing Date may occur later than the Company Valuation Time.

 

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(k)                For the purposes of this Section 2.9, the “anticipated” Closing Date shall be the date, as agreed upon by PubCo and the Company at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the PubCo Stockholders Meeting, to be the anticipated date for Closing.

 

2.10           Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is determined by the Surviving Corporation to be necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and possession of and to all rights and property of the Company, then the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be fully authorized, and shall use their and its commercially reasonable efforts (in the name of the Company, in the name of Merger Sub, in the name of the Surviving Corporation and otherwise) to take such action.

 

2.11           Tax Consequences. For United States federal, state and other relevant Tax purposes, (i) the Parties intend that the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (the “Intended Tax Treatment”), and (ii) this Agreement is intended to be, and is hereby adopted as, a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Section 354 and 361 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a), to which PubCo, Merger Sub and the Company are parties under Section 368(b) of the Code.

 

2.12           Contingent Value Right.

 

(a)                Holders (i) of PubCo Common Stock, of record, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be entitled to one contractual contingent value right (“CVR”) issued by PubCo subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Contingent Value Rights Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “CVR Agreement”), for each share of PubCo Common Stock held by such holders and (ii) of PubCo Warrants, of record, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be entitled to one CVR issued by PubCo subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Pubco Warrants, for each share of PubCo Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such PubCo Warrants.

 

(b)                Following any Asset Milestone Payment, if any portion of the Potentially Transferable Asset Sale Amount is received by PubCo within forty eight months of the Effective Time (to the extent that all monies received on or prior to the Asset Milestone Payment date are included in the Asset Milestone Payment calculation) then all such amounts shall be paid pursuant to the CVR Agreement to stockholders of PubCo.

 

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(c)                At or prior to the Effective Time, PubCo shall authorize and duly adopt, execute and deliver, and will ensure that the Exchange Agent and CVR Representative (as defined in the CVR Agreement) execute and deliver, the CVR Agreement, subject to any reasonable revisions to the CVR Agreement that are requested by such Exchange Agent (provided, that such revisions are immaterial and not, individually or in the aggregate, detrimental or adverse, taken as a whole, to any holder of a CVR). PubCo and the Company shall cooperate, including by making changes to the form of CVR Agreement, as necessary to ensure that the CVRs are not subject to registration under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

 

(d)                PubCo, the Exchange Agent and (if necessary) CVR Representative shall, unless the Company and PubCo mutually agree, at or prior to the Effective Time, duly authorize, execute and deliver the CVR Agreement.

 

2.13           Milestone Payment.

 

(a)                In connection with any distribution of the Company Financing Milestone Payment, subject to Section 2.13(b) and Section 2.13(c), without any further action on the part of PubCo, Merger Sub, the Company or any stockholder of the Company or PubCo, subject to Section 2.5(c), each holder of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time ((after giving effect to the conversion of Company Preferred Stock and excluding (i) shares of Company Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Company Financing, (ii) shares to be canceled pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i), and (iii) Dissenting Shares) (each a “Company Milestone Recipient”) shall be entitled to receive the Per Share Company Financing Milestone Consideration.

 

(b)                Following the Final Reset Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) to the extent PubCo receives any distribution of the PubCo Common Stock held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, PubCo shall cause the Exchange Agent to issue the Company Financing Milestone Shares (the “Company Financing Milestone Payment”) to the Company Milestone Recipients based upon each such holder’s Per Share Company Financing Milestone Consideration.

 

(c)                If the Potentially Transferable Assets Sale Amount has not been received, or any portion thereof, by PubCo within sixty days of the Closing Date or such later date at the Company’s election, then PubCo may cause the Exchange Agent to issue the Asset Milestone Shares to the Company Milestone Recipients based upon each such holder’s Per Share Asset Milestone Consideration (the “Asset Milestone Payment” and together with the “Company Financing Milestone Payment,” the “Milestone Payments”).

 

(d)                The right of any holder of Company Capital Stock to receive any Milestone Payment: (i) does not give such holder dividend rights, voting rights, liquidation rights, preemptive rights or other rights of holders of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation or PubCo or any ownership rights in the assets of the Surviving Corporation or PubCo; (ii) shall not be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument; (iii) shall not be assignable or otherwise transferable by such holder, except (A) to a trust for the benefit of such holder or any member of such holder’s immediate family, (B) by will or intestacy upon death, (C) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the Milestone Payment is to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustee, (D) pursuant to a court order, (E) by operation of law (including a consolidation or merger), or (F) without consideration in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other Entity; provided, that any such transferee(s) shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Section 2.13; (iv) shall not accrue or pay interest on any portion thereof; and (v) does not represent any right other than the right to receive the consideration set forth in this Section 2.13. Any attempted transfer of the right to any Milestone Payment by any holder thereof (other than as specifically permitted by the immediately preceding sentence) shall be null and void.

 

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Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

Except as set forth in the written disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to PubCo (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”), the Company represents and warrants to PubCo and Merger Sub as follows:

 

3.1               Due Organization; Subsidiaries.

 

(a)                The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all necessary corporate power and authority: (i) to conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted, (ii) to own or lease and use its property and assets in the manner in which its property and assets are currently owned or leased and used and (iii) to perform its obligations under all Contracts by which it is bound, except, in each case, where the failure to have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of the Company to consummate the Contemplated Transactions or have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                The Company is duly licensed and qualified to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent applicable in such jurisdiction), under the Laws of all jurisdictions where the nature of its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted requires such licensing or qualification other than in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified individually or in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                The Company has no Subsidiaries and the Company does not own any capital stock of, or any equity, ownership or profit sharing interest of any nature in, and does not control directly or indirectly, any other Entity. The Company is not and has otherwise never been, directly or indirectly, a party to, member of or participant in any partnership, joint venture or similar business entity. The Company has not agreed, is not obligated to make, and is not bound by any Contract under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other Entity. The Company has never been a general partner of, and has otherwise never been liable for any of the debts or other obligations of, any general partnership, limited partnership or other Entity.

 

3.2               Organizational Documents. The Company has delivered to PubCo accurate and complete copies of the Company’s Organizational Documents in effect as of the date of this Agreement. The Company is not in breach or violation of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.

 

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3.3               Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Vote, to perform its obligations under this Agreement and consummate the Contemplated Transactions. The Company Board has (a) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (c) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt or approve this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by PubCo and Merger Sub, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

3.4               Vote Required. The affirmative vote or written consent of (a) the holders of a majority of the shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock (voting as a single class on an as-converted to Company Common Stock basis) and (b) the holders of a majority of the shares of Company Preferred Stock, in each case, outstanding on the record date for the Company Stockholder Written Consent and entitled to vote thereon (the “Required Company Stockholder Vote”), are the only votes of the holders of any class or series of Company Capital Stock necessary to adopt and approve this Agreement and approve the Contemplated Transactions.

 

3.5               Non-Contravention; Consents.

 

(a)                Subject to obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Vote, the filing of the Certificate of Merger required by the DGCL, and except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither (x) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company, nor (y) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):

 

(i)                 contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any of the provisions of the Company’s Organizational Documents;

 

(ii)               contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation of, or give any Governmental Authority or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other Person the right to challenge the Contemplated Transactions or to exercise any material remedy or obtain any material relief under, any Law or any Order by which the Company, or any of the assets owned or used by the Company, is subject, except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company or its business;

 

(iii)             contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation of any of the terms or requirements of, or give any Governmental Authority the right to revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held by the Company;

 

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(iv)              contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation or breach of, or result in a default under, any provision of any Company Material Contract, or give any Person the right to: (A) declare a default or exercise any remedy under any Company Material Contract, (B) any material payment, rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any Company Material Contract, (C) accelerate the maturity or performance of any Company Material Contract or (D) cancel, terminate or modify any term of any Company Material Contract, except in the case of any non-material breach, default, penalty or modification; or

 

(v)                result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance upon or with respect to any material asset owned or used by the Company (except for Permitted Encumbrances).

 

(b)                Except for (i) any Consent as set forth on Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule under any Company Contract, (ii) the Required Company Stockholder Vote, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger required by the DGCL, and (iv) such consents, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws, the Company was not, is not, and will not be required to make any filing with or give any notice to, or to obtain any Consent from, any Governmental Authority in connection with (x) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or (y) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, which, if individually or in the aggregate were not given or obtained, would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of the Company to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(c)                The Company Board has taken and will take all actions necessary to ensure that the restrictions applicable to business combinations contained in Section 203 of the DGCL are, and will be, inapplicable to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and to the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions. No other state takeover statute or similar Law applies or purports to apply to the Merger, this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

3.6               Capitalization.

 

(a)                The authorized Company Capital Stock as of the date of this Agreement consists of (i) 250,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock of which 102,041,277 shares have been issued and are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) 33,594,625 shares of Company Preferred Stock of which 11,674,131 shares have been issued and are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)                All of the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in the Company’s Organization Documents, Investor Agreements or as contemplated herein (i) none of the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock is entitled or subject to any preemptive right, right of participation, right of maintenance or any similar right, (ii) none of the outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock is subject to any right of first refusal in favor of the Company, and (iii) there is no Company Contract relating to the voting or registration of, or restricting any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging or otherwise disposing of (or granting any option or similar right with respect to), any shares of Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock. The Company is not under any obligation, nor is it bound by any Contract pursuant to which it may become obligated, to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or other securities. Section 3.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule accurately and completely lists all repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to shares of Company Common Stock (including shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Company Options) and specifies which of those repurchase rights are currently exercisable.

 

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(c)                Except for the Company’s 2013 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Company Plan”), the Company does not have any stock option plan or any other plan, program, agreement or arrangement providing for any equity-based compensation for any Person. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has reserved 35,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock for issuance under the Company Plan, of which 30,410,243 shares have been issued and are currently outstanding, 30,410,243 have been reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding Company Options granted under the Company Plan, and 4,589,757 shares of Company Common Stock remain available for future issuance pursuant to the Company Plan. Section 3.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the following information with respect to each Company Option outstanding as of the date of this Agreement: (i) the name of the optionee, (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option at the time of grant, (iii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the date of this Agreement, (iv) the exercise price of such Company Option, (v) the date on which such Company Option was granted, (vi) the applicable vesting schedule, including any acceleration provisions and the number of vested and unvested shares as of the date of this Agreement, (vii) the date on which such Company Option expires and (viii) whether such Company Option is intended to be an “incentive stock option” (as defined in the Code) or a non-qualified stock option. The Company has made available to PubCo an accurate and complete copy of the Company Plan and forms of all stock option agreements approved for use thereunder.

 

(d)                Except for the conversion provisions for the Company Preferred Stock (which will be converted into Company Common Stock at the closing of the Company Financing), the outstanding Company Options set forth on Section 3.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company Warrants or as set forth on Section 3.6(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule there is no: (i) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant or right (whether or not currently exercisable) to acquire any shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Company, (ii) outstanding security, instrument or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Company, (iii) stockholder rights plan (or similar plan commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) or Company Contract under which the Company is or may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any shares of its capital stock or any other securities or (iv) to the Company’s Knowledge, condition or circumstance that could be reasonably likely to give rise to or provide a basis for the assertion of a claim by any Person to the effect that such Person is entitled to acquire or receive any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Company.

 

(e)                All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock, Company Options and other securities of the Company have been issued and granted in material compliance with (i) all applicable securities laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable Company Contracts.

 

3.7               Financial Statements.

 

(a)                Section 3.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule includes true and complete copies of (i) the Company’s audited balance sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2019 (the “Company Audited Balance Sheets”), (ii) the Company’s unaudited balance sheets at September 30, 2020 (the “Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet”), (iii) the Company’s audited statements of income, cash flow and stockholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and (iv) the Company’s unaudited statements of income, cash flow and stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2020 (collectively, the “Company Financials”). The Company Financials (A) were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (except that the Company Financials may not have notes thereto and other presentation items that may be required by GAAP and are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that are not reasonably expected to be material in amount) and (B) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and operating results of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated therein.

 

(b)                Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists, and the Company has delivered to PubCo accurate and complete copies of the documentation creating or governing, all securitization transactions and “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(c) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) effected by the Company since January 1, 2018.

 

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(c)                Since January 1, 2018, there have been no formal internal investigations regarding financial reporting or accounting policies and practices discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or general counsel of the Company, the Company Board or any committee thereof. Since January 1, 2018, neither the Company nor its independent auditors have identified (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of the system of internal accounting controls utilized by the Company, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Company, the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by the Company or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.

 

3.8               Absence of Changes. Except as set forth on Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, between the date of the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet and the date of this Agreement, the Company has conducted its business only in the Ordinary Course of Business (except for the execution and performance of this Agreement and the discussions, negotiations and transactions related thereto) and there has not been any (a) Company Material Adverse Effect or (b) action, event or occurrence that would have required consent of PubCo pursuant to Section 5.2(b) of this Agreement had such action, event or occurrence taken place after the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

3.9               Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. As of the date hereof, the Company has no liability, indebtedness, obligation, expense, claim, deficiency, guaranty or endorsement of any kind, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured or otherwise (each a “Liability”), in each case, of a type required to be reflected or reserved for on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (a) Liabilities disclosed, reflected or reserved against in the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, (b) Liabilities that have been incurred by the Company since the date of the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business (none of which relates to any breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of Law), (c) Liabilities for performance of obligations of the Company under Company Contracts, (d) Liabilities incurred in connection with the Contemplated Transactions and the Securities Purchase Agreement, (e) Liabilities which would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and (f) Liabilities listed in Section 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

 

3.10           Title to Assets. Except where a failure would not result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company owns, and has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all tangible properties or tangible assets and equipment used or held for use in its business or operations or purported to be owned by it that are material to the Company or its business, including: (a) all tangible assets reflected on the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet and (b) all other tangible assets reflected in the books and records of the Company as being owned by the Company. All of such assets are owned or, in the case of leased assets, leased by the Company free and clear of any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

3.11           Real Property; Leasehold. The Company does not own or has ever owned any real property. The Company has made available to PubCo (a) an accurate and complete list of all real properties with respect to which the Company directly or indirectly holds a valid leasehold interest as well as any other real estate that is in the possession of or leased by the Company and (b) copies of all leases under which any such real property is possessed (the “Company Real Estate Leases”), each of which is in full force and effect, with no existing material default thereunder.

 

3.12           Intellectual Property.

 

(a)                Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is an accurate, true and complete listing of all Company Registered IP, in each case including, to the extent applicable, the date of filing, issuance or registration, the filing, issuance or registration number and the name of the body where the filing, issuance or registration was made.

 

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(b)                Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule accurately identifies (i) all material Company Contracts pursuant to which Company IP Rights are licensed to the Company (other than (A) any non-customized software that (1) is so licensed solely in executable or object code form pursuant to a non-exclusive software license and other Intellectual Property associated with such software and (2) is not incorporated into, or material to the development, manufacturing, or distribution of, any of the Company’s products or services, (B) any Intellectual Property licensed on a non-exclusive basis ancillary to the purchase or use by or on behalf of the Company of equipment, reagents or other materials, (C) agreements between Company and its employees of the kind described in Section 3.12(e)(ii) in the Company’s standard form thereof, and (D) materials transfer agreement, clinical trial agreements, or services agreement), (ii) the corresponding Company Contract pursuant to which such Company IP Rights are licensed to the Company and (iii) whether the license or licenses granted to the Company are exclusive or non-exclusive.

 

(c)                Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule accurately identifies each Company Contract pursuant to which any Person has been granted any license or covenant not to sue under, or otherwise has received or acquired any right (whether or not currently exercisable) or interest (including any joint ownership) in, any Company IP Rights (other than (i) any confidential information provided under confidentiality agreements, (ii) any materials transfer agreements, and (iii) any Company IP Rights non-exclusively licensed to suppliers or service providers for the purpose of enabling such supplier or service providers to provide services for the Company’s benefit).

 

(d)                The Company is not bound by, and no Company IP Rights are subject to, any Contract containing any covenant or other provision that in any way limits or restricts the ability of the Company to use, exploit, assert, or enforce any Company IP Rights anywhere in the world, in each case, in a manner that would materially limit the business of the Company as currently conducted or planned to be conducted.

 

(e)                The Company exclusively owns all right, title, and interest in and to Company IP Rights, other than (i) Company IP Rights exclusively and non-exclusively licensed to the Company, (ii) co-owned rights as identified in Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, or (iii) any non-customized software that (A) is licensed to the Company solely in executable or object code form pursuant to a non-exclusive software license and other Intellectual Property associated with such software and (B) is not incorporated into, or material to the development, manufacturing, or distribution of, any of the Company’s products or services, in each case, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)                 All documents and instruments necessary to register or apply for or renew registration of Company Registered IP have been validly executed, delivered, and filed in a timely manner with the appropriate Governmental Authority.

 

(ii)               Each Person who is or was an employee or contractor of the Company and who is or was involved in the creation or development of any Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company has signed a valid, enforceable agreement containing a present assignment of such Intellectual Property to the Company and confidentiality provisions protecting trade secrets and confidential information of the Company.

 

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(iii)             To the Knowledge of the Company, no current or former stockholder, officer, director, or employee of the Company has any claim, right (whether or not currently exercisable), or interest to or in any Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company is (a) bound by or otherwise subject to any Contract restricting him or her from performing his or her duties for the Company or (b) in breach of any Contract with any former employer or other Person concerning Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company or confidentiality provisions protecting trade secrets and confidential information comprising Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company.

 

(iv)              To the Knowledge of the Company, no funding, facilities, or personnel of any Governmental Authority were used, directly or indirectly, to develop or create, in whole or in part, any Company IP Rights in which the Company has an ownership interest, except for any such funding or use of facilities or personnel that does not result in such Governmental Authority obtaining ownership or other rights to such Company IP Rights or the right to receive royalties for the practice of such Company IP Rights.

 

(v)                The Company has taken reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of and otherwise protect and enforce its rights in all proprietary information that the Company holds, or purports to hold, as confidential or a trade secret.

 

(vi)              The Company has not assigned or otherwise transferred ownership of, or agreed to assign or otherwise transfer ownership of, any Company IP Rights to any other Person.

 

(vii)            To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company IP Rights constitute all Intellectual Property necessary for the Company to conduct its business as currently conducted; provided, however, that the foregoing representation is not a representation with respect to non-infringement or misappropriation of Intellectual Property.

 

(f)                 The Company has delivered or made available to PubCo, a complete and accurate copy of all Company IP Rights Agreements required to be listed on Section 3.12(b) or Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. With respect to each of the Company IP Rights Agreements: (i) each such agreement is valid and binding on the Company, as applicable, and in full force and effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, (ii) the Company has not received any written notice of termination or cancellation under such agreement, or received any written notice of breach or default under such agreement, which breach has not been cured or waived and (iii) neither Company nor to the Knowledge of the Company any other party to any such agreement, is in breach or default thereof in any material respect.

 

(g)                The manufacture, marketing, license, sale, offering for sale, importation, use or intended use or other disposal of any product or technology as currently licensed or sold or under development by the Company does not violate any license or agreement between the Company and any third party in any material respect, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, does not infringe or misappropriate any valid and issued Patent right of any other Person, other than any Intellectual Property licensed to the Company by any other Person, which infringement or misappropriation would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no third party is infringing upon any Patents owned by Company within the Company IP Rights or misappropriating or otherwise violating any license or agreement between such third party and the Company relating to any Company IP Rights in any material respect.

 

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(h)                As of the date of this Agreement, Company is not a party to any Legal Proceeding (including, but not limited to, opposition, interference or other proceeding in any patent or other government office) contesting the validity, enforceability, claim construction, ownership or right to use, sell, offer for sale, license or dispose of any Company IP Rights. The Company has not received any written notice asserting that any Company IP Rights or the proposed use, sale, offer for sale, license or disposition of products, methods, or processes claimed or covered thereunder conflicts with or infringes or misappropriates the rights of any other Person or that the Company have otherwise infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property of any Person. None of the Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company is subject to any outstanding order of, judgment of, decree of or agreement with any Governmental Authority that limits the ability of the Company to exploit any Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company.

 

(i)                 Each item of Company IP Rights that is Company Registered IP purported to be owned by the Company is and at all times has been filed and maintained in compliance with all applicable Law and all filings, payments, and other actions required to be made or taken to maintain such item of Company Registered IP in full force and effect have been made by the applicable deadline. To the Knowledge of the Company, all Company Registered IP purported to be owned by the Company that is issued or granted is valid and enforceable.

 

(j)                 To the Knowledge of the Company, no trademark (whether registered or unregistered) or trade name owned, used, or applied for by the Company conflicts or interferes with any trademark (whether registered or unregistered) or trade name owned, used, or applied for by any other Person. None of the goodwill associated with or inherent in any trademark (whether registered or unregistered) in which the Company has or purports to have an ownership interest has been impaired as determined by the Company in accordance with GAAP.

 

(k)                Except as set forth in Sections 3.12(b) or 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as contained in license, distribution and service agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business by the Company (i) the Company is not bound by any Contract to indemnify, defend, hold harmless, or reimburse any other Person with respect to any Intellectual Property infringement, misappropriation, or similar claim which is material to the Company and (ii) the Company has not assumed, nor agreed to discharge or otherwise take responsibility for, any existing or potential liability of another Person for infringement, misappropriation, or violation of any Intellectual Property right, which assumption, agreement or responsibility remains in force as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(l)                 The Company is not party to any Contract that, as a result of such execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, will cause the grant of any license or other right to any Company IP Rights, result in breach of, default under or termination of such Contract with respect to any Company IP Rights, or impair the right of the Company or the Surviving Corporation to use, sell or license or enforce any Company IP Rights or portion thereof, except for the occurrence of any such grant or impairment that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.13           Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.

 

(a)                Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists the following Company Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement (each, a “Company Material Contract” and collectively, the “Company Material Contracts”):

 

(i)                 each Company Contract relating to the employment of, or the performance of employment-related services by, any current Company Associate that is not immediately terminable at-will by the Company without notice, severance, or other similar cost or liability;

 

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(ii)               each Company Contract the primary purpose of which is indemnification or guaranty, except as entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(iii)             each Company Contract containing (A) any covenant limiting the freedom of the Company or the Surviving Corporation to engage in any line of business or compete with any Person, (B) any most-favored pricing arrangement, (C) any exclusivity provision or (D) any non-solicitation provision with respect to employees of other Persons, in each case, except for restrictions that would not materially affect the ability of Company to conduct its business;

 

(iv)              each Company Contract relating to capital expenditures and requiring payments after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms and not cancelable without penalty;

 

(v)                each Company Contract relating to the disposition or acquisition of material assets or any ownership interest in any Entity, in each case, involving payments in excess of $100,000;

 

(vi)              each Company Contract relating to any mortgages, indentures, loans, notes or credit agreements, security agreements or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit or creating any material Encumbrances with respect to any assets of the Company or any loans or debt obligations with officers or directors of the Company, in each case, having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $100,000;

 

(vii)            each Company Contract requiring payment by or to the Company after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms relating to: (A) any distribution agreement (identifying any that contain exclusivity provisions), (B) any agreement involving provision of services or products with respect to any pre-clinical or clinical development activities of the Company, (C) any dealer, distributor, joint marketing, alliance, joint venture, cooperation, development or other agreement currently in force under which the Company has continuing obligations to develop or market any product, technology or service, or any agreement pursuant to which the Company has continuing obligations to develop any Intellectual Property that will not be owned, in whole or in part, by the Company or (D) any Company Contract to license any patent, trademark registration, service mark registration, trade name or copyright registration to or from any third party to manufacture or produce any product, service or technology of the Company or any Contract to sell, distribute or commercialize any products or service of the Company, in each case, except for Company Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(viii)          each Company Contract with any Person, including any financial advisor, broker, finder, investment banker or other Person, providing advisory services to the Company in connection with the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(ix)              each Company Real Estate Lease;

 

(x)                each Company Contract to which the Company is a party or by which any of its assets and properties is currently bound, which involves annual obligations of payment by, or annual payments to, the Company in excess of $100,000; or

 

(xi)              any other Company Contract that is not terminable at will (with no penalty or payment) by the Company, as applicable, and (A) which involves payment or receipt by the Company after the date of this Agreement under any such agreement, contract or commitment of more than $100,000 in the aggregate, or obligations after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate or (B) that is material to the business or operations of the Company.

 

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(b)                The Company has delivered or made available to PubCo accurate and complete copies of all Company Material Contracts, including all amendments thereto. There are no Company Material Contracts that are not in written form. The Company has not, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, as of the date of this Agreement has any other party to a Company Material Contract, breached, violated or defaulted under, or received notice that it breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the terms or conditions of any Company Material Contract in such manner as would permit any other party to cancel or terminate any such Company Material Contract, or would permit any other party to seek damages which would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As to the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, each Company Material Contract is valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. As of the date of this Agreement, no Person is renegotiating with the Company to change any material amount paid or payable to the Company under any Company Material Contract or any other material term or provision of any Company Material Contract.

 

3.14           Compliance; Permits; Restrictions.

 

(a)                The Company is, and since January 1, 2018 has been, in material compliance with all applicable Laws. No investigation, claim, suit, proceeding, audit, Order, or other action by any Governmental Authority is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company. There is no agreement or Order binding upon the Company which (i) has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of the Company, any acquisition of material property by the Company or the conduct of business by the Company as currently conducted, (ii) is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to comply with or perform any covenant or obligation under this Agreement or (iii) is reasonably likely to have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b)                Except where a failure would not result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company holds all required Governmental Authorizations which are material to the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted (the “Company Permits”). Section 3.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each Company Permit. The Company is in material compliance with the terms of the Company Permits. No Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, which seeks to revoke, substantially limit, suspend, or materially modify any Company Permit. The rights and benefits of each Company Permit will be available to the Surviving Corporation, as applicable, immediately after the Effective Time on terms substantially identical to those enjoyed by the Company as of the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

(c)                There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to an alleged material violation by the Company of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”), the Public Health Service Act (“PHSA”), Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) regulations adopted thereunder, or any other similar Law promulgated by the FDA or other comparable Governmental Authority responsible for regulation of the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation of drug products (“Drug Regulatory Agency”).which is material to the conduct of the Company’s business.

 

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(d)                The Company holds all required Governmental Authorizations issuable by any Drug Regulatory Agency or Governmental Authority which is necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company as currently conducted, and the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation, as currently conducted, of any of its product candidates (the “Company Product Candidates”) (collectively, the “Company Regulatory Permits”) and no such Company Regulatory Permit has been (i) revoked, withdrawn, suspended, cancelled or terminated or (ii) modified in any adverse manner, other than immaterial modifications. The Company has timely maintained and are in compliance in all material respects with the Company Regulatory Permits and have not received any written notice or other written communication from any Drug Regulatory Agency or Governmental Authority regarding (A) any material violation of or failure to comply materially with any term or requirement of any Company Regulatory Permit or (B) any revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination or material modification of any Company Regulatory Permit. The Company has made available to PubCo all information requested by PubCo in the Company’s possession or control relating to the Company Product Candidates and the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation of the Company Product Candidates, including but not limited to complete copies of the following (to the extent there are any): (x) adverse event reports; pre-clinical, clinical and other study reports and material study data; inspection reports, notices of adverse findings, untitled letters, warning letters, filings and letters and other written correspondence to and from any Drug Regulatory Agency; and meeting minutes with any Drug Regulatory Agency and (y) similar reports, material study data, notices, letters, filings, correspondence and meeting minutes with any other Governmental Authority. All such information is accurate and complete in all material respects.

 

(e)                All clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company, or in which the Company or their respective product candidates, including the Company Product Candidates, have participated, were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with standard medical and scientific research procedures and in compliance in all material respects with the applicable regulations of the Drug Regulatory Agencies and other applicable Law, including 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58 and 312. The Company has not received any written notices, correspondence, or other communications from any Drug Regulatory Agency requiring, or to the Knowledge of the Company threatening to initiate, any action to place a clinical hold order on, or otherwise terminate, delay, or suspend any clinical studies conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company or in which the Company or its respective current product candidates, including the Company Product Candidates, have participated. Further, no clinical investigator, researcher, or clinical staff participating in any clinical study conducted by or, to the Knowledge of the Company, on behalf of the Company has been disqualified from participating in studies involving the Company Product Candidates, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no such administrative action to disqualify such clinical investigators, researchers or clinical staff has been threatened or is pending.

 

(f)                 Neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate, is the subject of any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened investigation in respect of its business or products by the FDA pursuant to its “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy set forth in 56 Fed. Reg. 46191 (September 10, 1991) and any amendments thereto. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate has committed any acts, made any statement, or failed to make any statement, in each case in respect of its business or products that would violate the FDA’s “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy, and any amendments thereto. Neither of the Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, any contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents has been convicted of any crime or engaged in any conduct that could result in a debarment or exclusion under (i) 21 U.S.C. Section 335a or (ii) any similar applicable Law. To the Knowledge of the Company, no debarment or exclusionary claims, actions, proceedings or investigations in respect of their business or products are pending or threatened against the Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, any contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents.

 

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(g)                All manufacturing operations conducted by, or to the Knowledge of the Company, for the benefit of, the Company in connection with any Company Product Candidate, since January 1, 2018, have been and are being conducted in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws, including the FDA’s standards for current good manufacturing practices, including applicable requirements contained in 21 C.F.R. Parts 210, 211, 600-680, and 1271, and the respective counterparts thereof promulgated by Governmental Authorities in countries outside the United States.

 

(h)                No manufacturing site owned by the Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no manufacturing site of a contract manufacturer, with respect to any Company Product Candidate, (i) is subject to a Drug Regulatory Agency or Governmental Authority shutdown or import or export prohibition or (ii) has received any Form FDA 483, notice of violation, warning letter, untitled letter, or similar correspondence or notice from the FDA or other Governmental Authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any applicable Law, in each case, that have not been complied with or closed to the satisfaction of the relevant Governmental Authority, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the FDA nor any other Governmental Authority is considering such action.

 

3.15           Legal Proceedings; Orders.

 

(a)                As of the date of this Agreement, there is no material pending Legal Proceeding and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has threatened in writing to commence any Legal Proceeding: (i) that involves the Company or any of the material assets owned or used by the Company or (ii) that challenges, or that may reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with, the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b)                There is no Order to which the Company, or any of the material assets owned or used by the Company, is subject.

 

3.16           Tax Matters.

 

(a)                The Company has timely filed all federal income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns that it was required to file under applicable Law. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects and have been prepared in material compliance with all applicable Law. Subject to exceptions as would not be material, no claim has ever been made by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns that the Company is subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

 

(b)                All material Taxes due and owing by the Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. The unpaid Taxes of the Company did not, as of the date of the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, materially exceed the reserve for Tax liability (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax items) set forth on the face of the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet. Since the date of the Company Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, the Company has not incurred any material Liability for Taxes outside the Ordinary Course of Business or otherwise inconsistent with past custom and practice.

 

(c)                The Company has withheld and paid all material Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party.

 

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(d)                There are no Encumbrances for material Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and delinquent) upon any of the assets of the Company.

 

(e)                No deficiencies for material Taxes with respect to the Company have been claimed, proposed or assessed by any Governmental Authority in writing. There are no pending (or, based on written notice, threatened) material audits, assessments or other actions for or relating to any liability in respect of Taxes of the Company. Neither the Company (nor any of its predecessors) has waived any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a material Tax assessment or deficiency.

 

(f)                 The Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

 

(g)                The Company is not a party to any material Tax allocation, Tax sharing or similar agreement (including indemnity arrangements), other than customary indemnification provisions in commercial contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business with vendors, customers, lenders or landlords.

 

(h)                The Company has never been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company). The Company does not have any material Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law) or as a transferee or successor.

 

(i)                 The Company has not distributed stock of another Person, nor has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 of the Code or Section 361 of the Code.

 

(j)                 The Company has not entered into any transaction identified as a “listed transaction” for purposes of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.6011-4(b)(2) or 301.6111-2(b)(2).

 

(k)                The Company is a corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes under Section 7701 of the Code.

 

(l)                 The Company does not have knowledge of any facts and has not taken or agreed to take any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

3.17           Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans.

 

(a)                Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the employment of each of the Company’s employees is terminable by the Company at will. The Company has made available to PubCo accurate and complete copies of all employee manuals and handbooks, disclosure materials, policy statements and other materials relating to the employment of Company Associates to the extent currently effective and material.

 

(b)                Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, no officer or Key Employee of the Company has expressed any written or oral intention to terminate his, her or its employment or service arrangement with the Company.

 

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(c)                The Company is not a party to, is not bound by and does not have a duty to bargain under, any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor organization representing any of its employees, and there are no labor organizations representing or, to the Knowledge of the Company, purporting to represent or seeking to represent any employees of the Company. During the past three (3) years, there has not been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, union, organizing activity, question concerning representation or any similar activity or dispute, affecting the Company. No event has occurred within the past six (6) months, and no condition or circumstance exists, that might directly or indirectly be likely to give rise to or provide a basis for the commencement of any such strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, union organizing activity, question concerning representation or any similar activity or dispute. The Company is not, nor has the Company been, engaged in any Unfair Labor Practice within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.

 

(d)                Section 3.17(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of every material Company Employee Plan. True, complete and correct copies of the following documents, with respect to each Company Employee Plan, where applicable, have previously been made available to PubCo: (i) all documents embodying or governing such Company Employee Plan (or for unwritten Company Employee Plans a written description of the material terms of such Company Employee Plan) and any funding medium for the Company Employee Plan; (ii) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter; (iii) the most recently filed Form 5500; (iv) the most recent actuarial valuation report; (v) the most recent summary plan description (or other descriptions provided to employees) and all modifications thereto; (vi) the last three years of non-discrimination testing results; and (vii) all non-routine correspondence to and from any governmental agency.

 

(e)                Each Company Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination or approval letter from the IRS with respect to such qualification, or may rely on an opinion letter issued by the IRS with respect to a prototype plan adopted in accordance with the requirements for such reliance, or has time remaining for application to the IRS for a determination of the qualified status of such Company Employee Plan for any period for which such Company Employee Plan would not otherwise be covered by an IRS determination and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no event or omission has occurred that would cause any Company Employee Plan to lose such qualification or require corrective action to the IRS or Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System to maintain such qualification.

 

(f)                 Each Company Employee Plan has been established, operated and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and all applicable Law, including, the Code, ERISA, and the Affordable Care Act. No Company Employee Plan is, or within the past six years has been, the subject of an application or filing under a government sponsored amnesty, voluntary compliance, or similar program, or been the subject of any self-correction under any such program. No Legal Proceeding (other than those relating to routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Company Employee Plan and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reasonable basis for any such Legal Proceeding. All payments and/or contributions required to have been made with respect to all Company Employee Plans either have been made or have been accrued in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Employee Plan and applicable Law. The Company Employee Plans satisfy in all material respects the minimum coverage, affordability and non-discrimination requirements under the Code.

 

(g)                Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates provides or has any obligation to provide health care or any other non-pension benefits to any employees after their employment is terminated (other than as required by COBRA or similar state Law) and the Company has never promised to provide such post-termination benefits.

 

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(h)                Each Company Employee Plan may be amended, terminated, or otherwise modified (including cessation of participation) by the Company to the greatest extent permitted by applicable Law, including the elimination of any and all future benefit accruals thereunder (other than ordinary administration expenses or with respect to benefits, other than bonuses, commissions or amounts under other compensation plans, that were previously earned, vested or accrued under Company Employee Plans prior to the Effective Time) and no employee communication or provision of any Company Employee Plan has failed to effectively reserve the right of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates to so amend, terminate or otherwise modify such Company Employee Plan. Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has announced its intention to modify or terminate any Company Employee Plan or adopt any arrangement or program which, once established, would come within the definition of a Company Employee Plan. Each asset held under each Company Employee Plan may be liquidated or terminated without the imposition of any redemption fee, surrender charge or comparable liability.

 

(i)                 No Company Employee Plan provides for medical or any other welfare benefits to any service provider beyond termination of service or retirement, other than pursuant to (1) COBRA or an analogous state law requirement or (2) continuation coverage through the end of the month in which such termination or retirement occurs. The Company does not sponsor or maintain any self-funded medical or long-term disability employee benefit plan.

 

(j)                 No Company Employee Plan is subject to any Law of a foreign jurisdiction outside of the United States.

 

(k)                The per share exercise price of each Company Option is no less than the fair market value of a share of Company Common Stock on the date of grant of such Company Option, determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code. Each Company Employee Plan that constitutes in any part a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in all material respects in operational and documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder. No payment to be made under any Company Employee Plan is, or to the Knowledge of the Company, will be, subject to the penalties of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. Any transfer of property which was subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and which would otherwise have been subject to taxation under Section 83(a) of the Code is covered by a valid and timely filed election under Section 83(b) of the Code, and a copy of such election has been provided to PubCo.

 

(l)                 The Company is, and since January 1, 2018 has been, in material compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations respecting employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, worker classification, tax withholding, prohibited discrimination, equal employment, fair employment practices, meal and rest periods, immigration status, employee safety and health, wages (including overtime wages), compensation, and hours of work, and in each case, with respect to the employees of the Company: (i) has withheld and reported all material amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld and reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to employees, (ii) is not liable for any arrears of wages, severance pay or any Taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing and (iii) is not liable for any material payment to any trust or other fund governed by or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for employees (other than routine payments to be made in the Ordinary Course of Business). There are no, and since January 1, 2018 there have not been any, actions, suits, claims or administrative matters pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company relating to any employee, employment agreement or Company Employee Plan (other than routine claims for benefits). To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no pending or threatened claims or actions against the Company, any Company trustee under any workers’ compensation policy or long-term disability policy. The Company is not a party to a conciliation agreement, consent decree or other agreement or Order with any federal, state, or local agency or Governmental Authority with respect to employment practices.

 

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(m)              Since January 1, 2018, the Company has no material liability with respect to any misclassification: (i) any Person as an independent contractor rather than as an employee, (ii) any employee leased from another employer or (iii) any employee currently or formerly classified as exempt from overtime wages. The Company has not taken any action which would constitute a “plant closing” or “mass layoff” within the meaning of the WARN Act or similar state or local law, issued any notification of a plant closing or mass layoff required by the WARN Act or similar state or local law, or incurred any liability or obligation under WARN or any similar state or local law that remains unsatisfied.

 

(n)                There is no, and since January 1, 2018 there has not been any, Legal Proceeding, claim, labor dispute or grievance pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened relating to any employment contract, privacy right, labor dispute, wages and hours, leave of absence, plant closing notification, workers’ compensation policy, long-term disability policy, harassment, retaliation, immigration, employment statute or regulation, safety or discrimination matter involving any Company Associate, including charges of Unfair Labor Practices or discrimination complaints.

 

(o)                No Company Employee Plan provides for any Tax “gross-up” or similar “make-whole” payments.

 

(p)                Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the shareholder approval of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby could (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result in, or cause the accelerated vesting payment, funding or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any employee, officer, director or other service provider of the Company (ii) further restrict any rights of the Company to amend or terminate any Company Employee Plan; (iii) result in any “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (whether or not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation for services rendered).

 

(q)                The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.17, shall constitute the only representations and warranties of the Company with respect to employment and labor matters.

 

3.18           Environmental Matters. Since January 1, 2018, the Company has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the possession by the Company of all permits and other Governmental Authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws and compliance with the terms and conditions thereof, except for any failure to be in compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received since January 1, 2018, any written notice or other communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a Governmental Authority or other Person, that alleges that the Company is not in compliance with any Environmental Law and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with the Company’s compliance in any material respects with any Environmental Law in the future, except where such failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company: (i) nor any current or prior owner of any property leased or controlled by the Company has received since January 1, 2018, any written notice or other communication relating to property leased at any time by the Company, whether from a Governmental Authority or other Person, that alleges that such current or prior owner or the Company is not in compliance with or violated any Environmental Law relating to such property. The Company has no material liability under any Environmental Law.

 

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3.19           Insurance. The Company has delivered to PubCo accurate and complete copies of all material insurance policies and all material self-insurance programs and arrangements relating to the business, assets, liabilities and operations of the Company. Each of such insurance policies is in full force and effect and the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the terms thereof. Other than customary end of policy notifications from insurance carriers, since January 1, 2018 through the date of this Agreement, the Company has not received any notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible: (i) cancellation or invalidation of any insurance policy or (ii) refusal or denial of any coverage, reservation of rights or rejection of any material claim under any insurance policy. The Company has provided timely written notice to the appropriate insurance carrier(s) of each Legal Proceeding pending against the Company for which the Company has insurance coverage, and no such carrier has issued a denial of coverage or a reservation of rights with respect to any such Legal Proceeding, or informed the Company of its intent to do so.

 

3.20           No Financial Advisors. Other than EVP, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage fee, finder’s fee, opinion fee, success fee, transaction fee or other fee or commission in connection with the Contemplated Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.

 

3.21           Transactions with Affiliates. Since January 1, 2017, there has been no material transactions or relationships between, on the one hand, the Company and, on the other hand, any (a) executive officer or director of the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of such executive officer’s or director’s immediate family members, (b) owner of more than five percent (5%) of the voting power of the outstanding Company Capital Stock or (c) to the Knowledge of the Company, any “related person” (within the meaning of Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) of any such officer, director or owner (other than the Company) in the case of each of (a), (b) or (c) that is of the type that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

3.22           Anti-Bribery. None of the Company or any of its directors, officers, employees or, to the Company’s Knowledge, agents or any other Person acting on its behalf has directly or indirectly made any bribes, rebates, payoffs, influence payments, kickbacks, illegal payments, illegal political contributions, or other payments, in the form of cash, gifts, or otherwise, or taken any other action, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or any other anti-bribery or anti-corruption Law (collectively, the “Anti-Bribery Laws”). The Company has not been the subject of any investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority with respect to potential violations of Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

3.23           No Other Representations or Warranties. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, neither PubCo nor any other person on behalf of PubCo makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to PubCo or with respect to any other information provided to the Company or stockholders or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and (subject to the express representations and warranties of PubCo set forth in Section 4 (in each case as qualified and limited by the PubCo Disclosure Schedule)) none of the Company or any of their respective Representatives or stockholders, has relied on any such information (including the accuracy or completeness thereof).

 

Section 4. Representations and Warranties of PubCo and Merger Sub.

 

Except (i) as set forth in the written disclosure schedule delivered by PubCo to the Company (the “PubCo Disclosure Schedule”) or (ii) as disclosed in the PubCo SEC Documents filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof and publicly available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (but (A) without giving effect to any amendment thereof filed with, or furnished to the SEC on or after the date hereof and (B) excluding any disclosures contained under the heading “Risk Factors” and any disclosure of risks included in any “forward-looking statements” disclaimer or in any other section to the extent they are forward-looking statements or cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), it being understood that any matter disclosed in the PubCo SEC Documents (x) shall not be deemed disclosed for purposes of Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Section 4.4, Section 4.5 or Section 4.6 and (y) shall be deemed to be disclosed in a section of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule only to the extent that it is readily apparent from a reading of such PubCo SEC Document that it is applicable to such section of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, PubCo and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

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4.1               Due Organization; Subsidiaries.

 

(a)                Each of PubCo and its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all necessary corporate power and authority: (i) to conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted, (ii) to own or lease and use its property and assets in the manner in which its property and assets are currently owned or leased and used and (iii) to perform its obligations under all Contracts by which it is bound, in each case, except where the failure to have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the ability of the PubCo or its Subsidiaries to consummate the Contemplated Transactions or have a PubCo Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of its incorporation, Merger Sub has not engaged in any activities or conducted any operations of any kind, entered into any agreement or arrangement with any Person, or incurred, directly or indirectly, any liabilities, in each case other than in connection with or as contemplated by this Agreement. All of the Subsidiaries of PubCo are wholly owned by PubCo.

 

(b)                Each of PubCo and its Subsidiaries is duly licensed and qualified to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent applicable in such jurisdiction), under the Laws of all jurisdictions where the nature of its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted requires such licensing or qualification other than in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified individually or in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to have a PubCo Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                Except as set forth on Section 4.1(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, PubCo has no Subsidiaries other than Merger Sub and PubCo does not own any capital stock of, or any equity ownership or profit sharing interest of any nature in, or control directly or indirectly, any other Entity other than Merger Sub. PubCo is not and has not otherwise been, directly or indirectly, a party to, member of or participant in any partnership, joint venture or similar business entity. PubCo has not agreed and is not obligated to make, nor is PubCo bound by any Contract under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other Entity. PubCo has not, at any time, been a general partner of, and has not otherwise been liable for any of the debts or other obligations of, any general partnership, limited partnership or other Entity.

 

4.2               Organizational Documents. PubCo has delivered to the Company accurate and complete copies of PubCo’s Organizational Documents in effect as of the date of this Agreement. PubCo is not in breach or violation of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.

 

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4.3               Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. Each of PubCo and Merger Sub has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to receipt of the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote, to perform its obligations under the Agreement and to consummate the Contemplated Transactions. The PubCo Board (at meetings duly called and held) has: (a) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of PubCo and its stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including the issuance of shares of PubCo Common Stock to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (c) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of PubCo vote to approve this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions, including the issuance of shares of PubCo Common Stock to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Merger Sub Board (by unanimous written consent) has: (x) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable, and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (y) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (z) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the sole stockholder of Merger Sub vote to adopt this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by PubCo and Merger Sub and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of PubCo and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of PubCo and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

4.4               Vote Required. The affirmative vote of a majority of (a) the votes present and entitled to vote at the PubCo Stockholder Meeting is the only vote of the holders of PubCo Common Stock necessary to approve the proposals in Section 6.3(a)(i), Section 6.3(a)(iii) and Section 6.3(a)(iv) and (b) the shares of PubCo Common Stock entitled to vote thereon is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of PubCo Capital Stock necessary to approve the proposals in Section 6.3(a)(ii), and Section 6.3(a)(v) (collectively, the “Required PubCo Stockholder Vote”).

 

4.5               Non-Contravention; Consents.

 

(a)                Subject to obtaining the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote and the filing of the Certificate of Merger required by the DGCL, and except as set forth on Section 4.5 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, neither (x) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by PubCo or Merger Sub, nor (y) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time), except where such actions, occurrences or events could not reasonably be expected to result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect:

 

(i)                 contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any of the provisions of the Organizational Documents of PubCo, its Subsidiaries or the Merger Sub;

 

(ii)               contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation of, or give any Governmental Authority or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any other Person the right to challenge the Contemplated Transactions or to exercise any material remedy or obtain any material relief under, any Law or any Order to which PubCo or its Subsidiaries or any of the assets owned or used by PubCo or its Subsidiaries, is subject, except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to PubCo or its business;

 

(iii)             contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation of any of the terms or requirements of, or give any Governmental Authority the right to revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held by PubCo or its Subsidiaries or that otherwise relates to the business of PubCo, or any of the assets owned, leased or used by PubCo;

 

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(iv)              contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation or breach of, or result in a default under, any provision of any PubCo Material Contract, or give any Person the right to: (A) declare a default or exercise any remedy under any PubCo Material Contract, (B) any material payment, rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any such PubCo Material Contract, (C) accelerate the maturity or performance of any PubCo Material Contract or (D) cancel, terminate or modify any term of any PubCo Material Contract, except in the case of any non-material breach, default, penalty or modification; or

 

(v)                result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance upon or with respect to any material asset owned or used by PubCo or its Subsidiaries (except for Permitted Encumbrances).

 

(b)                Except for (i) any Consent as set forth on Section 4.5 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule under any PubCo Contract, (ii) the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger required by the DGCL, and (iv) such consents, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws, neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries was, is or will be required to make any filing with or give any notice to, or to obtain any Consent from, any Governmental Authority in connection with (x) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or (y) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(c)                The PubCo Board and the Merger Sub Board have taken and will take all actions necessary to ensure that the restrictions applicable to business combinations contained in Section 203 of the DGCL are, and will be, inapplicable to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and to the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions. No other state takeover statute or similar Law applies or purports to apply to the Merger, this Agreement or any of the other Contemplated Transactions.

 

4.6               Capitalization.

 

(a)                The authorized capital stock of PubCo consists of (i) 300,000,000 shares of PubCo Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 17,295,703 shares have been issued and are outstanding as of December 15, 2020 (the “Capitalization Date”) and (ii) 7,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 200,000 are issued and outstanding as of the Capitalization Date. PubCo does not hold any shares of its capital stock in its treasury.

 

(b)                All of the outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any Encumbrances. None of the outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock is entitled or subject to any preemptive right, right of participation, right of maintenance or any similar right. None of the outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock is subject to any right of first refusal in favor of PubCo. Except as contemplated herein, there is no PubCo Contract relating to the voting or registration of, or restricting any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging or otherwise disposing of (or granting any option or similar right with respect to), any shares of PubCo Common Stock. PubCo is not under any obligation, nor is PubCo bound by any Contract pursuant to which it may become obligated, to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock or other securities. Section 4.6(b) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule accurately and completely describes all repurchase rights held by PubCo with respect to shares of PubCo Common Stock (including shares issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options) and specifies which of those repurchase rights are currently exercisable.

 

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(c)                Except for the PubCo 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “PubCo 2020 Plan”), the PubCo 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “PubCo 2019 Plan”), the PubCo Amended 2010 Equity Compensation Plan (the “PubCo 2010 Plan”), the PubCo 2007 Stock Plan (the “PubCo 2007 Plan”), the PubCo Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan (the “PubCo 2005 Plan”) and the PubCo Amended and Restated Inducement Award Stock Option Plan (the “PubCo Inducement Plan” and, together with the PubCo 2020 Plan, the PubCo 2019 Plan, the PubCo 2010 Plan, the PubCo 2007 Plan and the PubCo 2005 Plan, the “PubCo Stock Plans”), and except as set forth on Section 4.6(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, PubCo does not have any stock option plan or any other plan, program, agreement or arrangement providing for any equity-based compensation for any Person. As of the date of this Agreement, PubCo has reserved 2,230,566 shares of PubCo Common Stock for issuance under the PubCo Stock Plans, of which 20,840 shares have been issued and are currently outstanding, 1,829,826 shares have been reserved for issuance upon exercise or settlement of PubCo Options and PubCo RSU Awards, as applicable, granted under the PubCo Stock Plans, and 372,359 shares remain available for future issuance pursuant to the PubCo Stock Plans. Section 4.6(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule sets forth the following information with respect to each PubCo Option and PubCo RSU Award outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, as applicable: (i) the name of the holder, (ii) the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock subject to such PubCo Option or PubCo RSU Award at the time of grant, (iii) the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock subject to such PubCo Option or PubCo RSU Award as of the date of this Agreement, (iv) the exercise price of such PubCo Option, (v) the date on which such PubCo Option or PubCo RSU Award was granted, (vi) the applicable vesting schedule, including any acceleration provisions and the number of vested and unvested shares as of the date of this Agreement, (vii) the date on which such PubCo Option expires and (viii) whether such PubCo Option is intended to be an “incentive stock option” (as defined in the Code) or a non-qualified stock option. PubCo has made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of equity incentive plans pursuant to which PubCo has granted equity-based awards, the forms of all award agreements evidencing such equity-based awards.

 

(d)                Except for the outstanding PubCo Options, PubCo RSU Awards and PubCo Warrants or as set forth on Section 4.6(d) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, there is no: (i) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant or right (whether or not currently exercisable) to acquire any shares of the capital stock or other securities of PubCo, (ii) outstanding security, instrument or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the capital stock or other securities of PubCo, (iii) stockholder rights plan (or similar plan commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) or Contract under which PubCo is or may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any shares of its capital stock or any other securities or (iv) condition or circumstance that may give rise to or provide a basis for the assertion of a claim by any Person to the effect that such Person is entitled to acquire or receive any shares of capital stock or other securities of PubCo. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to PubCo.

 

(e)                All outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock, PubCo Options, PubCo RSU Awards and other securities of PubCo have been issued and granted in material compliance with (i) all applicable securities laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable Contracts.

 

4.7               SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

 

(a)                PubCo has filed or furnished, as applicable, on a timely basis all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents (including all exhibits, schedules and annexes thereto) required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under applicable Laws, including any amendments or supplements thereto (collectively, together with all documents filed on a voluntary basis on Form 8-K and together with all documents and information incorporated by reference therein, the “PubCo SEC Documents”). As of the time it was filed with the SEC (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing), each of the PubCo SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (as the case may be) and, as of the time they were filed, none of the PubCo SEC Documents 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. The certifications and statements required by (i) Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act and (ii) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) relating to the PubCo SEC Documents (collectively, the “Certifications”) are accurate and complete and comply as to form and content with all applicable Laws, and no current or former executive officer of PubCo has failed to make the Certifications required of him or her. PubCo has made available to the Company true and complete copies of all correspondence, other than transmittal correspondence, between the SEC, on the one hand, and PubCo, on the other, since January 1, 2018, including all SEC comment letters and responses to such comment letters and responses to such comment letters by or on behalf of PubCo. As used in this Section 4.7, the term “file” and variations thereof shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.

 

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(b)                The financial statements (including any related notes) contained or incorporated by reference in the PubCo SEC Documents (including the audited financial statements conducted on PubCo by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP as of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018): (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, as applicable, and the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that the unaudited financial statements may not contain footnotes and are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that are not reasonably expected to be material in amount) applied on a consistent basis unless otherwise noted therein throughout the periods indicated and (iii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of PubCo and its consolidated Subsidiary as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows of PubCo and its consolidated Subsidiary for the periods covered thereby. Other than as expressly disclosed in the PubCo SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, there has been no material change in PubCo’s accounting methods or principles that would be required to be disclosed in PubCo’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The books of account and other financial records of PubCo and its consolidated Subsidiary are true and complete in all material respects.

 

(c)                To the Knowledge of PubCo, PubCo’s independent registered accounting firm has at all times since the date PubCo became subject to the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act been: (i) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), (ii) “independent” with respect to PubCo within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act and (iii) in compliance with subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board thereunder.

 

(d)                Since January 1, 2018, except as set forth on Section 4.7(d) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule and made available to the Company, PubCo has not received any comment letter from the SEC or the staff thereof or any correspondence from Nasdaq or the staff thereof relating to the delisting or maintenance of listing of the PubCo Common Stock on Nasdaq that have not been resolved.

 

(e)                Since January 1, 2018, there have been no formal investigations regarding financial reporting or accounting policies and practices discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or general counsel of PubCo, the PubCo Board or any committee thereof, other than ordinary course audits or reviews of accounting policies and practices or internal controls required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(f)                 Except as set forth on Section 4.7(f) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, PubCo is, and since January 1, 2018 has been, in compliance in all material respects with the applicable current listing and governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq.

 

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(g)                PubCo maintains, and at all times since January 1, 2018, has maintained, a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including policies and procedures sufficient to provide reasonable assurance (i) that PubCo maintains records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets of PubCo and its consolidated Subsidiary, (ii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the PubCo Board and (iv) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of PubCo’s assets that could have a material effect on PubCo’s financial statements. PubCo has evaluated the effectiveness of PubCo’s internal control over financial reporting and, to the extent required by applicable Law, presented in any applicable PubCo SEC Document that is a report on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q (or any amendment thereto) its conclusions about the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by such report or amendment based on such evaluation. PubCo has disclosed to PubCo’s auditors and the audit committee of the PubCo Board (and made available to the Company a summary of the significant aspects of such disclosure) (A) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses, if any, in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect PubCo’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in PubCo’s or its Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting. PubCo has not identified, based on its most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, any material weaknesses in the design or operation of PubCo’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(h)                PubCo maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by PubCo in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. All such information is accumulated and communicated to PubCo’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the Certifications and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective. PubCo has carried out evaluation of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

4.8               Absence of Changes. Except as set forth on Section 4.8 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, between the date of the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet and the date of this Agreement, PubCo has conducted its business only in the Ordinary Course of Business (except for the execution and performance of this Agreement and the discussions, negotiations and transactions related thereto) and there has not been any (a) PubCo Material Adverse Effect or (b) action, event or occurrence that would have required consent of the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(b) of this Agreement had such action, event or occurrence taken place after the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

4.9               Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability of a type required to be reflected or reserved for on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (a) Liabilities disclosed, reflected or reserved against in the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, (b) Liabilities that have been incurred by PubCo or its Subsidiaries since the date of the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business (none of which relates to any breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of Law), (c) Liabilities for performance of obligations of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries under PubCo Contracts, and (d) Liabilities described in Section 4.9 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule.

 

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4.10           Title to Assets. Except where a failure would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, PubCo and its Subsidiaries owns, and has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all tangible properties or assets and equipment used or held for use in its business or operations or purported to be owned by it, including: (a) all assets reflected on the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet and (b) all other assets reflected in the books and records of PubCo as being owned by PubCo. All of such assets are owned or, in the case of leased assets, leased by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

4.11           Real Property; Leasehold. Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries owns or has ever owned any real property. PubCo has made available to the Company (a) an accurate and complete list of all real properties with respect to which PubCo directly or indirectly holds a valid leasehold interest as well as any other real estate that is in the possession of or leased by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries and (b) copies of all leases under which any such real property is possessed (the “PubCo Real Estate Leases”), each of which is in full force and effect, with no existing material default thereunder.

 

4.12           Intellectual Property.

 

(a)                Section 4.12(a) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule is an accurate, true and complete listing of all PubCo Registered IP, in each case including, to the extent applicable, the date of filing, issuance or registration, the filing, issuance or registration number and the name of the body where the filing, issuance or registration was made.

 

(b)                Section 4.12(b) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule accurately identifies (i) all material PubCo Contracts pursuant to which PubCo IP Rights are licensed to PubCo (other than (A) any non-customized software that (1) is so licensed solely in executable or object code form pursuant to a non-exclusive software license and other Intellectual Property associated with such software and (2) is not incorporated into, or material to the development, manufacturing, or distribution of, any of PubCo products or services, (B) any Intellectual Property licensed on a non-exclusive basis ancillary to the purchase or use by or on behalf of PubCo of equipment, reagents or other materials, (C) agreements between PubCo and its employees of the kind described in Section 4.12(f)(ii) in PubCo’s standard form thereof, and (D) materials transfer agreement, clinical trial agreements, or services agreement), (ii) the corresponding PubCo Contract pursuant to which such PubCo IP Rights are licensed to PubCo and (iii) whether the license or licenses granted to PubCo are exclusive or non-exclusive.

 

(c)                Section 4.12(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule accurately identifies each PubCo Contract pursuant to which any Person has been granted any license or covenant not to sue under, or otherwise has received or acquired any right (whether or not currently exercisable) or interest (including any joint ownership) in, any PubCo IP Rights (other than (i) any confidential information provided under confidentiality agreements, (ii) any materials transfer agreements, and (iii) any PubCo IP Rights non-exclusively licensed to suppliers or service providers for the purpose of enabling such supplier or service providers to provide services for PubCo’s benefit).

 

(d)                PubCo is not bound by, and no PubCo IP Rights are subject to, any Contract containing any covenant or other provision that in any way limits or restricts the ability of the PubCo to use, exploit, assert, or enforce any PubCo IP Rights anywhere in the world, in each case, in a manner that would materially limit the business of the PubCo as currently conducted or planned to be conducted.

 

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(e)                PubCo has delivered, or made available to the Company, a complete and accurate copy of all material PubCo IP Rights Agreements required to be listed on Section 4.12(b) or 4.12(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule. With respect to each such PubCo IP Rights Agreements: (i) each such agreement is valid and binding on PubCo and in full force and effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, (ii) PubCo has not received any written notice of termination or cancellation under such agreement, or received any written notice of breach or default under such agreement, which breach has not been cured or waived and (iii) PubCo, and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, no other party to any such agreement, is in breach or default thereof in any material respect.

 

(f)                 PubCo exclusively owns all right, title, and interest in and to PubCo IP Rights, other than (i) PubCo IP Rights exclusively and non-exclusively licensed to PubCo, (ii) co-owned rights as identified in Section 4.12(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, or (iii) any non-customized software that (A) is licensed to PubCo solely in executable or object code form pursuant to a non-exclusive software license and other Intellectual Property associated with such software and (B) is not incorporated into, or material to the development, manufacturing, or distribution of, any of PubCo’s products or service, in each case, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)                 All documents and instruments necessary to register or apply for or renew registration of PubCo Registered IP have been validly executed, delivered, and filed in a timely manner with the appropriate Governmental Authority.

 

(ii)               Each Person who is or was an employee or contractor of PubCo and who is or was involved in the creation or development of any PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo has signed a valid, enforceable agreement containing a present assignment of such Intellectual Property to PubCo and confidentiality provisions protecting trade secrets and confidential information of PubCo.

 

(iii)             To the Knowledge of PubCo, no current or former stockholder, officer, director, or employee of PubCo has any claim, right (whether or not currently exercisable), or interest to or in any PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo. To the Knowledge of PubCo, no employee of PubCo is (a) bound by or otherwise subject to any Contract restricting him or her from performing his or her duties for PubCo or (b) in breach of any Contract with any former employer or other Person concerning PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo or confidentiality provisions protecting trade secrets and confidential information comprising PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo.

 

(iv)              To the Knowledge of PubCo, no funding, facilities, or personnel of any Governmental Authority were used, directly or indirectly, to develop or create, in whole or in part, any PubCo IP Rights in which PubCo has an ownership interest, except for any such funding or use of facilities or personnel that does not result in such Governmental Authority obtaining ownership or other rights to such PubCo IP Rights or the right to receive royalties for the practice of such PubCo IP Rights or that could result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect.

 

(v)                PubCo has taken reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of and otherwise protect and enforce its rights in all proprietary information that PubCo holds, or purports to hold, as confidential or a trade secret.

 

(vi)              Except as pursuant to any Asset Disposition, PubCo has not assigned or otherwise transferred ownership of, or agreed to assign or otherwise transfer ownership of, any PubCo IP Rights to any other Person.

 

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(vii)            To the Knowledge of PubCo, the PubCo IP Rights constitute all Intellectual Property necessary for PubCo and its Subsidiaries to conduct its business as currently conducted; provided, however, that the foregoing representation is not a representation with respect to non-infringement or misappropriation of Intellectual Property.

 

(g)                Neither the manufacture, marketing, license, offering for sale, sale, importation, use or intended use or other disposal of any product or technology as currently licensed or sold or under development by PubCo violates any license or agreement between PubCo and any third party in any material respect, and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, infringes or misappropriates any valid and issued Patent right of any other Person, other than any Intellectual Property licensed to PubCo by any other Person, which infringement or misappropriation would reasonably be expected to have a PubCo Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of PubCo, no third party is infringing upon any Patents owned by PubCo within the PubCo IP Rights, or otherwise violating any license or agreement between such third party and PubCo relating to any PubCo IP Rights in any material respect.

 

(h)                As of the date of this Agreement, PubCo is not a party to any Legal Proceeding (including, but not limited to, opposition, interference or other proceeding in any patent or other government office) contesting the validity, the enforceability, claim construction, ownership or right to use, sell, offer for sale, license or dispose of any PubCo IP Rights. PubCo has not received any written notice asserting that any PubCo Registered IP or the proposed use, sale, offer for sale, license or disposition of any products, methods, or processes claimed or covered thereunder conflicts with or infringes or misappropriates the rights of any other Person or that PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries have otherwise infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property of any Person. None of the PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo is subject to any outstanding order of, judgment of, decree of or agreement with any Governmental Authority that limits the ability of PubCo to exploit any PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo.

 

(i)                 Each item of PubCo IP Rights purported to be owned by PubCo that is PubCo Registered IP is and at all times has been filed and maintained in compliance with all applicable Law and all filings, payments, and other actions required to be made or taken to maintain such item of PubCo Registered IP in full force and effect have been made by the applicable deadline. To the Knowledge of PubCo, all PubCo Registered IP purported to be owned by PubCo that is issued or granted is valid and enforceable.

 

(j)                 To the Knowledge of PubCo, no trademark (whether registered or unregistered) or trade name owned, used, or applied for by PubCo conflicts or interferes with any trademark (whether registered or unregistered) or trade name owned, used, or applied for by any other Person. None of the goodwill associated with or inherent in any trademark (whether registered or unregistered) in which PubCo has or purports to have an ownership interest has been impaired as determined by PubCo in accordance with GAAP.

 

(k)                Except as may be set forth in the Contracts listed on Section 4.12(b) or 4.12(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule or as contained in license, distribution and service agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business by PubCo (i) PubCo is not bound by any Contract to indemnify, defend, hold harmless, or reimburse any other Person with respect to any Intellectual Property infringement, misappropriation, or similar claim which is material to PubCo taken as a whole and (ii) PubCo has never assumed, or agreed to discharge or otherwise take responsibility for, any existing or potential liability of another Person for infringement, misappropriation, or violation of any Intellectual Property right, which assumption, agreement or responsibility remains in force as of the date of this Agreement.

 

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(l)                 PubCo is not party to any Contract that, as a result of such execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, will cause the grant of any license or other right to any PubCo IP Rights, result in breach of, default under or termination of such Contract with respect to any PubCo IP Rights, or impair the right of PubCo and its Subsidiaries to use, sell or license or enforce any PubCo IP Rights or portion thereof, except for the occurrence of any such grant or impairment that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.13           Agreements, Contracts and Commitments(a).

 

(a)                Section 4.13(a) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule lists the following PubCo Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement (each, a “PubCo Material Contract” and collectively, the “PubCo Material Contracts”):

 

(i)                 each PubCo Contract relating to any material bonus, deferred compensation, severance, incentive compensation, pension, profit-sharing or retirement plans, or any other employee benefit plans or arrangements;

 

(ii)               each PubCo Contract requiring payments by PubCo after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms relating to the employment of, or the performance of employment-related services by, any current PubCo Associate that is not immediately terminable at-will by PubCo without notice, severance, or other similar cost or liability;

 

(iii)             each PubCo Contract relating to any agreement or plan, including any stock option plan, stock appreciation right plan, stock purchase plan, severance plan, policy or agreement, any of the payments or benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits or payments of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the Contemplated Transactions (either alone or in conjunction with any other event, such as termination of employment), or the value of any of the payments or benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iv)              each PubCo Contract relating to any agreement of indemnification or guaranty not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(v)                each PubCo Contract containing (A) any covenant limiting the freedom of PubCo, its Subsidiaries or the Surviving Corporation to engage in any line of business or compete with any Person, or limiting the development, manufacture or distribution of PubCo’s products or services (B) any most-favored pricing arrangement, (C) any exclusivity provision or (D) any non-solicitation provision with respect to employees of other Persons, in each case, except for restrictions that would not materially affect the ability of PubCo to conduct its business;

 

(vi)              each PubCo Contract relating to capital expenditures and requiring payments after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms and not cancelable without penalty;

 

(vii)            each PubCo Contract relating to the disposition or acquisition of material assets or any ownership interest in any Entity, in each case, involving payments in excess of $100,000;

 

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(viii)          each PubCo Contract relating to any mortgages, indentures, loans, notes or credit agreements, security agreements or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit or creating any material Encumbrances in each case in excess of $100,000 with respect to any assets of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries or any loans or debt obligations with officers or directors of PubCo;

 

(ix)              each PubCo Contract requiring payment by or to PubCo after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms relating to: (A) any distribution agreement (identifying any that contain exclusivity provisions), (B) any agreement involving provision of services or products with respect to any pre-clinical or clinical development activities of PubCo, (C) any dealer, distributor, joint marketing, alliance, joint venture, cooperation, development or other agreement currently in force under which PubCo has continuing obligations to develop or market any product, technology or service, or any agreement pursuant to which PubCo has continuing obligations to develop any Intellectual Property that will not be owned, in whole or in part, by PubCo or (D) any Contract to license any Patent, trademark registration, service mark registration, trade name or copyright registration to or from any third party to manufacture or produce any product, service or technology of PubCo or any Contract to sell, distribute or commercialize any products or service of PubCo, in each case, except for PubCo Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(x)                each PubCo Contract with any Person, including any financial advisor, broker, finder, investment banker or other Person, providing advisory services to PubCo in connection with the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(xi)              each PubCo Real Estate Lease;

 

(xii)            each PubCo Contract to which PubCo is a party or by which any of its assets and properties is currently bound, which involves annual obligations of payment by, or annual payments to, PubCo in excess of $100,000; or

 

(xiii)          any other PubCo Contract that is not terminable at will (with no penalty or payment) by PubCo or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and (A) which involves payment or receipt by PubCo or its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement under any such agreement, Contract or commitment of more than $100,000 in the aggregate, or obligations after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate or (B) that is material to the business or operations of PubCo and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(b)                PubCo has delivered or made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of all PubCo Material Contracts, including all amendments thereto. There are no PubCo Material Contracts that are not in written form. Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has, nor to PubCo’s Knowledge, as of the date of this Agreement has any other party to a PubCo Material Contract, breached, violated or defaulted under, or received notice that it breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the terms or conditions of any PubCo Material Contract in such manner as would permit any other party to cancel or terminate any such PubCo Material Contract, or would permit any other party to seek damages which would reasonably be expected to have a PubCo Material Adverse Effect. As to PubCo and its Subsidiaries, as of the date of this Agreement, each PubCo Material Contract is valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. As of the date of this Agreement, no Person is renegotiating, or has a right pursuant to the terms of any PubCo Material Contract to change, any material amount paid or payable to PubCo under any PubCo Material Contract or any other material term or provision of any PubCo Material Contract.

 

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4.14           Compliance; Permits; Restrictions.

 

(a)                Except where failure would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, PubCo and each of its Subsidiaries is, and since January 1, 2018, has been in material compliance with all applicable Laws. No investigation, claim, suit, proceeding, audit, Order, or other action by any Governmental Authority is pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened against PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no agreement or Order binding upon PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries which (i) has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of material property by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, or (ii) is reasonably likely to result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                Except where a failure would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, each of PubCo and its Subsidiaries: (i) holds all required Governmental Authorizations that are material to the operation of the business of PubCo and Merger Sub as currently conducted (collectively, the “PubCo Permits”) and (ii) is in material compliance with the terms of the PubCo Permits. No Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened, which seeks to revoke, substantially limit, suspend, or materially modify any PubCo Permit.

 

(c)                There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened with respect to an alleged material violation by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries of the FDCA, the PHSA, FDA regulations adopted thereunder, or any other similar Law promulgated by the FDA or other Drug Regulatory Agency which is material to the conduct of PubCo’s business.

 

(d)                Except where failure would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, each of PubCo and its Subsidiaries holds all required Governmental Authorizations issuable by any Drug Regulatory Agency or Governmental Authority which is necessary for the conduct of the business of PubCo as currently conducted and the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation, as currently conducted, of any of its product candidates (the “PubCo Product Candidates”) (collectively, the “PubCo Regulatory Permits”) and no such PubCo Regulatory Permit has been (i) revoked, withdrawn, suspended, cancelled or terminated or (ii) modified in any adverse manner, other than immaterial modifications. Except where failure would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, PubCo and its Subsidiaries have timely maintained and are in compliance in all material respects with the PubCo Regulatory Permits and have not received any written notice or other written communication from any Drug Regulatory Agency or Governmental Authority regarding (A) any material violation of or failure to comply materially with any term or requirement of any PubCo Regulatory Permit or (B) any revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination or material modification of any PubCo Regulatory Permit. PubCo has made available to the Company all information requested by the Company in PubCo’s or its Subsidiaries’ possession or control relating to the PubCo Product Candidates and the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation of the PubCo Product Candidates, including but not limited to complete copies of the following (to the extent there are any): (x) adverse event reports; pre-clinical, clinical and other study reports and material study data; inspection reports, notices of adverse findings, untitled letters, warning letters, filings and letters and other written correspondence to and from any Drug Regulatory Agency; and meeting minutes with any Drug Regulatory Agency and (y) similar reports, material study data, notices, letters, filings, correspondence and meeting minutes with any other Governmental Authority. All such information is accurate and complete in all material respects.

 

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(e)                All clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, PubCo, or in which PubCo or their respective product candidates, including the PubCo Product Candidates, have participated, were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with standard medical and scientific research procedures and in compliance in all material respects with the applicable regulations of the Drug Regulatory Agencies and other applicable Law, including 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58 and 312. PubCo has not received any written notices, correspondence, or other communications from any Drug Regulatory Agency requiring, or to the Knowledge of PubCo threatening to initiate, any action to place a clinical hold order on, or otherwise terminate, delay, or suspend any clinical studies conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, PubCo or in which PubCo or its respective current product candidates, including the PubCo Product Candidates, have participated. Further, no clinical investigator, researcher, or clinical staff participating in any clinical study conducted by or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, on behalf of PubCo has been disqualified from participating in studies involving the PubCo Product Candidates, and to the Knowledge of PubCo, no such administrative action to disqualify such clinical investigators, researchers or clinical staff has been threatened or is pending.

 

(f)                 Neither PubCo nor, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any contract manufacturer with respect to any PubCo Product Candidate, is the subject of any pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened investigation in respect of its business or products by the FDA pursuant to its “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy set forth in 56 Fed. Reg. 46191 (September 10, 1991) and any amendments thereto. To the Knowledge of PubCo, neither PubCo nor any contract manufacturer with respect to any PubCo Product Candidate has committed any acts, made any statement, or failed to make any statement, in each case in respect of its business or products that would violate the FDA’s “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy, and any amendments thereto. Neither of PubCo, and to the Knowledge of PubCo, any contract manufacturer with respect to any PubCo Product Candidate, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents has been convicted of any crime or engaged in any conduct that could result in a debarment or exclusion under (i) 21 U.S.C. Section 335a or (ii) any similar applicable Law. To the Knowledge of PubCo, no debarment or exclusionary claims, actions, proceedings or investigations in respect of their business or products are pending or threatened against PubCo, and to the Knowledge of PubCo, any contract manufacturer with respect to any PubCo Product Candidate, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents.

 

(g)                All manufacturing operations conducted by, or to the Knowledge of PubCo, for the benefit of, PubCo in connection with any PubCo Product Candidate, since January 1, 2018, have been and are being conducted in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws, including the FDA’s standards for current good manufacturing practices, including applicable requirements contained in 21 C.F.R. Parts 210, 211, 600-680, and 1271, and the respective counterparts thereof promulgated by Governmental Authorities in countries outside the United States.

 

(h)                No manufacturing site owned by PubCo, and to the Knowledge of PubCo, no manufacturing site of a contract manufacturer, with respect to any PubCo Product Candidate, (i) is subject to a Drug Regulatory Agency or Governmental Authority shutdown or import or export prohibition or (ii) has received any Form FDA 483, notice of violation, warning letter, untitled letter, or similar correspondence or notice from the FDA or other Governmental Authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any applicable Law, in each case, that have not been complied with or closed to the satisfaction of the relevant Governmental Authority, and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, neither the FDA nor any other Governmental Authority is considering such action.

 

4.15           Legal Proceedings; Orders.

 

(a)                Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no pending Legal Proceeding and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, no Person has threatened in writing to commence any Legal Proceeding: (i) that involves PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries or any PubCo Associate (in his or her capacity as such) or any of the material assets owned or used by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) that challenges, or that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with, the Contemplated Transactions.

 

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(b)                There is no Order to which PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of the material assets owned or used by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries is subject. To the Knowledge of PubCo, no officer or other Key Employee of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order that prohibits such officer or employee from engaging in or continuing any conduct, activity or practice relating to the business of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries or to any material assets owned or used by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

4.16           Tax Matters.

 

(a)                Each of PubCo and its Subsidiaries has filed all federal income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns that they were required to file under applicable Law except where failure to do so would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects and have been prepared in material compliance with all applicable Law. Subject to exceptions as would not be material and/or not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect, no claim has ever been made by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

 

(b)                All material Taxes due and owing by PubCo and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, each of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. The unpaid Taxes of PubCo and its Subsidiaries did not, as of the date of the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, materially exceed the reserve for Tax liability (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax items) set forth on the face of the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet. Since the date of the PubCo Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet, neither PubCo nor, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any of its Subsidiaries, has incurred any material Liability for Taxes outside the Ordinary Course of Business or otherwise inconsistent with past custom and practice.

 

(c)                PubCo has withheld and paid all material Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party.

 

(d)                There are no Encumbrances for material Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and delinquent) upon any of the assets of PubCo or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(e)                No deficiencies for material Taxes with respect to PubCo or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any of its Subsidiaries have been claimed, proposed or assessed by any Governmental Authority in writing. There are no pending (or, based on written notice, threatened) material audits, assessments or other actions for or relating to any liability in respect of Taxes of PubCo or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any of its Subsidiaries. Neither PubCo nor, to the Knowledge of PubCo, any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a material Tax assessment or deficiency.

 

(f)                 Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any material Tax allocation, Tax sharing or similar agreement (including indemnity arrangements), other than customary indemnification provisions in commercial contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business with vendors, customers, lenders or landlords.

 

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(g)                Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated U.S. federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is PubCo). Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law) or as a transferee or successor.

 

(h)                Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another Person, or had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 of the Code or Section 361 of the Code.

 

(i)                 Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction identified as a “listed transaction” for purposes of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.6011-4(b)(2) or 301.6111-2(b)(2).

 

(j)                 Each of PubCo and its Subsidiaries is a corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes under Section 7701 of the Code.

 

(k)                Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge of any facts and has not taken or agreed to take any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

(l)                 PubCo and its Subsidiaries (other than the Surviving Corporation) will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting by for Tax purposes; (ii) use of an improper method of accounting for a Tax period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law); (v) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (vi) prepaid amount received or deferred revenue accrued on or prior to the Closing Date; (vii) application of Section 367(d) of the Code to any transfer of intangible property on or prior to the Closing Date; (viii) application of Sections 951 or 951A of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) to any income received or accrued by the on or prior to the Closing Date; or (ix) election under Section 108(i) of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) made on or prior to the Closing Date. PubCo has not made any election under Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

4.17           Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans.

 

(a)                Section 4.17(a) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all PubCo’s employees as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth for each employee:(i) their names; (ii) their job position or title; (iii) whether they are classified as exempt or non-exempt for wage and hour purposes; (iv) their base salaries, base hourly wage or contract rate, as applicable; (v) their target bonus rates or target commission rates; (vi) accrued but unused vacation time and/or paid time off; (vii) any other compensation payable to them (including housing allowances, compensation payable pursuant to any other bonus, deferred compensation or commission arrangements or other compensation, mandatory end-of-service and/or severance payments); (viii) any promises or commitments made to them with respect to changes or additions to their compensation or benefits; (ix) their full-time, part-time or temporary status; (x) their date of hire; (xi) their work location (including, as applicable, their city, state, province and country); (xii) their leave of absence status (i.e., the type of leave, leave commencement date and anticipated return date); (xiii) any visa or work permit status and the date of expiration, if applicable; and (xiv) the total amount of bonus, retention, severance and other amounts to be paid to such employee at the Closing or otherwise in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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(b)                Section 4.17(b) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list providing services as of the date hereof, of the independent contractors, consultants and other service providers engaged by PubCo and classified by PubCo as other than employees, or compensated other than through wages paid by PubCo through PubCo’s payroll department (“Contingent Workers”), showing for each Contingent Worker such Contingent Worker’s (i) name; (ii) start date of engagement; (iii) work location (including, as applicable, their city, state, province and country); (iv) description of services provided to the business; (v) fee or compensation arrangements; (vi) whether they are an individual or corporate entity; (vii) if an Entity, then the number of employees and Contingent Workers who have performed services for PubCo through the Entity during the engagement.

 

(c)                Except as set forth in Section 4.17(c) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, the employment of PubCo’s employees is terminable by PubCo at will without advance notice, severance, or other cost or Liability. PubCo has made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of all employee manuals and handbooks, disclosure materials, policy statements and other materials relating to the employment of PubCo Associates to the extent currently effective and material.

 

(d)                PubCo is not a party to, is not bound by, and does not have a duty to bargain under, any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor organization representing any of its employees, and there are no labor organizations representing or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, purporting to represent or seeking to represent any employees of PubCo. There has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, union, organizing activity, question concerning representation or any similar activity or dispute, affecting PubCo. No event has occurred within the past six (6) months, and no condition or circumstance exists, that might directly or indirectly be likely to give rise to or provide a basis for the commencement of any such strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, union organizing activity, question concerning representation or any similar activity or dispute. PubCo is not, nor has PubCo been, engaged in any Unfair Labor Practice within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.

 

(e)                Section 4.17(e) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of every material PubCo Employee Plan.

 

(f)                 True, complete and correct copies of the following documents, with respect to each PubCo Employee Plan, where applicable, have previously been made available to the Company: (i) all documents embodying or governing such PubCo Employee Plan (or for unwritten PubCo Employee Plans a written description of the material terms of such PubCo Employee Plan) and any funding medium for the PubCo Employee Plan; (ii) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter; (iii) the most recently filed Form 5500; (iv) the most recent actuarial valuation report; (v) the most recent summary plan description (or other descriptions provided to employees) and all modifications thereto; (vi) the last three years of non-discrimination testing results; and (vii) all non-routine correspondence to and from any governmental agency.

 

(g)                Each PubCo Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination or approval letter from the IRS with respect to such qualification, or may rely on an opinion letter issued by the IRS with respect to a prototype plan adopted in accordance with the requirements for such reliance, or has time remaining for application to the IRS for a determination of the qualified status of such PubCo Employee Plan for any period for which such PubCo Employee Plan would not otherwise be covered by an IRS determination and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, no event or omission has occurred that would cause any PubCo Employee Plan to lose such qualification or require corrective action to the IRS or Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System to maintain such qualification.

 

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(h)                Each PubCo Employee Plan is and has been established, operated and administered in all material respects, in accordance with its terms and all applicable Law, including, the Code, ERISA and the Affordable Care Act. No Employee Plan is, or within the past six years has been, the subject of an application or filing under a government sponsored amnesty, voluntary compliance, or similar program, or been the subject of any self-correction under any such program. No Legal Proceeding (other than those relating to routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened with respect to any PubCo Employee Plan and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, there is no reasonable basis for any such Legal Proceeding. All payments and/or contributions required to have been made with respect to all PubCo Employee Plans either have been made or have been accrued in accordance with the terms of the applicable PubCo Employee Plan and applicable Law. The PubCo Employee Plans satisfy in all material respects the minimum coverage, affordability and nondiscrimination requirements under the Code.

 

(i)                 Neither PubCo nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, or been required to contribute to or had any liability or obligation (including on account of any ERISA Affiliate) with respect to (whether contingent or otherwise) (i) any “employee benefit plan” that is or was subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, (ii) a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) any funded welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 419 of the Code, (iv) any Multiple Employer Plan, or (v) any Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement. Neither PubCo nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has ever incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA that has not been paid in full.

 

(j)                 Neither PubCo nor any of its ERISA Affiliates provides or has any obligation to provide health care or any other non-pension benefits to any employees after their employment is terminated(other than as required by COBRA or similar state Law) and PubCo has never promised to provide such post-termination benefits.

 

(k)                Each PubCo Employee Plan may be amended, terminated, or otherwise modified (including cessation of participation) by PubCo to the greatest extent permitted by applicable Law, including the elimination of any and all future benefit accruals thereunder (other than ordinary administration expenses or with respect to benefits, other than bonuses, commissions or amounts under other compensation plans, that were previously earned, vested or accrued under PubCo Employee Plans prior to the Effective Time) and no employee communication or provision of any PubCo Employee Plan has failed to effectively reserve the right of PubCo or its ERISA Affiliates to so amend, terminate or otherwise modify such PubCo Employee Plan. Neither PubCo nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has announced its intention to modify or terminate any PubCo Employee Plan or adopt any arrangement or program which, once established, would come within the definition of a PubCo Employee Plan. Each asset held under each PubCo Employee Plan may be liquidated or terminated without the imposition of any redemption fee, surrender charge or comparable liability.

 

(l)                 Except as set forth in Section 4.17(l) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, no PubCo Employee Plan provides for medical or any other welfare benefits to any service provider beyond termination of service or retirement, other than pursuant to (i) COBRA or an analogous state law requirement or (ii) continuation coverage through the end of the month in which such termination or retirement occurs. PubCo does not sponsor or maintain any self-funded medical or long-term disability employee benefit plan.

 

(m)              No PubCo Employee Plan is subject to any Law of a foreign jurisdiction outside of the United States.

 

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(n)                The per share exercise price of each PubCo Option is no less than the fair market value of a share of PubCo Common Stock on the date of grant of such PubCo Option determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code. Each PubCo Employee Plan that constitutes in any part a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in all material respects in operational and documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder. No payment to be made under any PubCo Employee Plan is, or to the Knowledge of the Company, will be, subject to the penalties of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. Any transfer of property which was subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and which would otherwise have been subject to taxation under Section 83(a) of the Code is covered by a valid and timely filed election under Section 83(b) of the Code, and a copy of such election has been provided to the Company.

 

(o)                PubCo is, and during the past three (3) years has been, in material compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations respecting employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, worker classification, tax withholding, prohibited discrimination, equal employment, fair employment practices, restrictive covenants, meal and rest periods, immigration status, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, employee safety and health, wages (including overtime wages), compensation, and hours of work, and in each case, with respect to the employees of PubCo: (i) has withheld and reported all material amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld and reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to employees, (ii) is not liable for any arrears of wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, fees, severance pay or any Taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing and (iii) is not liable for any material payment to any trust or other fund governed by or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for employees (other than routine payments to be made in the Ordinary Course of Business). There are no, and there have not been during the past three (3) years, actions, suits, claims or administrative matters pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened or reasonably anticipated against PubCo relating to any employee, employment agreement or PubCo Employee Plan (other than routine claims for benefits). To the Knowledge of PubCo, there are no pending or threatened or reasonably anticipated claims or actions against PubCo, any PubCo trustee or any trustee of any Subsidiary under any workers’ compensation policy or long-term disability policy. PubCo is not a party to a conciliation agreement, consent decree or other agreement or Order with any federal, state, or local agency or Governmental Authority with respect to employment practices.

 

(p)                PubCo has no material liability with respect to any misclassification within the past three (3) years of: (i) any Person as an independent contractor rather than as an employee, (ii) any employee leased from another employer or (iii) any employee currently or formerly classified as exempt from overtime wages. PubCo has not taken any action which would constitute a “plant closing,” “business closing” or “mass layoff” within the meaning of the WARN Act or similar state or local law, issued any notification of a plant closing, business closing or mass layoff required by the WARN Act or similar state or local law, or incurred any liability or obligation under WARN or any similar state or local law that remains unsatisfied. During the ninety (90) day period preceding the date hereof, no employee or Contingent Worker has suffered an “employment loss” as defined in the WARN Act with respect to PubCo.

 

(q)                There is no, and there has not been during the past three (3) years, any Legal Proceeding, claim, labor dispute or grievance pending or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, threatened or reasonably anticipated relating to any employment contract, privacy right, labor dispute, wages and hours, leave of absence, plant closing notification, workers’ compensation policy, long-term disability policy, harassment, retaliation, immigration, employment statute or regulation, safety or discrimination matter involving any PubCo Associate, including charges of Unfair Labor Practices or discrimination complaints.

 

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(r)                 Section 4.17(r) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule identifies each employee of PubCo who is subject to a non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and/or invention assignment agreement with PubCo and includes a form of each such agreement.

 

(s)                 In the last five (5) years, no allegations of sexual harassment, other unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination or retaliation have been made with respect to any PubCo employee, officer, director, or independent contractor, and PubCo has not otherwise become aware of any such allegations. To the Knowledge of PubCo, there are no facts that would reasonably be expected to give rise to claim of sexual harassment, other unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination or retaliation against or involving PubCo or any of PubCo’s employees, officers, directors or independent contractors. PubCo has not entered into any settlement agreement or conducted any investigation related to allegations of sexual harassment, other unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination or retaliation by an employee, contractor, director, officer or other Representative of PubCo.

 

(t)                 The consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement will not (i) entitle any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or other service provider of PubCo to severance pay, unemployment compensation, bonus payment or any other payment, (ii) accelerate the time of payment for vesting of, or increase the amount of compensation due to, any such employee, officer, director, independent contractor or other service provider, or (iii) entitle any such employee, officer, director, independent contractor or other service provider to terminate, shorten or otherwise change the terms of his or her employment or engagement with PubCo.

 

(u)                PubCo is and at all relevant times has been in compliance with (i) COVID-19 related Laws, standards, regulations, Orders and guidance (including relating to business reopening), including those issued and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and any other Governmental Authority; (ii) the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (including with respect to eligibility for Tax credits under such Act) and any other applicable COVID-19 related leave Law, whether state, local or otherwise.

 

(v)                No PubCo Employee Plan provides for any Tax “gross-up” or similar “make-whole” payments.

 

(w)              Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the shareholder approval of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, could (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result in, or cause the accelerated vesting payment, funding or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any employee, officer, director or other service provider of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) further restrict any rights of PubCo to amend or terminate any PubCo Employee Plan; (iii) result in any “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (whether or not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation for services rendered).

 

4.18           Environmental Matters. Since January 1, 2018, PubCo has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the possession by PubCo of all permits and other Governmental Authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws and compliance with the terms and conditions thereof, except for any failure to be in compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a PubCo Material Adverse Effect. PubCo has not received since January 1, 2018, any written notice or other communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a Governmental Authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that PubCo is not in compliance with any Environmental Law, and, to the Knowledge of PubCo, there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with PubCo’s compliance with any Environmental Law in the future, except where such failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a PubCo Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of PubCo: (i) no current or prior owner of any property leased or controlled by PubCo has received since January 1, 2018, any written notice or other communication relating to property owned or leased at any time by PubCo, whether from a Governmental Authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that such current or prior owner or PubCo is not in compliance with or violated any Environmental Law relating to such property and (ii) PubCo has no material liability under any Environmental Law.

 

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4.19           Insurance. PubCo has made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of all material insurance policies and all material self-insurance programs and arrangements relating to the business, assets, liabilities and operations of PubCo and Merger Sub. Each of such insurance policies is in full force and effect and PubCo and Merger Sub are in compliance in all material respects with the terms thereof. Other than customary end of policy notifications from insurance carriers, since January 1, 2018, PubCo has not received any notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible: (i) cancellation or invalidation of any insurance policy or (ii) refusal or denial of any coverage, reservation of rights or rejection of any material claim under any insurance policy. Each of PubCo and Merger Sub has provided timely written notice to the appropriate insurance carrier(s) of each Legal Proceeding pending against PubCo for which PubCo has insurance coverage, and no such carrier has issued a denial of coverage or a reservation of rights with respect to any such Legal Proceeding, or informed PubCo of its intent to do so.

 

4.20           Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in the PubCo SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since the date of PubCo’s last proxy statement filed in 2020 with the SEC, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by PubCo pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. Section 4.20 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule identifies each Person who is (or who may be deemed to be) an Affiliate of PubCo as of the date of this Agreement.

 

4.21           No Financial Advisors. Except as set forth on Section 4.21 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage fee, finder’s fee, opinion fee, success fee, transaction fee or other fee or commission in connection with the Contemplated Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of PubCo.

 

4.22           Valid Issuance. The PubCo Common Stock to be issued in the Merger will, when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

4.23           Privacy and Data Security. PubCo has complied with all applicable Privacy Laws and the applicable terms of any PubCo Contracts relating to privacy, security, collection or use of Personal Information of any individuals (including clinical trial participants, patients, patient family members, caregivers or advocates, physicians and other health care professionals, clinical trial investigators, researchers, pharmacists) that interact with PubCo in connection with the operation of PubCo’s business, except for such non-compliance as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an PubCo Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of PubCo, PubCo has implemented and maintains reasonable written policies and procedures, satisfying the requirements of applicable Privacy Laws, concerning the privacy, security, collection and use of Personal Information (the “Privacy Policies”) and has complied with its Privacy Policies, except for such non-compliance as has not to the Knowledge of the PubCo had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an PubCo Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of PubCo, as of the date hereof, no claims have been asserted or threatened against PubCo by any Person alleging a violation of Privacy Laws, Privacy Policies and/or the applicable terms of any PubCo Contracts relating to privacy, security, collection or use of Personal Information of any individuals. To the Knowledge of PubCo, there have been no data security incidents, personal data breaches or other adverse events or incidents related to Personal Information or PubCo data in the custody or control of PubCo or any service provider acting on behalf of PubCo, in each case where such incident, breach or event would result in a notification obligation to any Person under applicable law or pursuant to the terms of any PubCo Contract.

 

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4.24           Opinion of Financial Advisor. The PubCo Transaction Committee has received an opinion of Cassel Salpeter & Co. LLC, (“Cassel Salpeter”) to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and other matters considered by Cassel Salpeter in connection with the preparation thereof, the Exchange Ratio provided for in the Merger pursuant to this Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to PubCo as of the date of the opinion. It is agreed and understood that such opinion is for the benefit of the PubCo Transaction Committee and may not be relied upon by the Company.

 

4.25           Shell Company Status. PubCo is not an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) of the Securities Act.

 

 

4.26           Anti-Bribery. Neither PubCo nor any of its directors, officers, employees or, to the Knowledge of PubCo, agents or any other Person acting on its behalf has directly or indirectly made any bribes, rebates, payoffs, influence payments, kickbacks, illegal payments, illegal political contributions, or other payments, in the form of cash, gifts or otherwise, or taken any other action, in violation of Anti-Bribery Laws. PubCo is not or has not been the subject of any investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority with respect to potential violations of Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

4.27           No Other Representations or Warranties. PubCo hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person on behalf of the Company makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or with respect to any other information provided to PubCo, Merger Sub or stockholders or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and (subject to the express representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 (in each case as qualified and limited by the Company Disclosure Schedule)) none of PubCo, Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives or stockholders, has relied on any such information (including the accuracy or completeness thereof).

 

Section 5. Certain Covenants of the Parties.

 

5.1               Operation of PubCo’s Business.

 

(a)                Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by applicable Law, (iv) as required to comply with any quarantine, “shelter in place”, “stay at home”, workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other Law, Order, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19 (“COVID-19 Measures”), (v) any action taken or not taken by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effect on PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures, including changes in relationships with officers, employees, agents, independent contractors, suppliers, customers and other business partners, (vi) unless the Company shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 and the Effective Time, or (vii) with respect to any action regarding the Potentially Transferable Assets (the “Pre-Closing Period”), PubCo shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) to, use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its business and operations in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

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(b)                Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.1(b) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by applicable Law, (iv) as required to comply with any COVID-19 Measures, (v) any action taken or not taken by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effect on PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures, including changes in relationships with officers, employees, agents, independent contractors, suppliers, customers and other business partners, (vi) with the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), or (vii) with respect to any action regarding the Potentially Transferable Assets (subject to Section 5.6) at all times during the Pre-Closing Period, PubCo shall not, nor shall it cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(i)                 declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any shares of its capital stock (other than dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of PubCo to its parent) or repurchase, redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of its capital stock or other securities (except for shares of PubCo Common Stock from terminated employees, directors or consultants of PubCo in accordance with agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement providing for the repurchase of shares at no more than the purchase price thereof in connection with any termination of services to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries);

 

(ii)               except as required to give effect to anything in contemplation of the Closing, amend any of its Organizational Documents, or effect or be a party to any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iii)             sell, issue, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber or authorize any of the foregoing actions with respect to: (A) any capital stock or other security of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (except for shares of outstanding PubCo Common Stock issued upon the valid exercise of PubCo Options), (B) any option, warrant or right to acquire any capital stock or any other security or (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other security of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries, except that PubCo may offer and sell shares of PubCo Common Stock at a price per share not less than $1.25 in a private placement not to exceed $5 million;

 

(iv)              form any Subsidiary or acquire any equity interest or other interest in any other Entity or enter into a joint venture with any other Entity;

 

(v)                (A) lend money to any Person, (B) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, (C) guarantee any debt securities of others or (D) make any capital expenditure or commitment in excess of $20,000;

 

(vi)              Except with respect to any cash settlement with respect to the repurchase of PubCo Options that would otherwise result in a Golden Parachute Payment under 280G (which payout shall be reflected in Net Cash): (A) adopt, establish or enter into any PubCo Employee Plan, (B) cause or permit any PubCo Employee Plan to be amended other than as required by Law, (C) pay any bonus or make any profit-sharing or similar payment to (except with respect to obligations in place on the date of this Agreement pursuant to any PubCo Employee Plan in effect as of the date of this Agreement), or increase the amount of the wages, salary, commissions, fringe benefits or other compensation or remuneration payable to, any of its directors, or consultants or employees or (D) increase the severance or change of control benefits offered to any current or new employees, directors or consultants;

 

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(vii)            acquire any material asset or sell, lease, license or otherwise irrevocably dispose of any of its assets or properties, or grant any Encumbrance with respect to such assets or properties, except disposition of tangible assets in the Ordinary Course of Business or the Asset Disposition pursuant to Section 5.6;

 

(viii)          make (other than consistent with past practice), change or revoke any material Tax election; file any material amendment to any Tax Return or adopt or change any material accounting method in respect of Taxes;

 

(ix)              enter into, amend or terminate any PubCo Material Contract;

 

(x)                delay or fail to repay when due any material obligation, including accounts payable and accrued expenses;

 

(xi)              forgive any loans to any Person, including its employees, officers, directors or Affiliate;

 

(xii)            other than the incurrence or payment of PubCo Transaction Expenses, make any expenditures, incur any Liabilities or discharge or satisfy any Liabilities, in each case, outside of the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(xiii)          sell, assign, transfer, license, sublicense or otherwise dispose of any material PubCo IP Rights (other than with respect to the Potentially Transferable Assets);

 

(xiv)          either solely or in collaboration with any third party, directly or indirectly, commence, enter, join, revive, solicit, or otherwise get engaged in, any clinical trial;

 

(xv)            other than as required by Law or GAAP, take any action to change accounting policies or procedure;

 

(xvi)          initiate or settle any Legal Proceeding; or

 

(xvii)        agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of PubCo prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, PubCo shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete unilateral control and supervision over its business operations.

 

During the period from the date hereof through the earlier of the Effective Time or the date of termination of this Agreement, Merger Sub shall not engage in any activities of any nature except as provided in or contemplated by this Agreement.

 

5.2               Operation of the Company’s Business.

 

(a)                Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by applicable Law, (iv) as required to comply with any COVID-19 Measures, (v) any action taken or not taken by the Company in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effect on the Company of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures, including changes in relationships with officers, employees, agents, independent contractors, suppliers, customers and other business partners, or (vi) unless PubCo shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the Pre-Closing Period the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its business and operations in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

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(b)                Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by applicable Law, (iv) as required to comply with any COVID-19 Measures, (v) any action taken or not taken by the Company in good faith to respond to the actual or anticipated effect on the Company of COVID-19 or the COVID-19 Measures, including changes in relationships with officers, employees, agents, independent contractors, suppliers, customers and other business partners, or (vi) with the prior written consent of PubCo (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), at all times during the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall not do any of the following:

 

(i)                 declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any shares of capital stock (other than dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent) or repurchase, redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of Company Capital Stock or other securities (except for shares of Company Common Stock from terminated employees, directors or consultants of the Company in accordance with agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement providing for the repurchase of shares at no more than the purchase price thereof in connection with any termination of services to Company);

 

(ii)               except as required to give effect to anything in contemplation of the Closing, amend any of its Organizational Documents, or effect or be a party to any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iii)             sell, issue, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber or authorize any of the foregoing actions with respect to: (A) any capital stock or other security of the Company (except for shares of outstanding Company Common Stock issued upon the valid exercise of Company Options), (B) any option, warrant or right to acquire any capital stock or any other security other than option grants to employees and service providers in the Ordinary Course of Business or (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other security of the Company, except that the Company may enter into an agreement related to the Bridge Loan;

 

(iv)              form any Subsidiary or acquire any equity interest or other interest in any other Entity or enter into a joint venture with any other Entity;

 

(v)                (A) lend money to any Person, (B) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, (C) guarantee any debt securities of others or (D) make any capital expenditure or commitment in excess of $150,000;

 

(vi)              other than in the Ordinary Course of Business: (A) adopt, establish or enter into any Company Employee Plan, (B) cause or permit any Company Employee Plan to be amended other than as required by Law, (C) pay any bonus or make any profit-sharing or similar payment to (except with respect to obligations in place on the date of this Agreement pursuant to any Company Employee Plan in effect as of the date of this Agreement), or increase the amount of the wages, salary, commissions, fringe benefits or other compensation or remuneration payable to, any of its directors, consultants or employees or (D) increase the severance or change of control benefits offered to any current or new employees, directors or consultants;

 

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(vii)            acquire any material asset or sell, lease, license or otherwise irrevocably dispose of any of its assets or properties, or grant any Encumbrance with respect to such assets or properties, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(viii)          make (other than consistent with past practice), change or revoke any material Tax election; file any material amendment to any Tax Return or adopt or change any material accounting method in respect of Taxes;

 

(ix)              enter into, amend or terminate any Company Material Contract, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(x)                other than the incurrence or payment of Company Transaction Expenses, make any expenditures, incur any Liabilities or discharge or satisfy any Liabilities, in each case, outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(xi)              (A) materially change pricing or royalties or other payments set or charged by Company to its customers or licensees or (B) agree to materially change pricing or royalties or other payments set or charged by Persons who have licensed Intellectual Property to Company; or

 

(xii)            agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.(xiii) 

 

5.3               Access and Investigation.

 

(a)                Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, which the Parties agree will continue in full force following the date of this Agreement, during the Pre-Closing Period, upon reasonable notice, PubCo, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Party’s Representatives to: (a) provide the other Party and such other Party’s Representatives with reasonable access during normal business hours to such Party’s Representatives, personnel, property and assets and to all existing books, records, Tax Returns, work papers and other documents and information relating to such Party and its Subsidiaries, (b) provide the other Party and such other Party’s Representatives with such copies of the existing books, records, Tax Returns, work papers, product data, and other documents and information relating to such Party and its Subsidiaries, and with such additional financial, operating and other data and information regarding such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Party may reasonably request; (c) permit the other Party’s officers and other employees to meet, upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, with the chief executive officer and other officers and managers of such Party responsible for such Party’s financial statements and the internal controls of such Party to discuss such matters as the other Party may deem necessary and; (d) make available to the other Party copies of any material notice, report or other document filed with or sent to or received from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions. Any investigation conducted by either PubCo or the Company pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the other Party.

 

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(b)                Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary in this Section 5.3, no access or examination contemplated by this Section 5.3 shall be permitted to the extent that it would require any Party or its Subsidiaries to (i) waive the attorney-client privilege or attorney work product privilege, (ii) violate any applicable Law or (iii) breach such Party’s confidentiality obligations to a third party; provided, that such Party or its Subsidiary (1) shall be entitled to withhold only such information that may not be provided without causing such violation or waiver, (2) shall provide to the other Party all related information that may be provided without causing such violation or waiver (including, to the extent permitted, redacted versions of any such information), (3) shall enter into such effective and appropriate joint-defense agreements or other protective arrangements as may be reasonably requested by the other Party in order that all such information may be provided to the other Party without causing such violation or waiver and (4) in the case of subsection (iii) above, upon the other Party’s reasonable request, such Party shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain such third party’s consent to permit such other Party access to such information, subject to appropriate confidentiality protections.

 

5.4               No Solicitation.

 

(a)                Each of PubCo and the Company agrees that, during the Pre-Closing Period, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, nor shall it or any of its Subsidiaries authorize any of its Representatives to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, induce or facilitate the communication, making, submission or announcement of any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry or take any action that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party to any Person in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, (iii) engage in discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal (subject to Section 6.2 and Section 6.3), (v) execute or enter into any letter of intent or any Contract contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction, (vi) take any action that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry or (vii) publicly propose to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 5.4 and subject to compliance with this Section 5.4, prior to the approval of this Agreement by a Party’s stockholders (i.e., the Required Company Stockholder Vote, in the case of the Company, or the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote in the case of PubCo), such Party may furnish non-public information regarding such Party and its Subsidiaries to, and enter into discussions or negotiations with, any Person in response to a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal by such Person which such Party’s board of directors determines in good faith, after consultation with such Party’s outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, constitutes, or is reasonably likely to result in, a Superior Offer (and is not withdrawn) if: (A) neither such Party nor any Representative of such Party shall have breached this Section 5.4 in any material respect, (B) the board of directors of such Party concludes in good faith based on the advice of outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of the board of directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (C) at least two (2) Business Days prior to initially furnishing any such nonpublic information to, or entering into discussions with, such Person, such Party gives the other Party written notice of the identity of such Person and of such Party’s intention to furnish nonpublic information to, or enter into discussions with, such Person, (D) such Party receives from such Person an executed Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement and (E) at least two (2) Business Days prior to furnishing any such nonpublic information to such Person, such Party furnishes such nonpublic information to the other Party (to the extent such information has not been previously furnished by such Party to the other Party). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Party acknowledges and agrees that, in the event any Representative of such Party takes any action that, if taken by such Party, would constitute a breach of this Section 5.4 by such Party, the taking of such action by such Representative shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Section 5.4 by such Party for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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(b)                If any Party or any Representative of such Party receives an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry at any time during the Pre-Closing Period, then such Party shall promptly (and in no event later than one Business Day after such Party becomes aware of such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry) advise the other Party orally and in writing of such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry (including the identity of the Person making or submitting such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, and the terms thereof). Such Party shall keep the other Party reasonably informed with respect to the status and terms of any such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry and any material modification or material proposed modification thereto.

 

(c)                Each Party shall immediately (i) cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions, negotiations and communications with any Person that relate to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) request the destruction or return of any nonpublic information provided to such Person as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement.

 

5.5               Notification of Certain Matters. During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Company, on the one hand, and PubCo, on the other hand, shall promptly notify the other (and, if in writing, furnish copies of) if any of the following occurs: (a) any notice or other communication is received from any Person alleging that the Consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with any of the Contemplated Transactions, (b) any Legal Proceeding against or involving or otherwise affecting such Party or its Subsidiaries is commenced, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, threatened against such Party or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any director, officer or Key Employee of such Party, (c) such Party becomes aware of any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by such Party in this Agreement or (d) the failure of such Party to comply with any covenant or obligation of such Party; in each case that could reasonably be expected to make the timely satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9, as applicable, impossible or materially less likely. No such notice shall be deemed to supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Schedule or the PubCo Disclosure Schedule for the purpose of (x) determining the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement or (y) determining whether any condition set forth in Section 7, Section 8 or Section 9 has been satisfied. Any failure by either Party to provide notice pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not be deemed to be a breach for purposes of Sections 8.2 or 9.2, as applicable, unless such failure to provide such notice was knowing and intentional.

 

5.6               Potentially Transferrable Assets. PubCo shall be entitled, but under no obligation, to sell, transfer, license, assign or otherwise divest the Potentially Transferable Assets in a transaction, the terms of which are negotiated and consummated on an arm’s length basis, including, but not limited to, the transactions contemplated by the term-sheets set forth on Section 5.6 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule (each an “Asset Disposition” and collectively, the “Asset Dispositions”); provided, however, that any such Asset Disposition, including those described in Section 5.6 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, shall require the written consent of the Company if such Asset Disposition would create any post-disposition Liabilities for PubCo following the Closing or impose any obligation on PubCo, the Company or their Affiliates to pursue any regulatory approval or take any action in connection with the receipt or avoidance of any regulatory approval following the Closing; provided, further, however, that PubCo shall notify the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to entering into any agreement with respect to any Asset Disposition, provide copies of all written agreements or documents with respect to such sale and provide the Company with an opportunity to provide comments to such documents, which comments shall be considered by PubCo in good faith provided however that the inclusion or exclusion of which comments will be at the sole discretion of PubCo after having considered such comments in good faith and engaging in good faith discussions with the Company regarding the same. Each Party acknowledges that PubCo may not be successful in completing, or may determine not to proceed, with any Asset Dispositions. For clarity, if the Asset Dispositions are not completed prior to the Effective Time, the Potentially Transferable Assets shall be retained by PubCo and the value of such Potentially Transferable Assets shall have no impact on the calculation of the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, the Potentially Transferable Assets will still be subject to the CVR.

 

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Section 6. Additional Agreements of the Parties.

 

6.1               Registration Statement; Proxy Statement.

 

(a)                As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, (i) PubCo, in cooperation with the Company, shall prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement relating to the PubCo Stockholder Meeting to be held in connection with the Merger (together with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”) and (ii) PubCo, in cooperation with the Company, shall prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”), in which the Proxy Statement shall be included as a part (the Proxy Statement and the Form S-4, collectively, the “Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the issuance of the shares of PubCo Common Stock to be issued by virtue of the Merger. PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause the Registration Statement to comply with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, (ii) cause the Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable, (iii) respond promptly to any comments or requests of the SEC or its staff related to the Registration Statement and (iv) have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after it is filed with the SEC. PubCo shall take all or any action required under any applicable federal, state, securities and other Laws in connection with the issuance of shares of PubCo Common Stock pursuant to the Merger. Each of the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with the other Party and furnish all information concerning itself and their Affiliates, as applicable, to the other Parties as the other Parties may reasonably request in connection with such actions and the preparation of the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement.

 

(b)                PubCo covenants and agrees that the Registration Statement (and the letter to stockholders, notice of meeting and form of proxy included therewith) will not, at the Applicable Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company covenants and agrees that the information supplied by or on behalf of the Company to PubCo for inclusion in the Registration Statement (including the Company Financials) will not, at the Applicable Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make such information, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) PubCo makes no covenant, representation or warranty with respect to statements made in the Registration Statement (and the letter to stockholders, notice of meeting and form of proxy included therewith), if any, based on information provided by the Company or any of their Representatives for inclusion therein and (ii) the Company makes no covenant, representation or warranty with respect to statements made in the Registration Statement (and the letter to stockholders, notice of meeting and form of proxy included therewith), if any, based on information provided by PubCo or its Subsidiaries or any of their Representatives for inclusion therein.

 

(c)                PubCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to PubCo’s stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

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(d)                If at any time before the Effective Time (i) any Party (A) becomes aware of any event or information that, pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Proxy Statement, (B) receives notice of any SEC request for an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or for additional information related thereto or (C) receives SEC comments on the Registration Statement, or (ii) the information provided in the Registration Statement has become “stale” and new information should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement; then in each such case such Party, as the case may be, shall promptly inform the other Parties thereof and shall cooperate with such other Parties in filing such amendment or supplement with the SEC (and, if related to the Proxy Statement, mailing such amendment or supplement to the PubCo stockholders) or otherwise addressing such SEC request or comments and each Party and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required. PubCo shall promptly notify the Company once it becomes aware (1) that the Registration Statement has become effective, (2) of the issuance of any stop order or suspension of the qualification or registration of the PubCo Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or (3) any Order of the SEC related to the Registration Statement, and shall promptly provide to the Company copies of all correspondence between it or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or staff of the SEC, on the other hand, with respect to the Registration Statement and all Orders of the SEC relating to the Registration Statement. PubCo shall promptly provide the Proxy Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, to the Company for use in connection with the Company Stockholder Written Consent.

 

(e)                Without limiting the Company’s obligation in Section 6.1(a), the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered to PubCo a letter of the Company’s independent accounting firm, dated no more than two (2) Business Days before the date on which the Registration Statement becomes effective (and reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to PubCo), that is customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.

 

(f)                 The Company and its legal counsel shall be given reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement, including all amendments and supplements thereto, prior to the filing thereof with the SEC, and on the response to any comments of the SEC on the Registration Statement, prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Registration Statement will be made by PubCo, and no filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Proxy Statement will be made by PubCo, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(g)                As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement the Company will (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to furnish to PubCo audited financial statements for each of its fiscal years required to be included in the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement and (ii) furnish to PubCo unaudited interim financial statements for each interim period completed prior to Closing that would be required to be included in the Registration Statement or any periodic report due prior to the Closing if the Company were subject to the periodic reporting requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the “Company Interim Financial Statements”). Each of the Company Audited Financial Statements and the Company Interim Financial Statements will be suitable for inclusion in the Registration Statement and prepared in accordance with GAAP as applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except in each case as described in the notes thereto) and on that basis will present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of the Company as of the dates of and for the periods referred to in the Company Audited Financial Statements or the Company Interim Financial Statements, as the case may be.

 

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(h)                Prior to filing of the Registration Statement, the Parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to execute and deliver to Cooley LLP (“Cooley”) and to Reed Smith LLP (“Reed Smith”) the applicable “Tax Representation Letters” referenced in Section 6.12(c). Following the delivery of the Tax Representation Letters pursuant to the preceding sentence, PubCo and the Company shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause Cooley to deliver to the Company, and to cause Reed Smith to deliver to PubCo, a Tax opinion satisfying the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act. In rendering such opinions, Cooley and Reed Smith shall be entitled to rely on the Tax Representation Letters referred to in this Section 6.1(h) and Section 6.12(c).

 

(i)                 PubCo and the Company shall mutually agree on the form and substance of a press release setting forth the anticipated Exchange Ratio as of the anticipated Closing Date, which the Parties shall cause to be publicly disclosed (and which PubCo shall file on Form 8-K) as early as practicable prior to the PubCo Stockholder Meeting (and in no event shall this delay or cause the postponement of such meeting under any applicable law).

 

6.2               Company Stockholder Written Consent.

 

(a)                Promptly after the Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act, and in any event no later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the approval by written consent from Company stockholders sufficient for the Required Company Stockholder Vote in lieu of a meeting pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, for purposes of (i) adopting and approving this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, (ii) acknowledging that the approval given thereby is irrevocable and that such stockholder is aware of its rights to demand appraisal for its shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, a copy of which will be attached thereto, and that such stockholder has received and read a copy of Section 262 of the DGCL and (iii) acknowledging that by its approval of the Merger it is not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to its shares in connection with the Merger and thereby waives any rights to receive payment of the fair value of its capital stock under the DGCL. Under no circumstances shall the Company assert that any other approval or consent is necessary by its stockholders to approve this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b)                Reasonably promptly following receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Vote, the Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Stockholder Notice”) to every stockholder of the Company that did not execute the Company Stockholder Written Consent. The Stockholder Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Company Board determined that the Merger is advisable in accordance with Section 251(b) of the DGCL and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company and approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions, (ii) provide the stockholders of the Company to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Company Stockholder Written Consent, including the adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions in accordance with Section 228(e) of the DGCL and the Company’s Organization Documents and (iii) include a description of the appraisal rights of the Company’s stockholders available under the DGCL, along with such other information as is required thereunder and pursuant to applicable Law. All materials (including any amendments thereto) submitted to the stockholders of the Company in accordance with this Section 6.2(b) shall be subject to PubCo’s advance review and reasonable approval.

 

(c)                The Company agrees that, subject to Section 6.2(d): (i) the Company Board shall recommend that the Company’s stockholders vote to adopt and approve this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit such approval within the time set forth in Section 6.2(a) (the recommendation of the Company Board that the Company’s stockholders vote to adopt and approve this Agreement being referred to as the “Company Board Recommendation”) and (ii) the Company Board Recommendation shall not be withdrawn or modified (and the Company Board shall not propose to withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation) in a manner adverse to PubCo, and no resolution by the Company Board or any committee thereof to withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation in a manner adverse to PubCo or to adopt, approve or recommend (or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend) any Acquisition Proposal shall be adopted or proposed.

 

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(d)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.2(c), and subject to compliance with Section 5.4 and Section 6.2, if at any time prior to approval and adoption of this Agreement by the Required Company Stockholder Vote, the Company receives a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal (which Acquisition Proposal did not arise out of a material breach of Section 5.4) from any Person that has not been withdrawn and after consultation with outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, the Company Board shall have determined, in good faith, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Offer, the Company Board may withhold, amend, withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation (or publicly propose to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation) in a manner adverse to PubCo (collectively, a “Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change”) if, but only if, following the receipt of and on account of such Superior Offer, (i) the Company Board determines in good faith, based on the advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify such recommendation would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (ii) the Company has, and has caused its financial advisors and outside legal counsel to, during the Notice Period (as defined below), negotiate with PubCo in good faith to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Offer and (iii) if after PubCo shall have delivered to the Company a written offer to alter the terms or conditions of this Agreement during the Notice Period, the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, based on the advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law (after taking into account such alterations of the terms and conditions of this Agreement); provided that (x) PubCo receives written notice from the Company confirming that the Company Board has determined to change its recommendation at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change (the “Notice Period”), which notice shall include a description in reasonable detail of the reasons for such Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change, and a summary of the material terms and conditions as well as written copies of the Acquisition Proposal, any other documents and correspondence and proposed transaction agreements with any party making a potential Superior Offer, (y) during any Notice Period, PubCo shall be entitled to deliver to the Company one or more counterproposals to such Acquisition Proposal and the Company will, and cause its Representatives to, negotiate with PubCo in good faith (to the extent PubCo desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that the applicable Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Offer and (z) in the event of any material amendment to any Superior Offer (including any revision in the amount, form or mix of consideration or percentage of the combined company the Company’s stockholders would receive as a result of such potential Superior Offer), the Company shall be required to provide PubCo with notice of such material amendment (as well as the information set forth in clause (x)) and the Notice Period shall be extended, if applicable, to ensure that at least four (4) Business Days remain in the Notice Period following such notification during which the parties shall comply again with the requirements of this Section 6.2(d) and the Company Board shall not make a Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change prior to the end of such Notice Period as so extended (it being understood that there may be multiple extensions).

 

(e)                The Company’s obligation to solicit the consent of its stockholders to sign the Company Stockholder Written Consent in accordance with Section 6.2(a) shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission of any Superior Offer or other Acquisition Proposal, or by any Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change.

 

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6.3               PubCo Stockholder Meeting.

 

(a)                PubCo shall take all action necessary under applicable Law to call, give notice of and hold a meeting of the holders of PubCo Common Stock to consider and vote to approve this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including (i) the issuance of PubCo Common Stock that represent (or are convertible into or exercisable for) more than twenty percent (20%) of the shares of PubCo Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger to the Company stockholders in connection with the Contemplated Transactions and the change of control of PubCo resulting from the Contemplated Transactions, in each case pursuant to the Nasdaq rules, (ii) an amendment to PubCo’s certificate of incorporation to effect the PubCo Reverse Stock Split in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (iii) the Equity Incentive Plan in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, (iv) the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G and (v) unless mutually agreed between the Parties otherwise, the Asset Disposition (collectively, the “PubCo Stockholder Matters” (the matters contemplated by the clauses 6.3(a)(i) and (ii) are referred to as the “Closing PubCo Stockholder Matters” and such meeting, the “PubCo Stockholder Meeting”). The PubCo Stockholder Meeting shall be held as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, and in any event no later than forty-five (45) days after the effective date of the Registration Statement. PubCo and the Company shall mutually agree upon the record date for the PubCo Stockholder Meeting. PubCo shall take reasonable measures to ensure that all proxies solicited in connection with the PubCo Stockholder Meeting are solicited in compliance with all applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if on the date of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting, or a date preceding the date on which the PubCo Stockholder Meeting is scheduled, PubCo reasonably believes that (i) it will not receive proxies sufficient to obtain the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote, whether or not a quorum would be present or (ii) it will not have sufficient shares of PubCo Common Stock represented (whether in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting, PubCo may postpone or adjourn, or make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of, the PubCo Stockholder Meeting as long as the date of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting is not postponed or adjourned more than an aggregate of 15 days in connection with any postponements or adjournments.

 

(b)                PubCo agrees that, subject to Section 6.3(c): (i) the PubCo Board shall recommend that the holders of PubCo Common Stock vote to approve the PubCo Stockholder Matters and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit such approval within the time frame set forth in Section 6.3(a) above, (ii) the Proxy Statement shall include a statement to the effect that the PubCo Board recommends that PubCo’s stockholders vote to approve the PubCo Stockholder Matters (the recommendation of the PubCo Board being referred to as the “PubCo Board Recommendation”) and (iii) the PubCo Board Recommendation shall not be withheld, amended, withdrawn or modified (and the PubCo Board shall not propose to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify the PubCo Board Recommendation) in a manner adverse to the Company, and no resolution by the PubCo Board or any committee thereof to withdraw or modify the PubCo Board Recommendation in a manner adverse to the Company or to adopt, approve or recommend (or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend) any Acquisition Proposal shall be adopted or proposed (the actions set forth in the foregoing clause (iii), collectively, a “PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change”).

 

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(c)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.3(b), and subject to compliance with Section 5.4 and Section 6.3, at any time prior to the approval of PubCo Stockholder Matters by the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote, PubCo receives a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal (which Acquisition Proposal did not arise out of a material breach of Section 5.4) from any Person that has not been withdrawn and after consultation with outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel, the PubCo Board shall have determined, in good faith, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Offer, the PubCo Board may make a PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change if, but only if, following the receipt of and on account of such Superior Offer, (i) the PubCo Board determines in good faith, based on the advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify such recommendation would reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, (ii) PubCo has, and has caused its financial advisors and outside legal counsel to, during the PubCo Notice Period, negotiate with the Company in good faith to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Offer and (iii) if after the Company shall have delivered to PubCo a written offer to alter the terms or conditions of this Agreement during the PubCo Notice Period, the PubCo Board shall have determined in good faith, based on the advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure to withhold, amend, withdraw or modify the PubCo Board Recommendation would reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law (after taking into account such alterations of the terms and conditions of this Agreement); provided that (x) the Company receives written notice from PubCo confirming that the PubCo Board has determined to change its recommendation at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change (the “PubCo Notice Period”), which notice shall include a description in reasonable detail of the reasons for such PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change, and a summary of the material terms and conditions as well as written copies of the Acquisition Proposal, any other documents and correspondence and proposed transaction agreements with any party making a potential Superior Offer, (y) during any Notice Period, the Company shall be entitled to deliver to PubCo one or more counterproposals to such Acquisition Proposal and PubCo will, and cause its Representatives to, negotiate with the Company in good faith (to the extent the Company desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that the applicable Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Offer and (z) in the event of any material amendment to any Superior Offer (including any revision in the amount, form or mix of consideration or percentage of the combined company that PubCo stockholders would receive as a result of such potential Superior Offer), PubCo shall be required to provide the Company with notice of such material amendment (as well as the information set forth in clause (x)) and the PubCo Notice Period shall be extended, if applicable, to ensure that at least four (4) Business Days remain in the PubCo Notice Period following such notification during which the parties shall comply again with the requirements of this Section 6.2(d) and the PubCo Board shall not make a PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change prior to the end of such PubCo Notice Period as so extended (it being understood that there may be multiple extensions).

 

(d)                PubCo’s obligation to call, give notice of and hold the PubCo Stockholder Meeting in accordance with Section 6.3(a) shall not be limited or otherwise affected by the commencement, disclosure, announcement or submission of any Superior Offer or Acquisition Proposal, or by any withdrawal or modification of the PubCo Board Recommendation or any other PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change.

 

(e)                Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit PubCo or the PubCo Board from complying with Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided however, that any disclosure made by PubCo or the PubCo Board pursuant to Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) shall be limited to a statement that PubCo is unable to take a position with respect to the bidder’s tender offer unless the PubCo Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that such statement would reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law.

 

6.4               Efforts; Regulatory Approvals.

 

(a)                The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Contemplated Transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Party: (i) shall make all filings and other submissions (if any) and give all notices (if any) required to be made and given by such Party in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, (ii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain each Consent (if any) reasonably required to be obtained (pursuant to any applicable Law or Contract, or otherwise) by such Party in connection with the Contemplated Transactions or for such Contract to remain in full force and effect (which, with respect to Consents from non-Governmental Authorities, shall be limited to the Consents set forth on Schedule 6.4), (iii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to lift any injunction prohibiting, or any other legal bar to, the Contemplated Transactions and (iv) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the conditions precedent to the consummation of this Agreement.

 

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(b)                Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file or otherwise submit, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, all applications, notices, reports and other documents reasonably required to be filed by such Party with or otherwise submitted by such Party to any Governmental Authority with respect to the Contemplated Transactions, and to submit promptly any additional information requested by any such Governmental Authority. The Company and PubCo shall promptly notify the other and respond as promptly as is practicable to respond in compliance with: (i) any inquiries or requests received from the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice for additional information or documentation and (ii) any inquiries or requests received from any state attorney general, foreign antitrust or competition authority or other Governmental Authority in connection with antitrust or competition matters.

 

6.5               Company Options and Company Warrants.

 

(a)                Subject to Section 6.5(c), at the Effective Time, each Company Option that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time under the Company Plan, whether or not vested, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, shall be converted into and become an option to purchase PubCo Common Stock, and PubCo shall assume the Company Plan and each such Company Option in accordance with the terms (as in effect as of the date of this Agreement) of the Company Plan and the terms of the stock option agreement by which such Company Option is evidenced. All rights with respect to Company Common Stock subject to Company Options assumed by PubCo shall at the Effective Time be converted into rights with respect to PubCo Common Stock. Accordingly, from and after the Effective Time: (i) each Company Option assumed by PubCo may be exercised solely for shares of PubCo Common Stock, (ii) the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock subject to each Company Option assumed by PubCo shall be determined by multiplying (A) the number of shares of Company Common Stock that were subject to such Company Option, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (B) the Exchange Ratio, and rounding the resulting number down to the nearest whole number of shares of PubCo Common Stock, (iii) the per share exercise price for the PubCo Common Stock issuable upon exercise of each Company Option assumed by PubCo shall be determined by dividing (A) the per share exercise price of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (B) the Exchange Ratio and rounding the resulting exercise price up to the nearest whole cent and (iv) any restriction on the exercise of any Company Option assumed by PubCo shall continue in full force and effect and the term, exercisability, vesting schedule and other provisions of such Company Option shall otherwise remain unchanged; provided, however, that: (A) to the extent provided under the terms of a Company Option, such Company Option assumed by PubCo in accordance with this Section 6.5(a) shall, in accordance with its terms, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate to reflect any stock split, division or subdivision of shares, stock dividend, reverse stock split, consolidation of shares, reclassification, recapitalization or other similar transaction with respect to PubCo Common Stock subsequent to the Effective Time and (B) the PubCo Board or a committee thereof shall succeed to the authority and responsibility of the Company Board or any committee thereof with respect to each Company Option assumed by PubCo after the Effective Time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.5(a), the conversion of each Company Option (regardless of whether such option qualifies as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) into an option to purchase shares of PubCo Common Stock shall be made in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulations Section 1.424-1, such that the conversion of a Company Option shall not constitute a “modification” of such Company Option for purposes of Section 409A or Section 424 of the Code.

 

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(b)                PubCo shall file with the SEC, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to the shares of PubCo Common Stock issuable with respect to Company Options assumed by PubCo in accordance with Section 6.5(a) to the extent such shares are eligible to be registered on Form S-8.

 

(c)                Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions that may be necessary (under the Company Plans and otherwise) to effectuate the provisions of this Section 6.5 and to ensure that, from and after the Effective Time, holders of Company Options have no rights with respect thereto other than those specifically provided in this Section 6.5.

 

(d)                At the Effective Time, all rights with respect to Company Common Stock under Company Warrants shall be converted into rights with respect to PubCo Common Stock and thereupon assumed by PubCo. Accordingly, from and after the Effective Time: (i) each Company Warrant assumed by PubCo may be exercised solely for shares of PubCo Common Stock; (ii) the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock subject to each Company Warrant assumed by PubCo shall be determined by multiplying (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock that were subject to such Company Warrant (on an as-converted basis with respect to shares of Company Preferred Stock), as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (y) the Exchange Ratio, and rounding the resulting number down to the nearest whole number of shares of PubCo Common Stock; (iii) the per share exercise price for the PubCo Common Stock issuable upon exercise of each Company Warrant assumed by PubCo shall be determined by dividing (x) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Warrant (or, in the case of Company Warrants exercisable for shares of Company Preferred Stock, the exercise price per share of such series of Company Preferred Stock divided by the number of shares of Company Common Stock into which such share of Company Preferred Stock is then convertible), as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, by (y) the Exchange Ratio, and rounding the resulting exercise price up to the nearest whole cent; and (iv) any restriction on the exercise of any Company Warrant assumed by PubCo shall continue in full force and effect and the term, exercisability, vesting schedule and other provisions of such Company Warrant shall otherwise remain unchanged; provided, however, that: (A) to the extent provided under the terms of a Company Warrant, such Company Warrant assumed by PubCo in accordance with this Section 6.5(c) shall, in accordance with its terms, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate to reflect any stock split, division or subdivision of shares, stock dividend, reverse stock split, consolidation of shares, reclassification, recapitalization or other similar transaction with respect to PubCo Common Stock subsequent to the Effective Time; and (B) the PubCo Board or a committee thereof shall succeed to the authority and responsibility, if any, of the Company Board or any committee thereof with respect to each Company Warrant assumed by PubCo.

 

6.6               PubCo Options. Prior to the Closing, the PubCo Board shall have adopted appropriate resolutions and taken all other actions necessary and appropriate, including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary consent from the holder of a PubCo Option, to provide the following:

 

(a)                The vesting of each unexpired, unexercised and unvested PubCo Option shall be accelerated in full effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, contingent on the occurrence of the Closing;

 

(b)                Each unexpired and unexercised PubCo Option with an exercise price that equals or exceeds the PubCo In-the-Money Price shall be canceled for no consideration;

 

(c)                Each unexpired and unexercised PubCo Option with an exercise price that is less than the PubCo In-the-Money Price shall continue to remain outstanding after the Effective Time in accordance with its terms.

 

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6.7               Employee Benefits. PubCo and the Company shall cause PubCo to comply with the terms of any employment, severance, retention, change of control, or similar agreement specified on Section 4.17(e) of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule, subject to the provisions of such agreements.

 

6.8               PubCo RSU Awards. Prior to the Closing, the PubCo Board shall have adopted appropriate resolutions and taken all other actions necessary and appropriate to provide that (i) the vesting of each outstanding and unvested PubCo RSU Award shall be accelerated in full effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, contingent on the occurrence of the Closing, and (ii) for each outstanding and unsettled PubCo RSU Award (including any PubCo RSU Award accelerated under clause (i) of this Section 6.8) the holder thereof shall receive, immediately prior to the Effective Time a number of shares of PubCo Common Stock equal to the number of unsettled shares underlying such PubCo RSU Award.

 

6.9               Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

 

(a)                The provisions of the PubCo’s Organizational Documents and PubCo Indemnification Agreements entered between PubCo and its officer and directors (“D&O Indemnified Parties”) with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors and officers of PubCo that are presently set forth in PubCo’s Organizational Documents and PubCo Indemnification Agreements shall not be amended, modified or repealed for a period of six years from the Effective Time in a manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Effective Time, were officers or directors of PubCo, unless such modification is required by applicable Law. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall contain, and PubCo shall cause the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation to so contain, provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors and officers as those presently set forth in the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of PubCo.

 

(b)                From and after the Effective Time, (i) the Surviving Corporation shall fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of the Company to its D&O Indemnified Parties as of immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to any indemnification provisions under the Company’s Organizational Documents and pursuant to any indemnification agreements between the Company and such D&O Indemnified Parties, with respect to claims arising out of matters occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and (ii) PubCo shall fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of PubCo to its D&O Indemnified Parties as of immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to any indemnification provisions under PubCo’s Organizational Documents and pursuant to any indemnification agreements between PubCo and such D&O Indemnified Parties, with respect to claims arising out of matters occurring at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

(c)                PubCo shall purchase, prior to the Effective Time, a six-year prepaid “D&O Tail Policy” for the non-cancellable extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of PubCo’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six years from and after the Effective Time with respect to any claim related to any period of time at or prior to the Effective Time with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable than the coverage provided under PubCo’s existing policies as of the date of this Agreement with respect to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against a director or officer of PubCo by reason of him or her serving in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions or in connection with PubCo’s initial public offering of shares of PubCo Common Stock). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in satisfying its obligation under this Section 6.9(c), PubCo shall not be obligated to pay a one-time premium in excess of 300% of the amount of annual premium currently paid by PubCo (the “Current Premium”); provided, however, that the D&O Tail Policy shall be as set forth on Schedule 6.9(c); provided, further, that, if the one-time premium for the D&O Tail Policy exceeds the amount contemplated above, PubCo shall obtain a D&O Tail Policy with the greatest coverage available that is consistent with the first sentence of this paragraph (c) for a cost not exceeding the amount contemplated above.

 

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(d)                The provisions of this Section 6.9 are intended to be in addition to the rights otherwise available to the current and former officers and directors of PubCo and the Company by Law, charter, statute, bylaw or agreement, and shall operate for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Parties, their heirs and their Representatives.

 

(e)                In the event PubCo or the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or Entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of PubCo or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 6.9. PubCo shall cause the Surviving Corporation to perform all of the obligations of the Surviving Corporation under this Section 6.9.

 

6.10           Disclosure. The Parties shall agree to the text of any initial press release and PubCo’s Form 8-K announcing the execution and delivery of this Agreement Without limiting any Party’s obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement, no Party shall, and no Party shall permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Representative to, issue any press release or make any disclosure (to any customers or employees of such Party, to the public or otherwise) regarding the Contemplated Transactions unless: (a) the other Party shall have approved such press release or disclosure in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; or (b) such Party shall have determined in good faith, upon the advice of outside legal counsel, that such disclosure is required by applicable Law and, to the extent practicable, before such press release or disclosure is issued or made, such Party advises the other Party of, and consults with the other Party regarding, the text of such press release or disclosure; provided, however, that each of the Company and PubCo may make any public statement in response to specific questions by the press, analysts, investors or those attending industry conferences or financial analyst conference calls, as well as announcements to employees, consultants, vendors and suppliers, so long as any such statements are consistent with previous press releases, public disclosures or public statements made by the Company or PubCo in compliance with this Section 6.11. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party need not consult with any other Parties in connection with such portion of any press release, public statement or filing to be issued or made pursuant to Section 6.3(d) or with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, PubCo Board Adverse Recommendation Change or Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change, as applicable, or with respect to PubCo only, pursuant to Section 6.3(e).

 

6.11           Listing. At or prior to the Effective Time, PubCo shall use its reasonable best efforts (a) to maintain its existing listing on Nasdaq until the Effective Time and to obtain approval of the listing of the combined corporation on Nasdaq, (b) to the extent required by the rules and regulations of Nasdaq, prepare and submit to Nasdaq a notification form for the listing of the shares of PubCo Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and to cause such shares to be approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance), (c) prepare and timely submit to Nasdaq a notification form for the PubCo Reverse Stock Split and to submit a copy of the amendment to PubCo’s certificate of incorporation effecting the PubCo Reverse Stock Split, certificated by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, to Nasdaq on the Closing Date and (d) to the extent required by Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5110, file (or, at the Company’s request, to assist the Company in preparing and filing) an initial listing application for the PubCo Common Stock on Nasdaq (the “Nasdaq Listing Application”) and to cause such Nasdaq Listing Application to be conditionally approved prior to the Effective Time. Each Party will reasonably promptly inform the other Party of all verbal or written communications between Nasdaq and such Party or its Representatives. The Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to coordinate with respect to compliance with Nasdaq rules and regulations. The Company agrees to pay all Nasdaq fees associated with any action contemplated by this Section 6.11. The Party not filing the Nasdaq Listing Application will cooperate with the other Party as reasonably requested by such filing Party with respect to the Nasdaq Listing Application and promptly furnish to such filing Party all information concerning itself and its stockholders that may be required or reasonably requested in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 6.11.

 

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6.12           Tax Matters.

 

(a)                The Parties shall treat and shall not take any Tax reporting position inconsistent with the treatment of the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code for U.S. federal, state and other relevant Tax purposes (including not filing any U.S. federal, state or local Tax Return in a manner that is inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, preparing and filing all income Tax Returns in accordance with the Intended Tax Treatment, and not taking any position inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment in the course of any audit, litigation or other Legal Proceeding), unless otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

(b)                The Parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify, and refrain from taking any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying, for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(c)                The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to Cooley and Reed Smith a “Tax Representation Letter,” dated as of the date of the Tax opinions referenced in Section 6.1(h) and signed by an officer of the Company, containing representations of the Company, and PubCo (and Merger Sub) shall use their reasonable best efforts to deliver to Cooley and Reed Smith a “Tax Representation Letter,” dated as of the date of the Tax opinions referenced in Section 6.1(h) and signed by an officer of PubCo (and Merger Sub), containing representations of PubCo (and Merger Sub), in each case as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Cooley and Reed Smith to render the applicable tax opinions described in Section 6.1(h).

 

6.13           Legends. PubCo shall be entitled to place appropriate legends on the book entries and/or certificates evidencing any shares of PubCo Common Stock to be received in the Merger by equity holders of the Company who may be considered “affiliates” of PubCo for purposes of Rules 144 and 145 under the Securities Act reflecting the restrictions set forth in Rules 144 and 145 and to issue appropriate stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent for PubCo Common Stock.

 

6.14           Directors and Officers. Until successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with applicable Law, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts and take all necessary action so that the Persons listed in Schedule 6.14 are elected or appointed, as applicable, to the positions of officers and directors of PubCo and the Surviving Corporation, as set forth therein, to serve in such positions effective as of the Effective Time. If any Person listed in Schedule 6.14 is unable or unwilling to serve as officer or director of PubCo or the Surviving Corporation, as set forth therein, the Party appointing such Person (as set forth on Schedule 6.14) shall designate a successor. Notwithstanding, the Company is aware and understands that the current member of the PubCo Board appointed by the holder of the PubCo Preferred Stock, will remain on the PubCo Board subsequent to Closing.

 

6.15           Termination of Certain Agreements and Rights. Each of PubCo and the Company shall cause any stockholders agreements, voting agreements, registration rights agreements, co-sale agreements and any other similar Contracts between either PubCo or the Company and any holders of PubCo Common Stock or Company Common Stock, respectively, including any such Contract granting any Person investor rights, rights of first refusal, registration rights or director registration rights (collectively, the “Investor Agreements”), to be terminated immediately prior to the Effective Time, without any liability being imposed on the part of PubCo or the Surviving Corporation.

 

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6.16           Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, PubCo shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any acquisitions of PubCo Common Stock and any options to purchase PubCo Common Stock in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, by each individual who is reasonably expected to become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to PubCo, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

6.17           Allocation Certificates.

 

(a)                The Company will prepare and deliver to PubCo at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company in a form reasonably acceptable to PubCo setting forth (as of immediately prior to the Effective Time) (i) each holder of Company Capital Stock, Company Options or Company Warrants, (ii) such holder’s name and address, (iii) the number and type of Company Capital Stock held and/or underlying the Company Options or Company Warrants as of the Closing Date for each such holder and (iv) the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock to be issued to such holder, or to underlie any PubCo Option or PubCo Warrant to be issued to such holder, pursuant to this Agreement in respect of the Company Capital Stock, Company Options or Company Warrant held by such holder as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Company Allocation Certificate”).

 

(b)                PubCo will prepare and deliver to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of PubCo in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, setting forth, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (and giving effect to Section 6.6 and Section 6.8 hereof and the PubCo Reverse Stock Split): (i) each record holder of PubCo Common Stock, PubCo Options, PubCo Warrants and PubCo RSU Awards, (ii) the number and type of PubCo Capital Stock held and/or underlying the PubCo Options or PubCo Warrants as of the Closing Date for each such holder, (iii) such record holder’s name and address and (iv) the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock held and/or underlying the PubCo Options, PubCo Warrants and PubCo RSU Awards as of the Effective Time for such holder (the “PubCo Allocation Certificate”).

 

6.18           PubCo Reverse Stock Split. PubCo shall submit to PubCo’s stockholders at the PubCo Stockholder Meeting a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to PubCo’s certificate of incorporation to authorize the PubCo Board to effect a reverse stock split of all outstanding shares of PubCo Common Stock at a reverse stock split ratio in the range mutually agreed to by the Company and PubCo (the “PubCo Reverse Stock Split”), and shall take such other actions as shall be reasonably necessary to effectuate the PubCo Reverse Stock Split.

 

6.19           Takeover Statutes. If any takeover statute is or may become applicable to the Contemplated Transactions, each of the Company, the Company Board, PubCo and the PubCo Board, as applicable, shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the Contemplated Transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the Contemplated Transactions.

 

6.20           Stockholder Litigation. Each Party shall keep the other Party reasonably informed regarding any Stockholder Litigation. Prior to the Closing, PubCo shall reasonably consult with the Company, in good faith take any comments of the Company into account with respect to such Stockholder Litigation, give the Company the right to review and comment in advance on all material filings or responses to be made by PubCo in connection with any such Stockholder Litigation, give the Company the right to participate in such Stockholder Litigation and shall keep the Company apprised of any material developments in connection with any such Stockholder Litigation. Neither Party shall settle any Stockholder Litigation without the prior written consent of the other Party except where such settlement is purely monetary and not in excess (individually or in the aggregate) of $350,000, includes a full release and does not require any party to admit any wrongdoing (provided that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

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6.21           PubCo SEC Documents. From the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, PubCo shall timely file with the SEC all registration statements, proxy statements, Certifications, reports, schedules, exhibits, forms and other documents required to be filed by PubCo or its officers with the SEC required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (“SEC Documents”). As of its filing date, or if amended after the date of this Agreement, as of the date of the last such amendment, each SEC Document filed by PubCo with the SEC (a) shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and (b) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

6.22           Obligations of Merger Sub. PubCo will take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

6.23           Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect, or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title, and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties, or assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

 

Section 7. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Each Party.

 

The obligations of each Party to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the Contemplated Transactions to be consummated at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the written waiver by each of the Parties, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

7.1               Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, and shall not be subject to any stop order or proceeding (or threatened proceeding by the SEC) seeking a stop order with respect to the Registration Statement that has not been withdrawn. Any material state securities laws applicable to the issuance of the shares of PubCo Common Stock constituting Merger Consideration shall have been complied with and no stop order (or similar order) shall have been issued or threatened in writing in respect of any shares of PubCo Common Stock constituting Merger Consideration by any applicable state securities commissioner or court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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7.2               No Restraints. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other Order preventing the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions shall have been issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction and remain in effect and there shall not be any Law which has the effect of making the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions illegal.

 

7.3               Stockholder Approval. (a) PubCo shall have obtained the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote for the Closing PubCo Stockholder Matters and (b) the Company shall have obtained the Required Company Stockholder Vote.

 

7.4               Listing. The approval of the listing of the additional shares of PubCo Common Stock on Nasdaq shall have been obtained and the shares of PubCo Common Stock to be issued in the Merger pursuant to this Agreement shall have been approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on Nasdaq.

 

Section 8. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligations of PubCo and Merger Sub.

 

The obligations of PubCo and Merger Sub to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the transactions to be consummated at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or the written waiver by PubCo, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

8.1               Accuracy of Representations. The Company Fundamental Representations and Company Capitalization Representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date). The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (other than the Company Fundamental Representations and the Company Capitalization Representations) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on the Closing Date except (a) in each case, or in the aggregate, where the failure to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (without giving effect to any references therein to any Company Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) or (b) for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which representations shall have been true and correct, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (a), as of such particular date) (it being understood that, for purposes of determining the accuracy of such representations and warranties, any update of or modification to the Company Disclosure Schedule made or purported to have been made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded unless waived by PubCo).

 

8.2               Performance of Covenants. The Company shall have performed or complied with in all material respects all agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

8.3               Closing Certificate. PubCo shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying (a) that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.6 have been duly satisfied and (b) that the information set forth in the Company Allocation Certificate delivered by the Company in accordance with Section 6.17 is true and accurate in all respects as of the Closing Date.

 

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8.4               FIRPTA Certificate. PubCo shall have received (i) an original signed statement from the Company that the Company is not, and has not been at any time during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a “United States real property holding corporation,” as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code, conforming to the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(c)(3) and 1.897-2(h), and (ii) an original signed notice to be delivered to the IRS in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2), together with written authorization for PubCo to deliver such notice to the IRS on behalf of the Company following the Closing, each dated as of the Closing Date, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company.

 

8.5               No Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect that is continuing.

 

8.6               Company Lock-Up Agreements. The Lock-Up Agreements entered into by the officers, directors and stockholders of the Company listed on Section B of the Company Disclosure Schedule will continue to be in full force and effect as of immediately following the Effective Time and the Company agrees to not terminate or amend such Lock-Up Agreements, except to the extent necessary to comply with Nasdaq rules and regulations.

 

8.7               Termination of Investor Agreements. Except as set forth on Schedule 8.7, the Investor Agreements shall have been terminated.

 

Section 9. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligation of the Company.

 

The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the transactions to be consummated at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or the written waiver by the Company, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

9.1               Accuracy of Representations. Each of the PubCo Fundamental Representations and PubCo Capitalization Representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date). The representations and warranties of PubCo and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement (other than the PubCo Fundamental Representations and the PubCo Capitalization Representations) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on the Closing Date except (a) in each case, or in the aggregate, where the failure to be true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have a PubCo Material Adverse Effect (without giving effect to any references therein to any PubCo Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) or (b) for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which representations shall have been true and correct, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (a), as of such particular date) (it being understood that, for purposes of determining the accuracy of such representations and warranties, any update of or modification to the PubCo Disclosure Schedule made or purported to have been made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded).

 

9.2               Performance of Covenants. PubCo and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied with in all material respects all of their agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by each of them under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

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9.3               Documents. The Company shall have received the following documents, each of which shall be in full force and effect:

 

(a)                a certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer of PubCo confirming that (i) the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2, and 9.4 have been duly satisfied and (ii) the information set forth in the PubCo Allocation Certificate delivered by the Company in accordance with Section 6.17 is true and accurate in all respects as of the Closing Date;

 

(b)                the PubCo Net Cash Schedule; and

 

(c)                written resignations in forms satisfactory to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date and effective as of the Closing executed by the officers and directors of PubCo who are not to continue as officers or directors of PubCo pursuant to Section 6.14 hereof.

 

9.4               No PubCo Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any PubCo Material Adverse Effect that is continuing.

 

9.5               PubCo Lock-Up Agreements. The Lock-Up Agreements entered into by the officers and directors of PubCo set forth on Section B of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule will continue to be in full force and effect as of immediately following the Effective Time.

 

9.6               Listing. The existing shares of PubCo Common Stock shall have been continually listed on Nasdaq as of and from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date.

 

9.7               Sarbanes-Oxley Certifications. Neither the principal executive officer nor the principal financial officer of PubCo shall have failed to provide, with respect to any SEC Document filed (or required to be filed) by PubCo with the SEC on or after the date of this Agreement, any necessary certification in the form required under Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.

 

9.8               Termination of PubCo Material Contracts. The PubCo Material Contracts set forth on Section 9.8 of the PubCo Disclosure Schedule shall have been terminated prior to the Effective Time and PubCo shall provide the Company written evidence that the PubCo Material Contracts have been terminated.

 

9.9               Charter Amendment. PubCo shall have filed the amendment to its certificate of incorporation contemplated by Section 2.4(b), and timely submitted a certified copy of the same to Nasdaq in accordance with Nasdaq’s Marketplace Rules.

 

9.10           D&O Policy. The directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies contemplated by Section 6.9 shall have been obtained and in full force and effect concurrent with the Closing.

 

9.11           Exchange Agent Agreement. PubCo shall have entered into an exchange agent agreement with the Exchange Agent pertaining to the exchange of shares of Company Capital Stock for shares of PubCo Common Stock as contemplated hereby, including a form of letter of transmittal, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

9.12           Management Options. The PubCo Management Options will be terminated or otherwise cancelled by PubCo pursuant to agreements to be entered into with the holders thereto.

 

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Section 10. Termination.

 

10.1           Termination. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time (whether before or after adoption of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders and whether before or after approval of the PubCo Stockholder Matters by PubCo’s stockholders, unless otherwise specified below):

 

(a)                by mutual written consent of PubCo and the Company;

 

(b)                by either PubCo or the Company if the Merger shall not have been consummated by seven (7) months following the execution of this Agreement by the Parties (subject to possible extension as provided in this Section 10.1(b), the “End Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(b) shall not be available to the Company or PubCo if such Party’s action or failure to act has been a principal cause of the failure of the Merger to occur on or before the End Date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement, provided, further, however, that, in the event that the SEC has not declared effective under the Securities Act the Registration Statement by the date which is 60 days prior to the End Date, then either the Company or PubCo shall be entitled to extend the End Date for an additional 60 days; provided, further, however, that, in the event an adjournment or postponement of the PubCo Stockholder Meeting has occurred as permitted pursuant to Section 6.3 and such adjournment or postponement continues through the End Date, then the End Date shall automatically extend until the date that is ten (10) calendar days following such adjournment or postponement

 

(c)                by either PubCo or the Company if a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority shall have issued a final and nonappealable Order, or shall have taken any other action, having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(d)                by PubCo if the Required Company Stockholder Vote shall not have been obtained within ten (10) Business Days of the Registration Statement becoming effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act; provided, however, that once the Required Company Stockholder Vote has been obtained, PubCo may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(d);

 

(e)                by either PubCo or the Company if (i) the PubCo Stockholder Meeting (including any adjournments and postponements thereof) shall have been held and completed and PubCo’s stockholders shall have taken a final vote on the PubCo Stockholder Matters and (ii) the Closing PubCo Stockholder Matters shall not have been approved at the PubCo Stockholder Meeting (or at any adjournment or postponement thereof) by the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(e) shall not be available to PubCo where the failure to obtain the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote for the Closing PubCo Stockholder Matters shall have been caused by the action or failure to act of PubCo and such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach by PubCo of this Agreement;

 

(f)                 by the Company (at any time prior to the approval of the PubCo Stockholder Matters by the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote) if a PubCo Triggering Event shall have occurred;

 

(g)                by PubCo (at any time prior to the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Contemplated Transactions by the Required Company Stockholder Vote) if a Company Triggering Event shall have occurred;

 

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(h)                by the Company, upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement by PubCo or Merger Sub or if any representation or warranty of PubCo or Merger Sub shall have become inaccurate, in either case, such that the conditions set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2 would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become inaccurate; provided, that the Company is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement under this Agreement such that the conditions set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2 would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become inaccurate; provided, further, that if such inaccuracy in PubCo’s or Merger Sub’s representations and warranties or breach by PubCo or Merger Sub is curable by PubCo or Merger Sub, then this Agreement shall not terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(h) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy until the earlier of (i) the expiration of a 30-day period commencing upon delivery of written notice from the Company to PubCo or Merger Sub of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(h) and (ii) PubCo or Merger Sub (as applicable) ceasing to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach following delivery of written notice from the Company to PubCo or Merger Sub of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(h) (it being understood that this Agreement shall not terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(h) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy if such breach by PubCo or Merger Sub is cured prior to such termination becoming effective);

 

(i)                 by PubCo, upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement by the Company or if any representation or warranty of the Company shall have become inaccurate, in either case, such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become inaccurate; provided, that PubCo is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement under this Agreement such that the conditions set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2 would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become inaccurate; provided, further, that if such inaccuracy in the Company’s representations and warranties or breach by the Company is curable by the Company then this Agreement shall not terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(i) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy until the earlier of (i) the expiration of a 30-day period commencing upon delivery of written notice from PubCo to the Company of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(i) and (ii) the Company ceasing to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach following delivery of written notice from PubCo to the Company of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(i) (it being understood that this Agreement shall not terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(i) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy if such breach by the Company is cured prior to such termination becoming effective); or

 

(j)                 by PubCo (at any time prior to the approval of the PubCo Stockholder Matters by the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote) and following compliance with all of the requirements set forth in the proviso to this Section 10.1(j), upon the PubCo Board authorizing PubCo to enter into a Permitted Alternative Agreement; provided, however, that PubCo shall not enter into any Permitted Alternative Agreement unless: (i) the Company shall have received written notice from PubCo of PubCo’s intention to enter into such Permitted Alternative Agreement at least five (5) Business Days in advance, with such notice describing in reasonable detail the reasons for such intention as well as the material terms and conditions of such Permitted Alternative Agreement, including the identity of the counterparty together with copies of the then current draft of such Permitted Alternative Agreement and any other related principal transaction documents, (ii) PubCo shall have complied with its obligations under Section 5.4 and Section 6.3, (iii) the PubCo Board shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to enter into such Permitted Alternative Agreement would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations under applicable Law and (iv) PubCo shall concurrently pay to the Company the Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section 10.3(c).

 

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(k)                by the Company (at any time prior to the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Contemplated Transactions by the Required Company Stockholder Vote) and following compliance with all of the requirements set forth in the proviso to this Section 10.1(k), upon the Company Board authorizing the Company to enter into a Permitted Alternative Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall not enter into any Permitted Alternative Agreement unless: (i) PubCo shall have received written notice from the Company of the Company’s intention to enter into such Permitted Alternative Agreement at least five (5) Business Days in advance, with such notice describing in reasonable detail the reasons for such intention as well as the material terms and conditions of such Permitted Alternative Agreement, including the identity of the counterparty together with copies of the then current draft of such Permitted Alternative Agreement and any other related principal transaction documents, (ii) the Company shall have complied with its obligations under Section 5.4 and Section 6.2, (iii) the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to enter into such Permitted Alternative Agreement would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations under applicable Law and (iv) the Company shall concurrently pay to PubCo the PubCo Termination Fee in accordance with Section 10.3(e).

 

The Party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 (other than pursuant to Section 10.1(a)) shall give a notice of such termination to the other Party specifying the provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is made and the basis therefor described in reasonable detail.

 

10.2           Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 10, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect; provided, however, that (a) this Section 10.2, Section 6.10, Section 10.3, and Section 11 (and the related definitions of the defined terms in such sections) shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect, (b) the termination of this Agreement and the provisions of Section 10.3 shall not relieve any Party of any liability for common law fraud or for any Willful Breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, obligation or other provision contained in this Agreement and (c) no termination of this Agreement shall affect the obligations of the Parties contained in the Confidentiality Agreement, which obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with their terms. “Willful Breach” means a deliberate act or deliberate failure to act, taken with the actual knowledge that such act or failure to act would result in or constitute a material breach of this Agreement.

 

10.3           Expenses; Termination Fees.

 

(a)                Except as set forth in this Section 10.3, Section 6.9 and Section 6.11, (i) all PubCo Transaction Expenses shall be paid by PubCo, or (ii) all Company Transaction Expenses shall be paid by Company, and all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

 

(b)                If this Agreement is terminated by PubCo or the Company pursuant to Section 10.1(e), at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the PubCo Stockholder Meeting, and an Acquisition Proposal with respect to PubCo shall have been publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to the PubCo Board (and shall not have been publicly withdrawn) and PubCo enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a Subsequent Transaction or consummates a Subsequent Transaction within six (6) months after the date of such termination, then PubCo shall pay to the Company, within ten (10) Business Days of entry into a definitive agreement and/or consummation of a Subsequent Transaction, a nonrefundable fee in an amount equal to $1,500,000 (the “Company Termination Fee”).

 

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(c)                If this Agreement is terminated by (i) the Company pursuant to Section 10.1(f) or, at the time this Agreement is terminated, the Company had the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(f), then PubCo shall pay to the Company, within five (5) Business Days of such termination, the Company Termination Fee or (ii) PubCo pursuant to Section 10.1(j), then PubCo shall pay to the Company, concurrent with such termination, the Company Termination Fee, or (iii) PubCo pursuant to Section 10.1(g) or at the time this Agreement is terminated, PubCo had the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(g), then Company shall pay to PubCo, within five (5) Business Days of such termination, the PubCo Termination Fee (as defined below) or (iv) the Company pursuant to Section 10.1(k) then Company shall pay to PubCo, concurrent with such termination, the PubCo Termination Fee.

 

(d)                If this Agreement is terminated by PubCo pursuant to Section 10.1(d), at any time after the date of this Agreement and before obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Vote an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company shall have been publicly announced, disclosed or otherwise communicated to the Company Board (and shall not have been withdrawn) and the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a Subsequent Transaction or consummates a Subsequent Transaction within six (6) months after the date of such termination, then the Company shall pay to PubCo, within ten (10) Business Days after termination (or, if applicable, upon such entry into a definitive agreement and/or consummation of a Subsequent Transaction), a nonrefundable fee in an amount equal to $1,500,000 (the “PubCo Termination Fee”).

 

(e)                If this Agreement is terminated by the Company as a result of the occurrence of the events contained both in, Section 10.1(f) and Section 10.1(h), PubCo shall in addition to any applicable required payment of the Company Termination Fee and reimburse the Company for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, up to a maximum of $250,000, by wire transfer of same-day funds within ten (10) Business Days following the date on which the Company submits to PubCo true and correct copies of reasonable documentation supporting such expenses.

 

(f)                 If this Agreement is terminated by PubCo as a result of the occurrence of the events contained in both Section 10.1(g) and Section 10.1(i), the Company shall in addition to any applicable required payment of the PubCo Termination Fee reimburse PubCo for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by PubCo in connection with this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, up to a maximum of $250,000, by wire transfer of same-day funds within ten (10) Business Days following the date on which PubCo submits to the Company true and correct copies of reasonable documentation supporting such expenses.

 

(g)                If either Party fails to pay when due any amount payable by it under this Section 10.3, then (i) such Party shall reimburse the other Party for reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in connection with the collection of such overdue amount and the enforcement by the other Party of its rights under this Section 10.3 and (ii) such Party shall pay to the other Party interest on such overdue amount (for the period commencing as of the date such overdue amount was originally required to be paid and ending on the date such overdue amount is actually paid to the other Party in full) at a rate per annum equal to the “prime rate” (as announced by Bank of America or any successor thereto) in effect on the date such overdue amount was originally required to be paid plus three percent.

 

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(h)                The Parties agree that, subject to Section 10.2, the payment of the fees and expenses set forth in this Section 10.3 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of each Party following a termination of this Agreement under the circumstances described in this Section 10.3, it being understood that in no event shall either PubCo or the Company be required to pay the individual fees or damages payable pursuant to this Section 10.3 on more than one occasion. Subject to Section 10.2, following the payment of the fees and expenses set forth in this Section 10.3 by a Party, (i) such Party shall have no further liability to the other Party in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the termination thereof, any breach of this Agreement by the other Party giving rise to such termination, or the failure of the Contemplated Transactions to be consummated, (ii) no other Party or their respective Affiliates shall be entitled to bring or maintain any other claim, action or proceeding against such Party or seek to obtain any recovery, judgment or damages of any kind against such Party (or any partner, member, stockholder, director, officer, employee, Subsidiary, Affiliate, agent or other Representative of such Party) in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the termination thereof, any breach by such Party giving rise to such termination or the failure of the Contemplated Transactions to be consummated and (iii) all other Parties and their respective Affiliates shall be precluded from any other remedy against such Party and its Affiliates, at law or in equity or otherwise, in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the termination thereof, any breach by such Party giving rise to such termination or the failure of the Contemplated Transactions to be consummated. Each of the Parties acknowledges that (x) the agreements contained in this Section 10.3 are an integral part of the Contemplated Transactions, (y) without these agreements, the Parties would not enter into this Agreement and (z) any amount payable pursuant to this Section 10.3 is not a penalty, but rather is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Parties in the circumstances in which such amount is payable; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 10.3(h) shall limit the rights of the Parties under Section 11.10.

 

Section 11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

11.1           Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company, PubCo and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time, and only the covenants that by their terms survive the Effective Time and this Section 11 shall survive the Effective Time.

 

11.2           Amendment. This Agreement may be amended with the approval of the Company, Merger Sub and PubCo at any time (whether before or after the adoption and approval of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders or before or after obtaining the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote); provided, however, that after any such approval of this Agreement by a Party’s stockholders, no amendment shall be made which by Law requires further approval of such stockholders without the further approval of such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Company, Merger Sub and PubCo.

 

11.3           Waiver.

 

(a)                Any provision hereof may be waived by the waiving Party solely on such Party’s own behalf, without the consent of any other Party. No failure on the part of any Party to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any Party in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy.

 

(b)                No Party shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Party and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

 

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11.4           Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Exchanges by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and the other schedules, exhibits, certificates, instruments and agreements referred to in this Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, that the Confidentiality Agreement shall not be superseded and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by all Parties by electronic transmission in .PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

11.5           Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions, each of the Parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with clause (a) of this Section 11.5, (c) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, (d) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party, (e) agrees that service of process upon such Party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 11.8 of this Agreement and (f) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

11.6           Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that neither this Agreement nor any of a Party’s rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by such Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any attempted assignment or delegation of this Agreement or any of such rights or obligations by such Party without the other Party’s prior written consent shall be void and of no effect.

 

11.7           Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and received hereunder (a) one Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand, (c) if sent by email transmission prior to 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time, upon transmission (provided, no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto) or (d) if sent by email transmission after 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time and no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto, the business day following the date of transmission; provided that in each case the notice or other communication is sent to the physical address or email address set forth beneath the name of such Party below (or to such other physical address or email address as such Party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other Parties hereto):

 

if to PubCo or Merger Sub:

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc./Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc.

c/o Silvestre Law Group, P.C.

2629 Townsgate Rd., Suite 215

Westlake Village CA 91362

Attention: David Mazzo

Email:                               

 

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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Silvestre Law Group, P.C.

2629 Townsgate Road #215

Westlake Village, CA 91361

Attention: Raul Silvestre

Email: rsilvestre@silvestrelaw.com

 

if to the Company:

 

Leading BioSciences, Inc.
5800 Armada Dr. #210
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Attention: JD Finley
Email: jd.finley@leadingbiosciences.com

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Cooley LLP
4401 Eastgate Mall
San Diego, CA 92121-1909
Fax: (858) 550-6420
Attention: Tom Coll; Rama Padmanabhan; Karen Deschaine
Email: collta@cooley.com; rama@cooley.com; kdeschaine@cooley.com

 

11.8           Cooperation. Each Party agrees to cooperate fully with the other Party and to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements and instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the other Party to evidence or reflect the Contemplated Transactions and to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

11.9           Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

11.10        Other Remedies; Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity, and each of the Parties waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other Party with respect thereto. Each of the Parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other Party has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity.

 

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11.11        No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person (other than the Parties and the D&O Indemnified Parties to the extent of their respective rights pursuant to Section 6.9) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement except for the Persons named in column (1) of the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

11.12         Attorneys’ Fees. In any action at law or suit in equity to enforce this Agreement or the rights of any of the Parties, the prevailing Party in such action or suit (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be entitled to recover its reasonable out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in such action or suit.

 

 

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In Witness Whereof, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

  Seneca Biopharma, Inc.  
       
  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    
       
  Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc.  
       
  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    
       
  Leading BioSciences, Inc.  
       
  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 2.2

 

CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Contingent Value Rights Agreement, dated as of _________, 20___ (this “Agreement”), by and among Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), [●], as CVR Agent (the “CVR Agent”), and [●], in [its/his/her] capacity as the initial CVR Holders’ Representative (the “CVR Holders’ Representative”).

 

Preamble

 

Whereas, Parent, Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“LBS”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 16, 2020 (as amended to date, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into LBS (the “Merger”), with LBS surviving the Merger as a subsidiary of Parent.

 

Whereas, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent agreed to issue and distribute to the Persons, who as of immediately prior to the Effective Time are stockholders of record of Parent, CVRs as hereinafter described, and on ________, 2020 Parent declared a dividend of one CVR per share of Parent common stock, par value $0.01, outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time; and

 

Whereas, Parent desires that the CVR Agent act as its special agent for the purposes of effecting the distribution of the CVRs to those stockholders of Parent entitled to receive CVRs and performing the other services described in this Agreement.

 

Now, Therefore, for and in consideration of the premises and the consummation of the transactions referred to above, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the benefit of the Holders (as hereinafter defined), as follows:

 

Article I

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.             Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)                the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(b)               all accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect on the date hereof;

 

(c)                the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(d)               unless the context otherwise requires, words describing the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa, words denoting any gender shall include all genders and words denoting natural Persons shall include corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and other Persons and vice versa; and

 

 

 

 

(e)                all references to “including” shall be deemed to mean including without limitation.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. The following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

 

Accountant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the banks in the State of New York, State of California or State of Delaware are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

CVR Escrow” means a segregated escrow account in which all: (i) Net Proceeds, (ii) the Reserve Fund amounts and (iii) Legacy Asset Winddown Amount, will be held until disbursed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

CVR Payment Amount” means 80% of Net Proceeds in respect of each respective item of Gross Proceeds actually received by Parent as a result of any Legacy Monetization.

 

CVR Payment Date” means the 30th day after the end of the calendar year in which a respective item of Gross Proceeds is actually received by Parent, however, that in the event that the CVR Payment Amount on any CVR Payment Date shall be less than $500,000, no CVR Payment Amount shall be due and instead such CVR Payment Amount shall be added to subsequent CVR Payment Amounts until: (i) the aggregate CVR Payment Amount shall be at least $500,000 or (ii) the Final CVR Payment date (provided, that no payment shall be made with respect to a CVR Payment Amount that is less than $300,000).

 

CVR Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

CVRs” means the Contingent Value Rights issued by Parent as contemplated by this Agreement. Unless otherwise specified herein, for purposes of this Agreement all the CVRs shall be considered as part of and shall act as one class only.

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Entitlement Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

 

Final CVR Payment” means the earlier of: (i) the CVR Payment Date on which the last CVR Payment related to all the Legacy Monetization is made or (ii) the Termination Date.

 

Gross Proceeds” means all cash or cash proceeds from the sale of Marketable Securities entitled to received by Parent from a Legacy Monetization (but subject to actual receipt) prior to the Termination Date, to the extent received within a commercially reasonably time thereafter (not to exceed three months); provided, that the sale of the Marketable Securities shall, in compliance with law, be at the CVR Representative’s sole discretion.

 

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Holder” means a Person in whose name a CVR is registered in the CVR Register.

 

Legacy Monetization” means the sale or license of all or any part of the Parent Legacy Technology, the definitive agreement for which sale or license is entered into: (i) during the period beginning at the Effective Time and ending on the date that is 18 months following the Effective Time or (ii) prior to the Effective Time and the proposed transaction is not consummated prior to the Asset Milestone Payment.

 

Legal Proceeding” means any claim, demand, action, cause of action, arbitration or lawsuit.

 

Marketable Securities” means a United States listed security.

 

Monetization Expenses” means any and all expenses, that would not otherwise be incurred by Parent in its normal and customary course of business, in pursuing, negotiating, entering into and closing any Legacy Monetization (including any pre-Merger accrued and unpaid expenses that are not included in Net Cash), the out-of-pocket expenses of the CVR Holders’ Representative, any other consultant fees and expenses, success fees, legal fees and similar items, CVR Agent Indemnification Payment, CVR Agent Expenses, each Reserve Fund, and any and all post-Merger preservation and maintenance of the Parent Legacy Technology, including Parent Intellectual Property Rights application, registration and maintenance fees, any applicable taxes (including sales, use, tariffs, excise, customs duties, gross receipts, VAT or other similar taxes or governmental charges), and specifically including all actual Ongoing Support Funding, provided however that in no event shall the Monetization Expenses include any administrative or similar fee payable to Parent in connection with its general overhead. For the avoidance of doubt, the out-of-pocket cost to Parent of retaining the CVR Agent shall be a Monetization Expense.

 

Net Proceeds” means, with respect to each respective Legacy Monetization, the excess, if any, of (a) all Gross Proceeds less (b) all Monetization Expenses.

 

Notice of Objection” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

 

Ongoing Support Funding” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(e).

 

Parent Intellectual Property Rights” means all Intellectual Property owned, licensed or controlled by Parent that is necessary for the operation of the business of Parent as presently conducted.

 

Parent Legacy Technology” means any Parent Intellectual Property Rights in existence as of the Effective Time.

 

Permitted Transfer” means: (i) a transfer of any or all of the CVRs (upon the death of the Holder) by will or intestacy; (ii) a transfer by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust in which the CVRs are to be passed to beneficiaries upon the death of the trustee; (iii) transfers made pursuant to a court order of a court of competent jurisdiction (such as in connection with divorce, bankruptcy or liquidation); (iv) a transfer made by operation of law (including a consolidation or merger) or in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or termination of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity; (v) a transfer from a participant’s account in a tax-qualified employee benefit plan to the participant or to such participant’s account in a different tax-qualified employee benefit plan or to a tax-qualified individual retirement account for the benefit of such participant; or (vi) a transfer from a participant in a tax-qualified employee benefit plan, who received the CVRs from such participant’s account in such tax-qualified employee benefit plan, to such participant’s account in a different tax-qualified employee benefit plan or to a tax-qualified individual retirement account for the benefit of such participant.

 

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Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereof or thereto.

 

Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

 

Reserve Fund” means, with regard to a particular Legacy Monetization, a reasonable amount (which in any case shall not be less than $25,000 or 20% of the Gross Proceeds of the applicable Legacy Monetization, whichever is lower) to be agreed upon in good faith by the CVR Holders’ Representative and Parent to be (i) withheld from any Gross Proceeds received after the termination or depletion of the Ongoing Support Funding and (ii) used and held for use to fund Monetization Expenses in connection with the Legacy Monetization giving rise to the Gross Proceeds.

 

Surviving Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).

 

Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9.

 

Article II

CONTINGENT VALUE RIGHTS

 

Section 2.1.             Appointment of CVR Agent.

 

Parent hereby appoints [●] to act as CVR Agent for Parent in accordance with the instructions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement, and the CVR Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

 

Section 2.2.             Issuance of CVRs.

 

The CVRs shall be issued and distributed by the CVR Agent after the Effective Time, to the Persons who as of the close of business on the day before the Effective Time are stockholders of Parent, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 2.3.             Nontransferable.

 

The CVRs shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered or in any other manner transferred or disposed of, in whole or in part, other than through a Permitted Transfer.

 

Section 2.4.             No Certificate; Registration; Registration of Transfer; Change of Address.

 

(a)                The CVRs shall be issued in book-entry form only and shall not be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument.

 

(b)               The CVR Agent shall keep a register (the “CVR Register”) for the registration of CVRs. The CVR Agent is hereby initially appointed “CVR Registrar” for the purpose of registering CVRs and transfers of CVRs as herein provided.

 

(c)                Subject to the restriction on transferability set forth in Section 2.3, every request made to transfer a CVR must be in writing and accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer and any other requested documentation in a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent and the CVR Registrar, duly executed by the registered Holder or Holders thereof or by the duly appointed legal representative thereof. A request for a transfer of a CVR shall be accompanied by such documentation establishing satisfaction that the transfer is a Permitted Transfer as may be reasonably requested by Parent and the CVR Registrar (including opinions of counsel), if appropriate. Upon receipt of such written notice, the CVR Registrar shall, subject to its reasonable determination that the transfer instrument is in proper form and the transfer otherwise complies with the other terms and conditions herein, register the transfer of the CVRs in the CVR Register. All duly transferred CVRs registered in the CVR Register shall be the valid obligations of Parent, evidencing the same right and shall entitle the transferee to the same benefits and rights under this Agreement, as those held by the transferor. No transfer of a CVR shall be valid until registered in the CVR Register, and any transfer not duly registered in the CVR Register will be void ab initio. Any transfer or assignment of the CVRs shall be without charge (other than the cost of any transfer Tax which shall be the responsibility of the transferor) to the Holder.

 

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(d)               A Holder (or the CVR Holders’ Representative, on behalf of a Holder) may make a written request to the CVR Registrar to change such Holder’s address of record in the CVR Register. The written request must be duly executed by the Holder and conform to such other reasonable requirements as the CVR Registrar may from time to time establish. Upon receipt of such proper written notice, the CVR Registrar shall promptly record the change of address in the CVR Register.

 

Section 2.5.             Payment Procedures.

 

(a)                On each CVR Payment Date, Parent shall deliver to the CVR Agent and cause the CVR Agent to deliver to the Holders, pro rata as to their CVR holdings, the amount of the indicated CVR Payment Amount. It is understood that all Monetization Expenses shall be applied in full (but without duplication) against respective Gross Proceeds. Following the earlier to occur of (i) the Termination Date or (ii) the final payment of any portion of Gross Proceeds with respect to all Legacy Monetizations for which a Reserve Fund was established, any amount remaining in the CVR Escrow shall be included in the final CVR Payment Amount with respect to such Legacy Monetization (or, in the event that any such Reserve Fund remains outstanding on the Termination Date, a final CVR Payment Amount equal to the remaining balance of the CVR Escrow shall be paid following the Termination Date). As an example: Suppose $100,000 of Monetization Expenses are accrued through the CVR Payment Date for Legacy Monetization #1 (with Gross Proceeds of $80,000) and an additional $130,000 of Monetization Expenses are accrued through the (next) CVR Payment Date for Legacy Monetization #2 (with Gross Proceeds of $400,000) and an additional $175,000 of Monetization Expenses are accrued through the (still next) CVR Payment Date for Legacy Monetization #3 (with Gross Proceeds of $1,000,000). For Legacy Monetization #1 the CVR Payment Amount would be $0, for Legacy Monetization #2 the CVR Payment Amount would be $0 and for Legacy Monetization #3 the CVR Payment Amount would be $1,075,000. And if then, two years later, final royalty payments in the aggregate of $100,000 are received from a Legacy Monetization #1, Legacy Monetization #2 or Legacy Monetization #3 counterparty and there is $800,000 remaining in CVR Escrow, then a CVR Payment Amount of $900,000 would then become payable to the Holders.

 

(b)               At least 30 days before the applicable CVR Payment Date, Parent shall deliver to the CVR Holders’ Representative and the CVR Agent a certificate (the “Entitlement Certificate”), certifying that the Holders are entitled to payment of a CVR Payment Amount (and setting forth the calculation of such CVR Payment Amount). If a Legacy Monetization has occurred but no CVR Payment Amount is payable, Parent shall also deliver an Entitlement Certificate so stating.

 

(c)                Within 15 days after delivery by Parent of an Entitlement Certificate, the CVR Holders’ Representative may deliver a written notice to Parent (with a copy to the CVR Agent) requesting that Parent provide to the CVR Holders’ Representative, or its authorized representative, reasonable documentation to support Parent’s calculation of the CVR Payment Amount and shall make its accounting personnel available during normal business hours to the CVR Holders’ Representative or its authorized representative to discuss and answer questions with respect to the calculation of the CVR Payment Amount. Within 15 days after the CVR Holders’ Representative’s receipt of all of the documentation requested pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the CVR Holders’ Representative may deliver a written notice to Parent (with a copy to the CVR Agent) specifying that the CVR Holders’ Representative objects to the indicated CVR Payment Amount (a “Notice of Objection”), and stating the reason upon which the CVR Holders’ Representative has determined that (i) a CVR Payment Amount is due and payable, or (ii) the calculation of the CVR Payment Amount is in error. Any Notice of Objection shall identify in reasonable detail the nature of any proposed revisions to the CVR Payment. Any dispute arising from a Notice of Objection shall be resolved in accordance with Section 7.4 or by an independent third party valuation expert selected by Parent and the CVR Holders’ Representative (and subject to the execution of a reasonable and customary confidentiality/nonuse agreement), whose decision shall be binding on the parties hereto and every Holder. The fees charged by the valuation expert referenced in the foregoing sentence shall be allocated between Parent and the Holders (by deduction from the CVR Payment Amount) in the same proportion that the disputed amount of the CVR Payment Amount that was unsuccessfully disputed by (as finally determined by the valuation expert) bears to the total disputed amount of the CVR Payment Amount.

 

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(d)               Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause to be deducted or withheld, from each CVR Payment Amount otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, such amounts as Parent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld or paid over to or deposited with the relevant governmental entity, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Holder in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

Section 2.6.             No Voting, Dividends or Interest; No Equity or Ownership Interest in Parent.

 

(a)                The CVRs shall not have any voting or dividend rights, and interest shall not accrue on any amounts payable on the CVRs.

 

(b)               The CVRs shall not represent any equity or ownership interest in Parent (or in any constituent company to the Merger) or in any Parent Legacy Technology or other asset. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that the CVRs shall not represent a security of Parent. The rights and/or remedies of the holders of CVRs are contractual rights limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and such Holders’ sole right to receive property is the right to receive cash from Parent in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(c)                Each Holder acknowledges and agrees to the appointment and authority of the CVR Holders’ Representative to act as the exclusive representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of such Holder and all Holders as set forth in this Agreement. Each Holder agrees that such Holder will not challenge or contest any action, inaction, determination or decision of the CVR Holders’ Representative or the authority or power of the CVR Holders’ Representative and will not threaten, bring, commence, institute, maintain, prosecute or voluntarily aid any action, which challenges the validity of or seeks to enjoin the operation of any provision of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to the authority of the CVR Holders’ Representative to act on behalf of such Holder and all Holders as set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 2.7.             Discretion and Decision Making Authority; No Fiduciary Duty.

 

For a period of 18 months following the Effective Date, the CVR Holders’ Representative shall have the sole discretion and decision making authority over when (if ever) and whether to pursue for, a Legacy Monetization in any particular manner, and upon what terms and conditions; provided, that, that any such Legacy Monetization shall require Parent to execute the definitive agreement and the written consent of LBS if such Legacy Monetization would create any Liability for LBS or its Affiliates, implicate any assets of LBS or its Affiliates other than the Parent Legacy Technology or impose any obligation on LBS or its Affiliates to pursue any regulatory approval (including for the avoidance of doubt, from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) or take any action in connection with the receipt or avoidance of any regulatory approval; provided, further, however, that the CVR Holders’ Representative shall notify LBS at least 15 Business Days prior to entering into any agreement with respect to any Legacy Monetization, provide copies of all written agreements or documents with respect to such sale and provide LBS with an opportunity to provide comments to such documents, which comments shall be considered by the CVR Holders’ Representative in good faith.

 

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In furtherance of the foregoing:

 

(a)                Parent shall not before the Termination Date dispose, license or sell the Parent Legacy Technology except pursuant to a Legacy Monetization agreed to by the CVR Holders’ Representative;

 

(b)               Parent shall not before the 18 month anniversary of the Effective Time terminate or intentionally materially negatively impact the Parent Legacy Technology, including by withholding or withdrawing the Ongoing Support Funding or failing to preserve and maintain the Parent Legacy Technology, without the prior written approval of the CVR Holders’ Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, unless the Ongoing Support Funding has been exhausted;

 

(c)                Parent after good faith discussions with CVR Holders’ Representative shall be entitled to use all or a portion of the Legacy Assets Winddown Amount for Monetization Expenses (the “Ongoing Support Funding”); and

 

(d)               Parent shall pay $[●] out of the Ongoing Support Funding to the CVR Holders’ Representative at the Effective Time as compensation for services rendered during the period from the Effective Time to the Termination Date.

 

(e)                CVR Holders’ Representative, after good faith discussions with Parent, shall be entitled to be reimbursed from the CVR Escrow for direct costs and expenses related to any Legacy Monetization

 

It is expressly understood that except as expressly provided in this Section 2.7, Parent and its Affiliates have no obligation to incur Monetization Expenses or otherwise to seek or support Legacy Monetizations. Parent’s (as opposed to the CVR Holders’ Representative’s) sole responsibility as to Legacy Monetization activities is as set forth in this Section 2.7; except as expressly provided in this Section 2.7 Parent and its Affiliates and their respective post-Merger management will have no obligation to promote, support, invest in, allocate internal resources toward, advance or monetize the Parent Legacy Technology pending the Legacy Monetization(s).

 

Section 2.8.             Audit Right and Information Rights.

 

(a)                Prior to the Termination Date, upon not less than 45 calendar days’ prior written request by the CVR Holders’ Representative, Parent shall meet at reasonable times during normal business hours with the CVR Holders’ Representative to discuss the content of any Entitlement Certificate provided that no Entitlement Certificate shall be subject to discussion more than once. Such meeting shall not be requested more frequently than once each calendar year. Parent agrees to maintain, for at least one year after the last possible Legacy Monetization, all books and records relevant to the calculation of a CVR Payment Amount and the amount of Net Proceeds. Prior to the Termination Date, subject to not less than 45 calendar days advance written notice from the CVR Holders’ Representative and prior execution and delivery by it and an independent accounting firm of national reputation chosen by the CVR Holders’ Representative (the “Accountant”) of a reasonable and customary confidentiality/nonuse agreement, Parent shall permit the CVR Holders’ Representative and the Accountant, acting as agent of the CVR Holders’ Representative, at the CVR Holders’ Representative’s cost, to have access during normal business hours to the books and records of Parent as may be reasonably necessary to (and for the sole purpose) audit the calculation of such CVR Payment Amount or the calculation of the amount of Net Proceeds. An audit shall not be requested more frequently than once each calendar year.

 

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(b)               Commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the Final CVR Payment date, CVR Holders’ Representative will have access to the schedule of deposits and withdraws regarding the CVR Escrow.

 

Section 2.9.             Termination.

 

The CVRs shall terminate on the 48-month anniversary of the Effective Time (the “Termination Date”). No CVR Payment Amounts shall be payable in respect of any item of cash Gross Proceeds actually received after the Termination Date by Parent. From and after the Termination Date, any further proceeds received by Parent arising from any Legacy Monetization shall be retained by the Parent and shall not be distributed to the Holders; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.9 will relieve Parent’s obligations under Section 2.7 for Gross Proceeds entitled to be received prior to the Termination Date to the extent received within a commercially reasonable time (not to exceed three months) thereafter.

 

Section 2.10.         Ability to Abandon CVR.

 

A Holder may at any time, at such Holder’s option, abandon all of such Holder’s remaining rights in a CVR by transferring such CVR to Parent with or without consideration therefor. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prohibit Parent from offering to acquire CVRs for consideration in its sole discretion.

 

Article III

THE CVR AGENT

 

Section 3.1.             Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

The CVR Agent shall not have any liability for any actions taken or not taken in connection with this Agreement, except to the extent of its willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence. No provision of this Agreement shall require the CVR Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

 

Section 3.2.             Certain Rights of CVR Agent.

 

The CVR Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the CVR Agent. The CVR Agent will report to both the CVR Holders’ Representative and Parent. In addition:

 

(a)                the CVR Agent may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

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(b)               the CVR Agent may engage and consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any opinion of counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(c)                in the event of arbitration, the CVR Agent may engage and consult with tax experts, valuation firms and other experts and third parties that it, in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate or necessary to enable it to discharge its duties hereunder;

 

(d)               the CVR Agent shall not be required to give any note or surety in respect of the execution of such powers or otherwise in respect of the premises; and

 

(e)                Parent agrees to indemnify the CVR Agent for, and hold the CVR Agent harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, demands, suits or expense arising out of or in connection with the CVR Agent’s duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending the CVR Agent against any claims, charges, demands, suits or loss, unless such loss shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a result of the CVR Agent’s willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence (the "CVR Agent Indemnification Payments”).

 

(f)                 Parent agrees (i) to pay the fees and expenses of the CVR Agent in connection with this Agreement, as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, and (ii) to reimburse the CVR Agent for all taxes and governmental charges, reasonable expenses and other charges of any kind and nature incurred by the CVR Agent in the execution of this Agreement (other than taxes measured by the CVR Agent’s net income). The CVR Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from Parent for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by it in connection with the administration by the CVR Agent of its duties hereunder. An invoice for the agreed-upon fee of the CVR Agent as set forth on [Schedule I] will be rendered a reasonable time prior to, and paid on, the Effective Time. An invoice for any out-of-pocket expenses and per item fees realized will be rendered and payable within thirty (30) days after receipt by Parent (any payments pursuant to this Section 3.2(f), the “CVR Agent Expenses)

 

Section 3.3.             Resignation and Appointment of Successor.

 

(a)                The CVR Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to Parent specifying a date when such resignation shall take effect, which notice shall be sent at least thirty (30) days prior to the date so specified.

 

(b)               If the CVR Agent resigns or become incapable of acting, Parent shall promptly appoint a qualified successor CVR Agent who may be the CVR Holders’ Representative or a Holder but shall not be an officer of Parent. The successor CVR Agent so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with this Section 3.3(b), become the successor CVR Agent.

 

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(c)                Parent shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a CVR Agent and each appointment of a successor CVR Agent by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the CVR Holders’ Representative. The CVR Holders’ Representative shall forward such notice to the Holders.

 

Section 3.4.             Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

Every successor CVR Agent appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to Parent, the CVR Holders’ Representative and to the retiring CVR Agent an instrument accepting such appointment and a counterpart of this Agreement, and thereupon such successor CVR Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring CVR Agent; provided, that upon the request of Parent, the CVR Holders’ Representative or the successor CVR Agent, such retiring CVR Agent shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor CVR Agent all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring CVR Agent.

 

Article IV

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1.             List of Holders.

 

The CVR Holders’ Representative shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the CVR Agent the names, addresses and shareholdings of the Holders immediately prior to the Effective Time. Parent shall cause the CVR Registrar to promptly provide a copy of the CVR Register to the CVR Holders’ Representative upon reasonable request.

 

Section 4.2.             Provision of CVR Payment Amounts.

 

Parent shall promptly provide the CVR Agent with the applicable cash payable in respect of any CVR Payment Amount, if any, to be distributed to the Holders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.3.             Assignments.

 

Parent shall not, in whole or in part, assign any of its obligations under this Agreement other than in accordance with the terms of Section 6.1 or Section 2.7 hereof. At any time, the CVR Holders’ Representative may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (or this Agreement in its entirety) to any third party (reasonably acceptable to Parent) to serve as a successor CVR Holders’ Representative, provided that such assignee executes a written joinder to this Agreement assuming the rights and duties of the CVR Holders’ Representative.

 

Article V

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 5.1.             Amendments without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holders or of the CVR Holders’ Representative, Parent, at any time and from time to time after the Effective Time, may unilaterally execute and implement one or more amendments hereto to evidence the succession of another Person to Parent and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of Parent herein, in a transaction contemplated by Section 6.1 hereof. Promptly after the execution by Parent of any amendment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.1, Parent shall provide a copy of such amendment to the CVR Holders’ Representative.

 

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Section 5.2.             Amendments with Consent of Holders.

 

Subject to Section 5.1 (which amendments pursuant to Section 5.1 may be made without the consent of the Holders or of the CVR Holders’ Representative), with the consent of the CVR Holders’ Representative, Parent and the CVR Holders’ Representative may enter into one or more amendments hereto for the purpose of adding, eliminating or changing any provisions of this Agreement, even if such addition, elimination or change is in any way adverse to the interests of the Holders.

 

Section 5.3.             Effect of Amendments.

 

Upon the execution of any amendment under this Article V, this Agreement shall be modified in accordance therewith, such amendment shall form a part of this Agreement for all purposes and every Holder shall be bound thereby.

 

Article VI

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

 

Section 6.1.             Parent May Consolidate, Etc.

 

Parent shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (other than a merger or consolidation where Parent is the surviving corporation), unless:

 

(a)                the Person formed by such consolidation or into which Parent is merged, (the “Surviving Person”) shall expressly assume payment (if and to the extent required hereunder) of amounts on all the CVRs and the performance of every duty and covenant of this Agreement on the part of Parent to be performed or observed; and

 

(b)               Parent has delivered to the CVR Holders’ Representative and the CVR Agent an Officer’s Certificate, stating that such consolidation or merger complies with this Article V and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 6.2.             No Allocation to Parent Legacy Technology.

 

No transaction described in Section 6.1 shall give, and the Merger shall not give, the Holders the right to a CVR Payment Amount.

 

Section 6.3.             Successor Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation of or merger by Parent with or into any other Person the Surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, Parent under this Agreement with the same effect as if the Surviving Person had been named as Parent herein.

 

Section 6.4.             Exclusion of Merger.

 

Sections 6.1 and 6.3 shall not apply to the Merger.

 

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Article VII

OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 7.1.             Notices.

 

Any notice, report, request, approval or consent required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed as follows:

 

(a)                if to a Holder or any or all Holders or the CVR Holders’ Representative, addressed to the CVR Holders’ Representative at: [●], with a copy to Raul Silvestre, Silvestre Law Group, P.C., 2629 Townsgate Rd., Suite 215, Westlake Village, CA 91362, email: rsilvestre@silvestrelaw.com.

 

(b)               if to Parent, addressed to it at: c/o Leading BioSciences, Inc., 5800 Armada Dr. #210 Carlsbad, CA 92008, email: jd.finley@leadingbiosciences.com, with a copy to Karen Deschaine, Cooley LLP 4401 Eastgate Mall San Diego, CA 92121-1909, email: kdeschaine@cooley.com.

 

(c)                if to CVR Agent, addressed to it at: [●]

 

or, in each case, to the most recent address, specified by written notice, given to the sender pursuant to this Section.

 

All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and received hereunder (a) one Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand, (c) if sent by email transmission prior to 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time, upon transmission (provided, no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto) or (d) if sent by email transmission after 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time and no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto, the business day following the date of transmission; provided that in each case the notice or other communication is sent to the physical address or email address set forth next to the name of such Party above (or to such other physical address or email address as such Party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other Parties hereto).

 

Section 7.2.             Successors and Assigns.

 

All covenants and agreements in this Agreement by Parent shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All covenants and agreements in this Agreement by the CVR Holders’ Representative shall bind his successors, whether so expressed or not. In the event the CVR Holders’ Representative resigns (without assigning its rights or obligations to a successor CVR Holders’ Representative pursuant to Section 3.3), dies or is incapacitated, a successor CVR Holders’ Representative shall be elected by a majority in interest of the Holders.

 

Section 7.3.             Benefits of Agreement.

 

Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall give to any Person (other than the parties hereto, and their permitted successors and assigns hereunder) any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns. The Holders shall have no rights or remedies hereunder except as are expressly set forth herein. To the extent permitted by applicable law, it is expressly agreed that in no event shall any Holders (as opposed to the CVR Holders’ Representative) or any former or ongoing stockholders of Parent (as opposed to the CVR Holders’ Representative) have, after the Effective Time, any power or right to commence or join in any Legal Proceeding against Parent or any Affiliate of Parent based on or arising out of the CVRs or this Agreement. Such Legal Proceeding may be brought by, and only by, the CVR Holders’ Representative in the name of and for the benefit of the Holders. The outcome or settlement of any such Legal Proceeding shall be binding upon all Holders.

 

12

 

 

A decision, act, consent or instruction of the CVR Holders’ Representative shall constitute a decision for all Holders, and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Holders. The CVR Holders’ Representative will incur no liability of any kind to the Holders with respect to any action or omission by the CVR Holders’ Representative in connection with the CVR Holders’ Representative’s services pursuant to this Agreement, except in the event of liability directly resulting from the CVR Holders’ Representative’s fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

Section 7.4.             Governing Law.

 

This Agreement and the CVRs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regards to its rules of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the CVRs, each of the parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, to the extent that neither of the foregoing courts has jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware; (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with this Section 7.4; (c) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts; (d) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party; (e) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 6.1 of this Agreement; and (f) to the extent permitted by applicable Law, irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

Section 7.5.             Legal Holidays.

 

In the event that a CVR Payment Date shall not be a Business Day, then, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment required to be made in respect of the CVRs on such date need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the CVR Payment Date.

 

Section 7.6.             Severability Clause.

 

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the arbitration forum or other tribunal making such determination is authorized and instructed to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible so that the transactions and agreements contemplated herein are consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

13

 

 

Section 7.7.             Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the CVRs and the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes any and all other prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements made with respect to the CVRs and/or this Agreement, except for the Merger Agreement. If and to the extent that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with or conflicts with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement shall govern and be controlling.

 

Section 7.8.             Interpretation.

 

The language used in this Agreement is the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted for or against a party because that party or its attorney drafted the provision.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Contingent Value Rights Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

  Seneca Biopharma, Inc.  
       
  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    
       
  [●]    
       
  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    
       
  [●]    
       
  By:    
       
  Name:    
       
  Title:    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1

 

 

 

[●]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD (X) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (Y) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A PRIVATE TRANSACTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

 

LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

Warrant To Purchase Common Stock

 

Warrant No.: [ ]

Initial Maximum Eligibility Number (as defined herein): [ ]

Date of Issuance: [ ], 2020 ("Issuance Date")

 

Leading Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the "Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), [ ] fully paid nonassessable shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the "Warrant Shares" and such initial number of Warrant Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 2 (other than Section 2(d)), the "Initial Maximum Eligibility Number"). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this "Warrant"), shall have the meanings set forth in Section 18. This Warrant is one of the Warrants to purchase Common Stock (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may be issued on a different Closing Date than the Closing Date that occurred on the Issuance Date, the "Bridge SPA Warrants") issued pursuant to Section 1 of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020 (the "Subscription Date"), by and among the Company and the investors (the "Buyers") referred to therein (as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the "Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the definitions ascribed to such terms in the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

 

 

 

1.                  EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

 

(a)   Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(f)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, in whole or in part, by (i) delivery of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"), of the Holder's election to exercise this Warrant and (ii) (A) payment to the Company of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the "Aggregate Exercise Price") in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds or (B) if the provisions of Section 1(d) are applicable, by notifying the Company that this Warrant is being exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)(1)). The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder, nor shall any ink-original signature or medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) with respect to any Exercise Notice be required. Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company, the Company shall transmit by electronic mail an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Notice to the Holder and the Company's transfer agent, if any (the "Transfer Agent"). On or before the applicable Share Delivery Date, the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Deposit / Withdrawal At Custodian system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company's share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. The Company shall be responsible for all fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent and all fees and expenses with respect to the issuance of Warrant Shares via DTC, if any, including, without limitation, for same day processing. Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder's DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Trading Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares issuable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant. The Company's obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination. From and after the Public Company Date and while any Bridge SPA Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall use a transfer agent that participates in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program. Notwithstanding any provision of this Warrant to the contrary, no more than the Maximum Eligibility Number of Warrant Shares shall be exercisable IN the AGGREGATE hereunder.

 

 

 

 

(b)   Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, "Exercise Price" means $0.4816 per share (the "Initial Exercise Price"), subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

(c)   Company's Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to the Holder on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company's share register or if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, to credit the Holder's balance account with DTC, for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder's exercise of this Warrant or (II) if after the Public Company Date, the Warrant Shares that are the subject of the Exercise Notice (the "Unavailable Warrant Shares") are not eligible for resale without restriction or limitation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Holder exercises this Warrant by paying the applicable Exercise Price in cash) and the Company fails to promptly (x) so notify the Holder in writing and (y) deliver the Warrant Shares electronically without any restrictive legend by crediting such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Deposit / Withdrawal At Custodian system (the event described in the immediately foregoing clause (II) is hereinafter referred as a "Notice Failure" and together with the event described in clause (I) above, an "Exercise Failure"), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, (X) from and after the Public Company Date, the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after the applicable Share Delivery Date and during such Exercise Failure an amount equal to 1.5% of the product of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date and to which the Holder is entitled, and (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by the Holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable date of delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Date, and (Y) the Holder, upon written notice to the Company, may void its Exercise Notice with respect to, and retain or have returned, as the case may be, any portion of this Warrant that has not been exercised pursuant to such Exercise Notice; provided that the voiding of an Exercise Notice shall not affect the Company's obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to this Section 1(c) or otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date occurring from and after the Public Company Date either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver a certificate to the Holder and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company's share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit the Holder's balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder's exercise hereunder or pursuant to the Company's obligation pursuant to clause (ii) below or (II) a Notice Failure occurs, and if on or after such Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock relating to the applicable Exercise Failure (a "Buy-In"), then the Company shall, within two (2) Trading Days after the Holder's request and in the Holder's discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the "Buy-In Price"), at which point the Company's obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) or credit the Holder's balance account with DTC for such shares of Common Stock shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder's balance account with DTC, as applicable, and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by the Holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the date of delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Date. Nothing herein shall limit the Holder's right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company's failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock (or to electronically deliver such shares of Common Stock) upon the exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

 

 

 

(d)   Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if from and after the Public Company Date, the Unavailable Warrant Shares are not eligible for resale without restriction or limitation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Holder exercises this Warrant by paying the applicable Exercise Price in cash), the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the "Net Number" of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a "Cashless Exercise"):

 

Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

B

 

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

A= the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

B= as applicable: (i) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of "regular trading hours" (as defined in Rule 600(b)(68) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (x) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice or (y) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal trading market for the Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg as of the time of the Holder's execution of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is executed during "regular trading hours" on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of "regular trading hours" on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof or (iii) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if the date of such Exercise Notice is a Trading Day and such Exercise Notice is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof after the close of "regular trading hours" on such Trading Day.

 

C= the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

For purposes of Rule 144(d), the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Warrant Shares issued in a Cashless Exercise shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares for purposes of Rule 144(d), shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued pursuant to the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 1(d).

 

(e)   Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 12.

 

 

 

 

(f)    Beneficial Ownership Limitation on Exercises. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, from and after the Public Company Date, the Company shall not effect the exercise of any portion of this Warrant, and the Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Warrant and any such exercise shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the Holder together with the other Attribution Parties collectively would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the "Maximum Percentage") of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and the other Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Holder and all other Attribution Parties plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of the other Attribution Parties and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) beneficially owned by the Holder or any other Attribution Party subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in this Section 1(f). For purposes of this Section 1(f), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). For purposes of this Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock the Holder may acquire upon the exercise of this Warrant without exceeding the Maximum Percentage, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) any other written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (the "Reported Outstanding Share Number"). If the Company receives an Exercise Notice from the Holder at a time when the actual number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is less than the Reported Outstanding Share Number, the Company shall (i) promptly notify the Holder in writing of the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding and, to the extent that such Exercise Notice would otherwise cause the Holder's beneficial ownership, as determined pursuant to this Section 1(f), to exceed the Maximum Percentage, the Holder must notify the Company of a reduced number of Warrant Shares to be purchased pursuant to such Exercise Notice (the number of shares by which such purchase is reduced, the "Reduction Shares") and (ii) as soon as reasonably practicable, the Company shall return to the Holder any exercise price paid by the Holder for the Reduction Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm in writing by electronic mail to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder and any other Attribution Party since the date as of which the Reported Outstanding Share Number was reported. In the event that the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon exercise of this Warrant results in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (as determined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act), the number of shares so issued by which the Holder's and the other Attribution Parties' aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the "Excess Shares") shall be deemed null and void and shall be cancelled ab initio and any portion of this Warrant so exercised shall be reinstated, and the Holder shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares. As soon as reasonably practicable after the issuance of the Excess Shares has been deemed null and void, the Company shall return to the Holder the exercise price paid by the Holder for the Excess Shares. Upon delivery of a written notice to the Company, the Holder may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder and the other Attribution Parties and not to any other holder of Bridge SPA Warrants that is not an Attribution Party of the Holder. For purposes of clarity, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of this Warrant in excess of the Maximum Percentage shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Holder for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the 1934 Act. No prior inability to exercise this Warrant pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of exercisability. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 1(f) to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph or any portion of this paragraph which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 1(f) or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this paragraph may not be waived and shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

 

 

 

(g)   Insufficient Authorized Shares. If at any time while this Warrant remains outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to: (i) until the Equity Closing Date, the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal amount of the Note issued to the initial Holder of this Warrant, by (y) the Initial Exercise Price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the Subscription Date), (ii) from and after the Equity Closing Date until the Final Reset Date, the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal amount of the Note issued to the initial Holder of this Warrant, by (y) the lower of (1) the Initial Exercise Price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the Subscription Date) and (2) 25% of the Closing Per Share Price and (iii) from and after the Final Reset Date, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise in full of all of this Warrant then outstanding without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth herein (the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), as applicable, the "Required Reserve Amount" and the failure to have such sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock, an "Authorized Share Failure"), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company's authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for this Warrant then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its stockholders' approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such time of an Authorized Share Failure, the Company is able to obtain the written consent of a majority of the shares of its issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock to approve the increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock, the Company may satisfy this obligation by obtaining such consent and, from and after the Public Company Date, submitting for filing with the SEC an Information Statement on Schedule 14C. In the event that upon any exercise of this Warrant, the Company does not have sufficient authorized shares to deliver in satisfaction of such exercise, then unless the Holder elects to void such attempted exercise, the Holder may require the Company to pay to the Holder within two (2) Trading Days of the applicable exercise, cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company is unable to deliver pursuant to this Section 1(g) and (ii) the highest Weighted Average Price during the period beginning on the date of such attempted exercise and the date that the Company makes the applicable cash payment.

 

 

 

 

2.      ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES. The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

 

(a)   Adjustment Upon Issuance of Shares of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Subscription Date until the date that is the second (2nd) anniversary of the Registration Date, inclusive, the Company publicly announces, issues or sells, enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which the Company is required to issue or sell or, in accordance with this Section 2(a), is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold by the Company in connection with any Excluded Securities) for a consideration per share (the "New Issuance Price") less than a price (the "Applicable Price") equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such public announcement, issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale or entry into such a definitive, binding agreement (the foregoing a "Dilutive Issuance"), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under this Section 2(a), the following shall be applicable:

 

(i)       Issuance of Options. If the Company in any manner grants or sells or enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which the Company is required to grant or sell, or the Company publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 2(a)(i), the "lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option" shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of the Option, upon exercise of the Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option less any consideration paid or payable by the Company with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option. No further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

 

 

 

(ii)       Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Company in any manner issues or sells, or enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which the Company is required to grant or sell or the Company publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 2(a)(ii), the "lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof" shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security less any consideration paid or payable by the Company with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. No further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 2(a), no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.

 

(iii)       Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion. If the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise Price, which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 2(a)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Subscription Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect.

 

 

 

 

(iv)       Calculation of Consideration Received. If any Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company (as determined by the Holder, the "Primary Security", and such Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right, the "Secondary Securities"), together comprising one integrated transaction, (or one or more transactions if such issuances or sales or deemed issuances or sales of securities of the Company either (A) have at least one investor or purchaser in common, (B) are consummated in reasonable proximity to each other and/or (C) are consummated under the same plan of financing) the aggregate consideration per share of Common Stock with respect to such Primary Security shall be deemed to be equal to the difference of (x) the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock was issued (or was deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii), as applicable) in such integrated transaction solely with respect to such Primary Security, minus (y) with respect to such Secondary Securities, the sum of (I) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option, if any, (II) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder in good faith) or the Black Scholes Consideration Value, as applicable, of such Adjustment Right, if any, and (III) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder) of such Convertible Security, if any, in each case, as determined on a per share basis in accordance with this Section 2(a)(iv). If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the Weighted Average Prices of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities (as the case may be). The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the "Valuation Event"), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if a calculation pursuant to this Section 2(a)(iv) would result in an Exercise Price that is lower than the par value of the Common Stock, then the Exercise Price shall be deemed to equal the par value of the Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

(v)       Record Date. If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

 

(vi)       No Readjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event the Exercise Price has been adjusted pursuant to this Section 2(a) and the Dilutive Issuance that triggered such adjustment does not occur, is not consummated, is unwound or is cancelled after the facts for any reason whatsoever, in no event shall the Exercise Price be readjusted to the Exercise Price that would have been in effect if such Dilutive Issuance had not occurred or been consummated.

 

(vi)       Convertible Securities and Options. For the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the terms of any Options and/or Convertible Securities issued by the Company that qualify as Excluded Securities shall not trigger an adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 2(a).

 

(b)   [Reserved]

 

(c)   Adjustment Upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 2(c) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

(d)   Resets. On each Reset Date (i) the Exercise Price shall be adjusted (downward only) to equal the Reset Price related to such Reset Date and (ii) the Maximum Eligibility Number shall be increased (but not decreased) by the applicable Reset Share Amount.

 

(e)   Other Events. If any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 2 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company's Board of Directors will make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, as mutually determined by the Company's Board of Directors and the Required Holders, so as to protect the rights of the Holder; provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(e) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2.

 

 

 

 

3.                  RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to any or all holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property, Options, evidence of indebtedness or any other assets by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a "Distribution"), at any time after the Subscription Date, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein as if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise of this Warrant, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage if applicable) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage if applicable, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution (and beneficial ownership) to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage if applicable, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such Distribution (and any Distributions declared or made on such initial Distribution or on any subsequent Distribution held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

4.      PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

(a)   Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time following the Subscription Date the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the "Purchase Rights"), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise of this Warrant, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage if applicable) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage if applicable, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right (and beneficial ownership) to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage if applicable, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such right (and any Purchase Right granted, issued or sold on such initial Purchase Right or on any subsequent Purchase Right held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

 

 

 

(b)   Fundamental Transactions. The Company shall not enter into, allow or be a party to a Fundamental Transaction (other than the Merger) until the Final Reset Date. If, at any time after the Final Reset Date until this Warrant ceases to be outstanding, a Fundamental Transaction occurs or is consummated, then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 1(f) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the "Alternate Consideration") receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 1(f) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any Successor Entity to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders and approved by the Required Holders (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its Parent Entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Holders. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant referring to the "Company" shall be added to the term "Company" under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company in this Warrant.

 

 

 

 

(c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to the last sentence of this Section 4(c), in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, at the request of the Holder delivered before the ninetieth (90th) day after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, the Company (or the Successor Entity) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder, within five (5) Business Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), cash in an amount equal to the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the effective date of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if such Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company's control, including not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity, the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with such Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with such Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Successor Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five (5) Business Days of the Holder's election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Merger be deemed to be a "Fundamental Transaction" solely for purposes of this Section 4(c).

 

5.      NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Bridge SPA Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Bridge SPA Warrants, the Required Reserve Amount of shares of Common Stock.

 

6.      WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 6, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

 

 

 

 

7.      REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

 

(a)   Transfer of Warrant. If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.

 

(b)   Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

 

(c)   Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, that no Bridge SPA Warrants for fractional Warrant Shares shall be given.

 

(d)   Issuance of New Warrants. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.

 

 

 

 

8.      NOTICES. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation; provided in each case that from and after the Public Company Date, such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder. It is expressly understood and agreed that the time of exercise specified by the Holder in each Exercise Notice shall be definitive and may not be disputed or challenged by the Company.

 

9.                  AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended or waived and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Required Holders. Any change, amendment or waiver pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be binding on the Holder of this Warrant and all holders of the Bridge SPA Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the Final Reset Date, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended or waived and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder.

 

10.  GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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. The Company 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 the Company at the address set forth in Section 9(f) of the Bridge Securities Purchase 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. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company's obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND HOLDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

 

 

 

11.  CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and all of the Buyers and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant.

 

12.  DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall cause the Transfer Agent to issue to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that is not disputed and the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via electronic mail within one (1) Business Day of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within one (1) Business Day of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within one (1) Business Day submit via electronic mail (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder and approved by the Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to an independent, outside accountant, selected by the Holder and approved by the Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than five (5) Business Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

13.  REMEDIES, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief). No remedy contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of compliance with the provisions giving rise to such remedy. Nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

 

 

 

14.  TRANSFER. This Warrant and the Warrant Shares may be offered for sale, sold, transferred, pledged or assigned without the consent of the Company, except as may otherwise be required by Section 2(f) of the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

15.  SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the Company and the Holder as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the Company or the Holder or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the Company and the Holder. The Company and the Holder will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

16.              DISCLOSURE. Upon receipt or delivery by the Company of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, from and after the Public Company Date, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company shall contemporaneously with any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, nonpublic information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

17.              PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Warrant is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Warrant or to enforce the provisions of this Warrant or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the company or other proceedings affecting company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Warrant, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.

 

18.  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

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

 

 

 

 

(b)   "Adjustment Right" means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii)) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 3 and 4 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).

 

(c)   "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule.

 

(d)   "Approved Stock Plan" means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Parent Entity of the Company, or a Subsidiary pursuant to which the Company's, Parent Entity's or Subsidiary's (as the case may be) securities may be issued to any employee, officer, director, consultant or other service provider for services provided to the Company, Parent Entity or Subsidiary.

 

(e)   "Attribution Parties" means, collectively, the following Persons: (i) any investment vehicle, including, any funds, feeder funds or managed accounts, currently, or from time to time after the Issuance Date, directly or indirectly managed or advised by the Holder's investment manager or any of its Affiliates or principals, (ii) any direct or indirect Affiliates of the Holder or any of the foregoing, (iii) any Person acting or who could be deemed to be acting as a Group together with the Holder or any of the foregoing and (iv) any other Person whose beneficial ownership of the Common Stock would or could be aggregated with the Holder's and the other Attribution Parties for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. For clarity, the purpose of the foregoing is to subject collectively the Holder and all other Attribution Parties to the Maximum Percentage.

 

(f)    "Bid Price" means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on an Eligible Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the Pink Open Market (f/k/a OTC Pink) published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases (including, without limitation, prior to the Public Company Date), the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Required Holders and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

 

 

 

(g)   "Black Scholes Consideration Value" means (a) prior to the Public Company Date, the fair market value of the applicable Option or Adjustment Right, as the case may be, as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Required Holders and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company and (b) from and after the Public Company Date, the value of the applicable Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) calculated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the "OV" function on Bloomberg determined as of the date of issuance and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (ii) an expected volatility equal to the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), or, if the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) is not publicly announced, the date of issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) and ending on (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), or, (B) if the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) is not publicly announced, the date of such issuance, (iv) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) or, if the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) is not publicly announced, the date of such issuance, (v) a zero cost of borrow and (vi) a 365 day annualization factor.

 

(h)   "Black Scholes Value" means (a) prior to the Public Company Date, the fair market value of this Warrant, as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Required Holders and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company and (b) from and after the Public Company Date, the value of this Warrant calculated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the "OV" function on Bloomberg determined as of the day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, or, if such contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date such Fundamental Transaction has occurred or is consummated, for pricing purposes and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of this Warrant as of such date of request, (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, or, if such contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date such Fundamental Transaction has occurred or is consummated, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (x) the highest Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the applicable Fundamental Transaction and ending on (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such contemplated Fundamental Transaction, if the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction if the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced and (y) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction, (iv) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction or, if such applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date such Fundamental Transaction has occurred or is consummated, (v) a zero cost of borrow and (vi) a 365 day annualization factor.

 

 

 

 

(i)     "Bloomberg" means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

 

(j)     "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to "stay at home", "shelter-in-place", "non-essential employee"  or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York, New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

(k)   "Closing Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(l)     "Closing Per Share Price" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Equity Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(m) "Common Stock" means (i) the Company's shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such Common Stock shall be changed or any capital stock resulting from a reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of such Common Stock, including, without limitation, as a result from the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

(n)   "Convertible Securities" means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

(o)   "Designee" means Altium Capital Management, LP.

 

(p)   "Eligible Market" means the Principal Market, the NYSE American, The Nasdaq Capital Market, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market or The New York Stock Exchange.

 

(q)   "Equity Closing Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(r)    "Equity Securities Purchase Agreement" means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Subscription Date, by and among the Company, Seneca Biopharma, Inc. and the investors referred to therein (as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

(s)    "Equity Warrants" shall have the meaning ascribed to "Warrants" in the Equity Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

 

 

 

(t)     "Excluded Securities" means any Common Stock issued or issuable or deemed to be issued in accordance with Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii) by the Company: (i) under any Approved Stock Plan; provided, however, that no more than three percent (3.0%) of the number of shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring relating to the Common Stock after the Warrant Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) issued and outstanding as of the Warrant Closing Date are issued or issuable to consultants and/or other service provider pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan hereunder as Excluded Securities, (ii) upon exercise of any Bridge SPA Warrants and any Equity Warrants issued pursuant to the Equity Securities Purchase Agreement; provided, that the terms of such Bridge SPA Warrants and Equity Warrants are not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, (iii) upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Options or Convertible Securities which are outstanding on the day immediately preceding the Subscription Date; provided, that such issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of such Options or Convertible Securities is made pursuant to the terms of such Options or Convertible Securities in effect on the date immediately preceding the Subscription Date and such Options or Convertible Securities are not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, (iv) pursuant to the Merger Agreement or the Form S-4 (as defined in the Equity Securities Purchase Agreement), (v) in connection with sponsored research, collaboration, technology license, development, marketing or other similar agreements or strategic partnerships entered into by the Company, the Parent Entity of the Company, or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and other Person but only if such Person is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall be entered into for bona fide reasons other than capital raising and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Parent Entity of the Company, or a Subsidiary, including a majority of the disinterested members of such board, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities, (vi) pursuant to that certain Engagement Letter, dated as of April 22, 2019, by and among Evolution Venture Partners LLC, Ecoban Securities, LLC and the Company, as amended pursuant to that certain Amendment, dated as of April 22, 2019 and effective as of March 6, 2020, by and among the same parties (the "Engagement Latter"); provided, that such issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the Engagement Letter is made pursuant to the terms of the Engagement Letter in effect on the date immediately preceding the Subscription Date and the Engagement Letter is not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders; provided, further, that no more than 713,000 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring relating to the Common Stock after the Subscription Date) are issued or issuable pursuant to the Engagement Letter hereunder as Excluded Securities; or (vii) for which the Required Holders provide prior written approval to be deemed Excluded Securities hereunder.

 

(u)   "Expiration Date" means the date sixty (60) months after the Registration Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

(v)   "Final Reset Date" means the one hundred thirty-fifth (135th) day following the Equity Closing Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

 

 

 

(w) "Fundamental Transaction" means (A) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through Subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Subject Entity, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its "significant subsidiaries" (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) to one or more Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Company to be subject to or have its Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either: (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, (B) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through Subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Subject Entity individually or the Subject Entities in the aggregate to be or become the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock not held by all such Subject Entities as of the Subscription Date calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all such Subject Entities were not outstanding, or (z) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company sufficient to allow such Subject Entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other stockholders of the Company to surrender their shares of Common Stock without approval of the stockholders of the Company or (C) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through Subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the Merger shall be deemed to be a "Fundamental Transaction."

 

 

 

 

(x)   "Group" means a "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.

 

(y)   "Holiday" means a day other than a Business Day or a day from and after the Public Company date on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market.

 

(z)   "Interim Reset Date" means each of the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day (the “First Interim Reset Date”), the forty-fifth (45th) day and the ninetieth (90th) day, in each case, immediately following the Equity Closing Date or, if any such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

(aa)            "Maximum Eligibility Number" means, initially, the Initial Maximum Eligibility Number, and such number shall be increased (but not decreased) on each Reset Date by the applicable Reset Share Amount.

 

(bb)           "Merger" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Merger Agreement.

 

(cc)            "Merger Agreement" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Equity Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(dd)           "Notes" means those certain Senior Secured Notes issued by the Company pursuant to the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(ee)            "Options" means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase (i) shares of Common Stock or (ii) Convertible Securities.

 

(ff)  "Parent Entity" of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person, including such entity whose common capital or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market (or, if so elected by the Holder, any other market, exchange or quotation system), or, if there is more than one such Person or such entity, the Person or such entity designated by the Required Holders or in the absence of such designation, such Person or entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

(gg)  "Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(hh)           "Principal" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Notes.

 

(h)   "Principal Market" means the Eligible Market that is the principal securities exchange market for the Common Stock from and after the Public Company Date.

 

 

 

 

(i)     "Public Company Date" means the date on which the shares of Common Stock (or its successor or parent company by merger, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise) are registered under the 1934 Act, or are exchanged for equity capital of the Company's successor or parent company by merger, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise which are registered under the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, upon consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

(ii)  "Registrable Securities" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(jj)  "Registration Date" means the first date all Registrable Securities (without regard to any Cutback Shares (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)) are registered by the Company for resale by the Holder pursuant to one or more effective Registration Statement(s).

 

(kk)  "Registration Rights Agreement" means that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Subscription Date by and among the Company and the Buyers.

 

(ll)  "Registration Statement" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(mm)      "Required Holders" means the holders of the Bridge SPA Warrants representing at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Bridge SPA Warrants then outstanding and shall include the Designee so long as the Designee or any of its Affiliates holds any Bridge SPA Warrants.

 

(nn)           "Reset Date" means the Equity Closing Date, each Interim Reset Date and the Final Reset Date.

 

(oo)           "Reset Price" means (i) with respect to the Equity Closing Date, the Closing Per Share Price, (ii) with respect to the First Interim Reset Date, 85% multiplied by the arithmetic average of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices of the Common Stock during the ten (10) Trading Day period immediately preceding the First Interim Reset Date (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events during such period) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the First Interim Reset Date), and (iii) with respect to all other Reset Dates occurring hereunder, the arithmetic average of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices of the Common Stock during the ten (10) Trading Day period immediately preceding the applicable Reset Date (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events during such period) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the applicable Reset Date).

 

 

 

 

(pp)  "Reset Share Amount" means the difference obtained by subtracting (i) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal amount of the Note issued to the initial Holder of this Warrant on the Issuance Date, by (y) (1) with respect to the Equity Closing Date, the Closing Per Share Price and (2) with respect to all other Reset Dates occurring hereunder, the lowest of (A) the Closing Per Share Price, (B) the lowest Reset Price related to all the Reset Date(s) preceding the applicable Reset Date, if any (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the applicable Reset Date) and (C) the Initial Exercise Price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the Subscription Date), from (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal amount of the Note issued to the initial Holder of this Warrant on the Issuance Date, by (y) the Reset Price related to the applicable Reset Date.

 

(qq)  "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule.

 

(rr)  "Share Delivery Date" means (a) prior to the Public Company Date, the second (2nd) Trading Day and (b) from and after the Public Company Date, the earlier of (i) the second (2nd) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period, in each case, following the date on which the Holder delivers the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company, so long as the Holder delivers the applicable Aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a Cashless Exercise) on or prior to the earlier of (i) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company (provided that if the applicable Aggregate Exercise Price (or applicable notice of a Cashless Exercise) has not been delivered to the Company by such date, the applicable Share Delivery Date shall be one (1) Trading Day after the Holder has delivered the applicable Aggregate Exercise Price (or applicable notice of a Cashless Exercise) to the Company.

 

(ss) "Standard Settlement Period" means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Principal Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice.

 

(tt)  "Subject Entity" means any Person, Persons or Group or any Affiliate or associate of any such Person, Persons or Group.

 

(uu)  "Subsidiary" means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns any of the capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest.

 

(vv)  "Successor Entity" means one or more Person or Persons (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Company or Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or one or more Person or Persons (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Company or the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

(ww)       "Trading Day" means (i) prior to the Public Company Date, any Business Day, and (ii) from and after the Public Company Date, any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock on such day, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

 

 

 

(xx)  "Weighted Average Price" means, for any security as of any date from and after the Public Company Date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time (or such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is the official open of trading), and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is the official close of trading), as reported by Bloomberg through its "Volume at Price" function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time (or such other time as such market publicly announces is the official open of trading), and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or such other time as such market publicly announces is the official close of trading), as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the OTC Link or Pink Open Market (f/k/a OTC Pink) published by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices). If the Weighted Average Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases (including, without limitation, prior to the Public Company Date), the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12 with the term "Weighted Average Price" being substituted for the term "Exercise Price." All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction relating to the Common Stock during the applicable calculation period.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

  LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.
   
   
  By:___________________________
  Name:       
  Title:       
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase _________________ shares of Common Stock ("Warrant Shares") of Leading Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the "Warrant"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

1. Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

 

____________ a "Cash Exercise" with respect to _________________ Warrant Shares; and/or

 

____________ a "Cashless Exercise" with respect to _______________ Warrant Shares, resulting in a delivery obligation of the Company to the Holder of __________ shares of Common Stock representing the applicable Net Number.

 

2. Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $___________________ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to the holder __________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

4. Please issue the Common Stock into which the Warrant is being exercised to the Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

☐     Check here if requesting delivery as a certificate to the following name and to the following address:

 

Issue to: ________________________________

               ________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________

 

 

 

 

☐     Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

DTC Participant: _____________________________________

 

DTC Number: _________________________________________

Account Number: ________________________________

 

Authorization: ________________________________

By: ________________________________

Title: ________________________________

Dated:

Account Number (if electronic book entry transfer): ________________________________

Transaction Code Number (if electronic book entry transfer): _________

 

Date: _______________ __, ______

 

 

 

Name of Registered Holder

 

 

By: ________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs its transfer agent, if any, to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock.

 

  LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.
   
   
  By:___________________________
  Name:       
  Title:       
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

[FORM OF WARRANT]

 

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD (X) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (Y) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A PRIVATE TRANSACTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

 

PALISADE BIO, INC.

 

Warrant To Purchase Common Stock

 

Warrant No.: ______

Initial Maximum Eligibility Number (as defined herein): _____________

Date of Issuance: [●], 20201 ("Issuance Date")

 

Palisade Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Seneca Biopharma, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Altium Growth Fund, LP, the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the "Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, (as defined below), ___________________ (__________)2 fully paid nonassessable shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the "Warrant Shares" and such initial number of Warrant Shares, as adjusted pursuant to Section 2 (other than Section 2(d)), the "Initial Maximum Eligibility Number"). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this "Warrant"), shall have the meanings set forth in Section 18. This Warrant is one of the Series A Warrants to purchase Common Stock (the "SPA Warrants") issued pursuant to Section 1 of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020 (the "Subscription Date"), by and among the Company, Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the investors (the "Buyers") referred to therein (as may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the "Securities Purchase Agreement"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the definitions ascribed to such terms in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

_______________________________

 

1 Insert the Warrant Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement).

 

2 Insert 100% of the sum of (i) the number of Exchange Shares issued to the Holder on the Closing Date in exchange for the number of Initial Common Shares (as defined in Section 18(z)) purchased by the Holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement delivered or deliverable to the Holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement without giving effect to any limitation on delivery to the Holder pursuant to Section 1(c)(v) of the Securities Purchase Agreement and (ii) the number of Exchange Shares issued to the Holder on the Issuance Date in exchange of the number of Additional Common Shares (as defined in Section 18(b)) delivered or deliverable to the Holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement without giving effect to any limitation on delivery to the Holder pursuant to Section 1(c)(v) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

 

 

 

1.                  EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

 

(a)   Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(f)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date, in whole or in part, by (i) delivery of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"), of the Holder's election to exercise this Warrant and (ii) (A) payment to the Company of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the "Aggregate Exercise Price") in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds or (B) if the provisions of Section 1(d) are applicable, by notifying the Company that this Warrant is being exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)(1)) or an Alternate Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)(2)). The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder, nor shall any ink-original signature or medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) with respect to any Exercise Notice be required. Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company, the Company shall transmit by electronic mail an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Notice to the Holder and the Company's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent"). On or before the applicable Share Delivery Date, the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and (A) the applicable Warrant Shares are subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder or (B) if exercised via Cashless Exercise or Alternate Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would be available for resale of the applicable Warrant Shares by the Holder, credit such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Deposit / Withdrawal At Custodian system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program or (A) the applicable Warrant Shares are not subject to an effective resale registration statement in favor of the Holder and (B) if exercised via Cashless Exercise or Alternate Cashless Exercise, at a time when Rule 144 would not be available for resale of the applicable Warrant Shares by the Holder, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company's share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. The Company shall be responsible for all fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent and all fees and expenses with respect to the issuance of Warrant Shares via DTC, if any, including, without limitation, for same day processing. Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder's DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than two (2) Trading Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares issuable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant. The Company's obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination. While any SPA Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall use a transfer agent that participates in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program. Notwithstanding any provision of this Warrant to the contrary, no more than the Maximum Eligibility Number of Warrant Shares shall be exercisable IN the AGGREGATE hereunder.

 

 

 

 

(b)   Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, "Exercise Price" means $[Ÿ]3 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

(c)   Company's Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to the Holder on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company's share register or if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, to credit the Holder's balance account with DTC, for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder's exercise of this Warrant or (II) if the Registration Statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares that are the subject of the Exercise Notice (the "Unavailable Warrant Shares") is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Warrant Shares and the Company fails to promptly, but in no event later than as is required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (x) so notify the Holder in writing and (y) deliver the Warrant Shares electronically without any restrictive legend by crediting such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Deposit / Withdrawal At Custodian system (the event described in the immediately foregoing clause (II) is hereinafter referred as a "Notice Failure" and together with the event described in clause (I) above, an "Exercise Failure"), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, (X) the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after the applicable Share Delivery Date and during such Exercise Failure an amount equal to 1.5% of the product of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date and to which the Holder is entitled, and (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by the Holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable date of delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Date, and (Y) the Holder, upon written notice to the Company, may void its Exercise Notice with respect to, and retain or have returned, as the case may be, any portion of this Warrant that has not been exercised pursuant to such Exercise Notice; provided that the voiding of an Exercise Notice shall not affect the Company's obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to this Section 1(c) or otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Date either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver a certificate to the Holder and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company's share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit the Holder's balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder's exercise hereunder or pursuant to the Company's obligation pursuant to clause (ii) below or (II) a Notice Failure occurs, and if on or after such Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock relating to the applicable Exercise Failure (a "Buy-In"), then the Company shall, within two (2) Trading Days after the Holder's request and in the Holder's discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the "Buy-In Price"), at which point the Company's obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) or credit the Holder's balance account with DTC for such shares of Common Stock shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder's balance account with DTC, as applicable, and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by the Holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the date of delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Date. Nothing herein shall limit the Holder's right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company's failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock (or to electronically deliver such shares of Common Stock) upon the exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

_______________________________

 

3 Insert the lower of the Closing Per Share Price and the Initial Per Share Price (each as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement).

 

 

 

(d)   Cashless Exercise.

 

(1)   Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the Registration Statement covering the resale of the Unavailable Warrant Shares is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Warrant Shares, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the "Net Number" of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a "Cashless Exercise"):

 

Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

B

 

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

A= the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

B= as applicable: (i) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of "regular trading hours" (as defined in Rule 600(b)(68) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (x) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice or (y) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal trading market for the Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg as of the time of the Holder's execution of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is executed during "regular trading hours" on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of "regular trading hours" on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof or (iii) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if the date of such Exercise Notice is a Trading Day and such Exercise Notice is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof after the close of "regular trading hours" on such Trading Day.

 

C= the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

(2)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on any Trading Day after [•], 20214 the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock is less than the Exercise Price for five (5) consecutive Trading Days, the Holder shall have the right, at any time while the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock is less than the Exercise Price, at the Holder's sole option and as elected by the Holder on the applicable Exercise Notice, to effect a Cashless Exercise hereunder, in whole or in part, but in lieu of receiving such aggregate number of Warrant Shares as described in the formula set forth in Section 1(d)(1), the Holder shall receive 1.0 share of Common Stock for each share being exercised hereunder in such Cashless Exercise (each, an "Alternate Cashless Exercise").

 

_______________________________

 

4 Insert date that is six (6) months immediately following the Closing Date.

 

 

 

(3)   For purposes of Rule 144(d), the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Warrant Shares issued in a Cashless Exercise or an Alternate Cashless Exercise shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares for purposes of Rule 144(d), shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 1(d).

 

(e)   Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 12.

 

(f)    Beneficial Ownership Limitation on Exercises. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not effect the exercise of any portion of this Warrant, and the Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Warrant and any such exercise shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the Holder together with the other Attribution Parties collectively would beneficially own in excess of [4.99] [9.99]%5 (the "Maximum Percentage") of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and the other Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Holder and all other Attribution Parties plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of the other Attribution Parties and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants, including the Bridge SPA Warrants) beneficially owned by the Holder or any other Attribution Party subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in this Section 1(f). For purposes of this Section 1(f), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). For purposes of this Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock the Holder may acquire upon the exercise of this Warrant without exceeding the Maximum Percentage, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) any other written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (the "Reported Outstanding Share Number"). If the Company receives an Exercise Notice from the Holder at a time when the actual number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is less than the Reported Outstanding Share Number, the Company shall (i) promptly notify the Holder in writing of the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding and, to the extent that such Exercise Notice would otherwise cause the Holder's beneficial ownership, as determined pursuant to this Section 1(f), to exceed the Maximum Percentage, the Holder must notify the Company of a reduced number of Warrant Shares to be purchased pursuant to such Exercise Notice (the number of shares by which such purchase is reduced, the "Reduction Shares") and (ii) as soon as reasonably practicable, the Company shall return to the Holder any exercise price paid by the Holder for the Reduction Shares. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm in writing by electronic mail to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder and any other Attribution Party since the date as of which the Reported Outstanding Share Number was reported. In the event that the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon exercise of this Warrant results in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (as determined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act), the number of shares so issued by which the Holder's and the other Attribution Parties' aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the "Excess Shares") shall be deemed null and void and shall be cancelled ab initio and any portion of this Warrant so exercised shall be reinstated, and the Holder shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares. As soon as reasonably practicable after the issuance of the Excess Shares has been deemed null and void, the Company shall return to the Holder the exercise price paid by the Holder for the Excess Shares. Upon delivery of a written notice to the Company, the Holder may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder and the other Attribution Parties and not to any other holder of SPA Warrants that is not an Attribution Party of the Holder. For purposes of clarity, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of this Warrant in excess of the Maximum Percentage shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Holder for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the 1934 Act. No prior inability to exercise this Warrant pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of exercisability. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 1(f) to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph or any portion of this paragraph which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 1(f) or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this paragraph may not be waived and shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

_______________________________

 

5 Insert Maximum Percentage as indicated on the Buyer's signature page attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

 

 

(g)   Insufficient Authorized Shares. If at any time while this Warrant remains outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to: (i) until the Final Reset Date, the number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable pursuant to this Warrant assuming that the Maximum Eligibility Number equals 400% of the Initial Common Shares issued to the initial Holder of this Warrant on the Closing Date outstanding without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth herein and (ii) from and after the Final Reset Date, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise in full of all of this Warrant then outstanding without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth herein (the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), as applicable, the "Required Reserve Amount" and the failure to have such sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock, an "Authorized Share Failure"), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company's authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for this Warrant then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its stockholders' approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such time of an Authorized Share Failure, the Company is able to obtain the written consent of a majority of the shares of its issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock to approve the increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock, the Company may satisfy this obligation by obtaining such consent and submitting for filing with the SEC an Information Statement on Schedule 14C. In the event that upon any exercise of this Warrant, the Company does not have sufficient authorized shares to deliver in satisfaction of such exercise, then unless the Holder elects to void such attempted exercise, the Holder may require the Company to pay to the Holder within two (2) Trading Days of the applicable exercise, cash in an amount equal to the product of (i) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company is unable to deliver pursuant to this Section 1(g) and (ii) the highest Weighted Average Price during the period beginning on the date of such attempted exercise and the date that the Company makes the applicable cash payment.

 

2.      ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES. The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

 

(a)   Adjustment Upon Issuance of Shares of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Subscription Date until the date that is the second (2nd) anniversary of the Registration Date, inclusive, the Company publicly announces, issues or sells, enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which the Company is required to issue or sell or, in accordance with this Section 2(a), is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold by the Company in connection with any Excluded Securities) for a consideration per share (the "New Issuance Price") less than a price (the "Applicable Price") equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such public announcement, issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale or entry into such a definitive, binding agreement (the foregoing a "Dilutive Issuance"), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under this Section 2(a), the following shall be applicable:

 

 

 

 

(i)       Issuance of Options. If the Company in any manner grants or sells or enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which the Company is required to grant or sell, or the Company publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 2(a)(i), the "lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option" shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of the Option, upon exercise of the Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option less any consideration paid or payable by the Company with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option. No further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

 

(ii)       Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Company in any manner issues or sells, or enters into a definitive, binding agreement pursuant to which the Company is required to grant or sell or the Company publicly announces the issuance or sale of, any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 2(a)(ii), the "lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof" shall be equal to the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security less any consideration paid or payable by the Company with respect to such one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. No further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 2(a), no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.

 

 

 

 

(iii)       Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion. If the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise Price, which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 2(a)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Subscription Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect.

 

(iv)       Calculation of Consideration Received. If any Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company (as determined by the Holder, the "Primary Security", and such Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right, the "Secondary Securities"), together comprising one integrated transaction, (or one or more transactions if such issuances or sales or deemed issuances or sales of securities of the Company either (A) have at least one investor or purchaser in common, (B) are consummated in reasonable proximity to each other and/or (C) are consummated under the same plan of financing) the aggregate consideration per share of Common Stock with respect to such Primary Security shall be deemed to be equal to the difference of (x) the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock was issued (or was deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii), as applicable) in such integrated transaction solely with respect to such Primary Security, minus (y) with respect to such Secondary Securities, the sum of (I) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option, if any, (II) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder in good faith) or the Black Scholes Consideration Value, as applicable, of such Adjustment Right, if any, and (III) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder) of such Convertible Security, if any, in each case, as determined on a per share basis in accordance with this Section 2(a)(iv). If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the Weighted Average Prices of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities (as the case may be). The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the "Valuation Event"), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if a calculation pursuant to this Section 2(a)(iv) would result in an Exercise Price that is lower than the par value of the Common Stock, then the Exercise Price shall be deemed to equal the par value of the Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

(v)       Record Date. If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be.

 

(vi)       No Readjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event the Exercise Price has been adjusted pursuant to this Section 2(a) and the Dilutive Issuance that triggered such adjustment does not occur, is not consummated, is unwound or is cancelled after the facts for any reason whatsoever, in no event shall the Exercise Price be readjusted to the Exercise Price that would have been in effect if such Dilutive Issuance had not occurred or been consummated.

 

(vi)       Convertible Securities and Options. For the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the terms of any Options and/or Convertible Securities issued by the Company that qualify as Excluded Securities shall not trigger an adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 2(a).

 

(b)   [Reserved]

 

(c)   Adjustment Upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. If the Company at any time on or after the Closing Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time on or after the Closing Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 2(c) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

 

 

 

(d)   Resets. On each Reset Date (i) the Exercise Price shall be adjusted (downward only) to equal the Reset Price related to such Reset Date and (ii) the Maximum Eligibility Number shall be increased (but not decreased) by the applicable Reset Share Amount.

 

(e)   Other Events. If any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 2 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company's Board of Directors will make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, as mutually determined by the Company's Board of Directors and the Required Holders, so as to protect the rights of the Holder; provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(e) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2.

 

3.            RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to any or all holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property, Options, evidence of indebtedness or any other assets by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a "Distribution"), at any time after the Closing Date, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein as if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise of this Warrant, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution (and beneficial ownership) to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such Distribution (and any Distributions declared or made on such initial Distribution or on any subsequent Distribution held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

 

 

 

4.           PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

(a)   Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time following the Closing Date the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the "Purchase Rights"), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations or restrictions on exercise of this Warrant, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder's right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right (and beneficial ownership) to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such right (and any Purchase Right granted, issued or sold on such initial Purchase Right or on any subsequent Purchase Right held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

(b)   Fundamental Transactions. The Company shall not enter into, allow or be a party to a Fundamental Transaction until the Final Reset Date. If, at any time after the Final Reset Date until this Warrant ceases to be outstanding, a Fundamental Transaction occurs or is consummated, then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 1(f) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the "Alternate Consideration") receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 1(f) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any Successor Entity to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders and approved by the Required Holders (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its Parent Entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Holders. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant referring to the "Company" shall be added to the term "Company" under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the "Company" shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company in this Warrant.

 

 

 

 

(c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, at the request of the Holder delivered before the ninetieth (90th) day after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, the Company (or the Successor Entity) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder, within five (5) Business Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), cash in an amount equal to the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the effective date of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if such Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company's control, including not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity, the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with such Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with such Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Successor Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five (5) Business Days of the Holder's election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

5.          NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the SPA Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the SPA Warrants, the Required Reserve Amount of shares of Common Stock.

 

6.           WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of capital stock of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 6, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

 

7.           REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

 

(a)   Transfer of Warrant. If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.

 

 

 

 

(b)   Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

 

(c)   Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, that no SPA Warrants for fractional Warrant Shares shall be given.

 

(d)   Issuance of New Warrants. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.

 

8.              NOTICES. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 10(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation; provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder. It is expressly understood and agreed that the time of exercise specified by the Holder in each Exercise Notice shall be definitive and may not be disputed or challenged by the Company.

 

9.              AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended or waived and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Required Holders. Any change, amendment or waiver pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be binding on the Holder of this Warrant and all holders of the SPA Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the Final Reset Date, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended or waived and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder.

 

 

 

 

10.             GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; JURY TRIAL. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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. The Company 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 the Company at the address set forth in Section 10(f) of the Securities Purchase 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. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company's obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND HOLDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

11.            CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and all of the Buyers and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant.

 

12.             DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall cause the Transfer Agent to issue to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that is not disputed and the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via electronic mail within one (1) Business Day of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within one (1) Business Day of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within one (1) Business Day submit via electronic mail (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder and approved by the Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to an independent, outside accountant, selected by the Holder and approved by the Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than five (5) Business Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

 

 

 

13.             REMEDIES, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief). No remedy contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of compliance with the provisions giving rise to such remedy. Nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

14.             TRANSFER. This Warrant and the Warrant Shares may be offered for sale, sold, transferred, pledged or assigned without the consent of the Company, except as may otherwise be required by Section 2(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

15.            SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the Company and the Holder as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the Company or the Holder or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the Company and the Holder. The Company and the Holder will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

16.              DISCLOSURE. Upon receipt or delivery by the Company of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company shall contemporaneously with any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, nonpublic information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

17.              PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Warrant is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Warrant or to enforce the provisions of this Warrant or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the company or other proceedings affecting company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Warrant, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.

 

18.  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

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

 

(b)   "Additional Vested Common Shares" means the Exchange Shares issued in exchange for the Additional Preferred Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) delivered or deliverable to the initial Holder of this Warrant pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement without giving effect to any limitation on delivery to the Holder pursuant to Section 1(c)(v) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(c)   "Adjustment Right" means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii)) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 3 and 4 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).

 

(d)   "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule.

 

(e)   "Approved Stock Plan" means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Parent Entity of the Company, or a Subsidiary pursuant to which the Company's, Parent Entity's or Subsidiary's (as the case may be) securities may be issued to any employee, officer, director, consultant or other service provider for services provided to the Company, Parent Entity or Subsidiary.

 

(f)    "Attribution Parties" means, collectively, the following Persons: (i) any investment vehicle, including, any funds, feeder funds or managed accounts, currently, or from time to time after the Issuance Date, directly or indirectly managed or advised by the Holder's investment manager or any of its Affiliates or principals, (ii) any direct or indirect Affiliates of the Holder or any of the foregoing, (iii) any Person acting or who could be deemed to be acting as a Group together with the Holder or any of the foregoing and (iv) any other Person whose beneficial ownership of the Common Stock would or could be aggregated with the Holder's and the other Attribution Parties for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. For clarity, the purpose of the foregoing is to subject collectively the Holder and all other Attribution Parties to the Maximum Percentage.

 

 

 

 

(g)   "Bid Price" means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on an Eligible Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the Pink Open Market (f/k/a OTC Pink) published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Required Holders and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

(h)   "Black Scholes Consideration Value" means the value of the applicable Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) calculated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the "OV" function on Bloomberg determined as of the date of issuance and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (ii) an expected volatility equal to the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), or, if the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) is not publicly announced, the date of issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) and ending on (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), or, (B) if the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) is not publicly announced, the date of such issuance, (iv) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) or, if the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) is not publicly announced, the date of such issuance, (v) a zero cost of borrow and (vi) a 365 day annualization factor.

 

(i)     "Black Scholes Value" means the value of this Warrant calculated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the "OV" function on Bloomberg determined as of the day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, or, if such contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date such Fundamental Transaction has occurred or is consummated, for pricing purposes and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of this Warrant as of such date of request, (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, or, if such contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date such Fundamental Transaction has occurred or is consummated, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (x) the highest Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the applicable Fundamental Transaction and ending on (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such contemplated Fundamental Transaction, if the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction if the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced and (y) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction, (iv) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction or, if such applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction is not publicly announced, the date such Fundamental Transaction has occurred or is consummated, (v) a zero cost of borrow and (vi) a 365 day annualization factor.

 

 

 

 

(j)     "Bloomberg" means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

 

(k)   "Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement" means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of December [•], 2020 by and between Leading BioSciences, Inc. and the investor listed on the signature page attached thereto.

 

(l)     "Bridge SPA Warrants" shall have the meaning ascribed to "Warrants" in the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(m) "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to "stay at home", "shelter-in-place", "non-essential employee"  or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York, New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

(n)   "Closing Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(o)   "Common Stock" means (i) the Company's shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such Common Stock shall be changed or any capital stock resulting from a reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of such Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

(p)   "Convertible Securities" means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

(q)   "Designee" means Altium Capital Management, LP.

 

(r)    "Eligible Market" means the Principal Market, the NYSE American, The Nasdaq Capital Market, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market or The New York Stock Exchange.

 

(s)    "Exchange Shares" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(t)     "Excluded Securities" means any Common Stock issued or issuable or deemed to be issued in accordance with Section 2(a)(i) or Section 2(a)(ii) by the Company: (i) under any Approved Stock Plan; provided, however, that no more than an aggregate of [•]6 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring relating to the Common Stock after the Warrant Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) are issued or issuable to consultants and/or other service provider pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan hereunder as Excluded Securities, (ii) upon exercise of any SPA Warrants and any Bridge SPA Warrants issued pursuant to the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement; provided, that the terms of such SPA Warrants Bridge SPA Warrants are not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, (iii) upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Options or Convertible Securities which are outstanding on the day immediately preceding the Subscription Date; provided, that such issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of such Options or Convertible Securities is made pursuant to the terms of such Options or Convertible Securities in effect on the date immediately preceding the Subscription Date and such Options or Convertible Securities are not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, (iv) pursuant to the Merger Agreement or the Form S-4 (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), (v) in connection with sponsored research, collaboration, technology license, development, marketing or other similar agreements or strategic partnerships entered into by the Company, the Parent Entity of the Company, or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and other Person but only if such Person is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall be entered into for bona fide reasons other than capital raising and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Parent Entity of the Company, or a Subsidiary, including a majority of the disinterested members of such board, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities, (vi) pursuant to that certain Engagement Letter, dated as of April 22, 2019, by and among Evolution Venture Partners LLC, Ecoban Securities, LLC and the Company, as amended pursuant to that certain Amendment, dated as of April 22, 2019 and effective as of March 6, 2020, by and among the same parties (the "Engagement Latter"); provided, that such issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the Engagement Letter is made pursuant to the terms of the Engagement Letter in effect on the date immediately preceding the Subscription Date and the Engagement Letter is not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders; provided, further, that no more than 713,000 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring relating to the Common Stock after the Subscription Date) are issued or issuable pursuant to the Engagement Letter hereunder as Excluded Securities; or (vii) for which the Required Holders provide prior written approval to be deemed Excluded Securities hereunder.

 

_______________________________

 

6 Insert three percent (3.0%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock determined as of the Warrant Closing Date (assuming all shares of Common Stock issued in exchange of the Preferred Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) shall be deemed issued and outstanding).

 

 

 

 

(u)   "Expiration Date" means the date sixty (60) months after the Registration Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

(v)   "Final Reset Date" means the one hundred thirty-fifth (135th) day following the Closing Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

(w) "Fundamental Transaction" means (A) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through Subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Subject Entity, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its "significant subsidiaries" (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) to one or more Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Company to be subject to or have its Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either: (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, (B) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through Subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Subject Entity individually or the Subject Entities in the aggregate to be or become the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock not held by all such Subject Entities as of the Subscription Date calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all such Subject Entities were not outstanding, or (z) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company sufficient to allow such Subject Entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other stockholders of the Company to surrender their shares of Common Stock without approval of the stockholders of the Company or (C) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through Subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) completed on or before the Issuance Date be deemed to be a "Fundamental Transaction."

 

 

 

 

(x)   "Group" means a "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.

 

(y)   "Holiday" means a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (or then other primary Eligible Market with respect to the Common Stock).

 

(z)   "Initial Common Shares" means the Exchange Shares issued in exchange for the Initial Preferred Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) purchased by the initial Holder of this Warrant.

 

(aa)            "Interim Reset Date" means each of the forty-fifth (45th) and the ninetieth (90th) day, in each case, immediately following the Closing Date or, if any such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday.

 

(bb)           "Maximum Eligibility Number" means, initially, the Initial Maximum Eligibility Number, and such number shall be increased (but not decreased) on each Reset Date by the applicable Reset Share Amount.

 

(cc)            "Merger Agreement" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(dd)           "Options" means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase (i) shares of Common Stock or (ii) Convertible Securities.

 

(ee)   "Parent Entity" of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person, including such entity whose common capital or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market (or, if so elected by the Holder, any other market, exchange or quotation system), or, if there is more than one such Person or such entity, the Person or such entity designated by the Required Holders or in the absence of such designation, such Person or entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

 

 

 

(ff)  "Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(gg)  "Principal Market" means the Eligible Market that is the principal securities exchange for the Common Stock.

 

(hh)           "Registrable Securities" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(ii)  "Registration Date" means the first date all Registrable Securities (without regard to any Cutback Shares (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)) are registered by the Company for resale by the Holder pursuant to one or more effective Registration Statement(s).

 

(jj)  "Registration Rights Agreement" means that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Subscription Date by and among the Company and the Buyers.

 

(kk)  "Registration Statement" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(ll)  "Required Holders" means the holders of the SPA Warrants representing at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock underlying the SPA Warrants then outstanding and shall include the Designee so long as the Designee or any of its Affiliates holds any SPA Warrants.

 

(mm)      "Reset Date" means each Interim Reset Date and the Final Reset Date.

 

(nn)           "Reset Price" means the arithmetic average of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices of the Common Stock during the ten (10) Trading Day period immediately preceding the applicable Reset Date (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events during such period) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the applicable Reset Date).

 

(oo)  "Reset Share Amount" means the number of Additional Vested Common Shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events related to the Common Stock occurring after the applicable date the Additional Vested Common Shares are delivered) delivered or deliverable to the initial Holder of this Warrant pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the applicable Reset Date.

 

 

 

 

(pp)  "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule.

 

(qq)  "Share Delivery Date" means the earlier of (i) the second (2nd) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period, in each case, following the date on which the Holder delivers the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company, so long as the Holder delivers the applicable Aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a Cashless Exercise or Alternate Cashless Exercise) on or prior to the earlier of (i) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Exercise Notice to the Company (provided that if the applicable Aggregate Exercise Price (or applicable notice of a Cashless Exercise or Alternate Cashless Exercise) has not been delivered to the Company by such date, the applicable Share Delivery Date shall be one (1) Trading Day after the Holder has delivered the applicable Aggregate Exercise Price (or applicable notice of a Cashless Exercise or Alternate Cashless Exercise) to the Company.

 

(rr)  "Standard Settlement Period" means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company's primary Eligible Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the applicable Exercise Notice.

 

(ss) "Subject Entity" means any Person, Persons or Group or any Affiliate or associate of any such Person, Persons or Group.

 

(h)   "Subsidiary" means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns any of the capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest.

 

(tt)  "Successor Entity" means one or more Person or Persons (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Company or Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or one or more Person or Persons (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Company or the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

(uu)  "Trading Day" means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock on such day, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

 

 

 

(vv)  "Weighted Average Price" means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time (or such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is the official open of trading), and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is the official close of trading), as reported by Bloomberg through its "Volume at Price" function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time (or such other time as such market publicly announces is the official open of trading), and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or such other time as such market publicly announces is the official close of trading), as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the OTC Link or Pink Open Market (f/k/a OTC Pink) published by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices). If the Weighted Average Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12 with the term "Weighted Average Price" being substituted for the term "Exercise Price." All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or other similar transaction relating to the Common Stock during the applicable calculation period.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

  Palisade Bio, Inc.
   
   
  By:___________________________
  Name:       
  Title:       
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

PALISADE BIO, INC.

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase _________________ shares of Common Stock ("Warrant Shares") of Palisade Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Seneca Biopharma, Inc. (the "Company"), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the "Warrant"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

1. Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

 

____________ a "Cash Exercise" with respect to _________________ Warrant Shares; and/or

 

____________ a "Cashless Exercise" with respect to _______________ Warrant Shares, resulting in a delivery obligation of the Company to the Holder of __________ shares of Common Stock representing the applicable Net Number.

 

____________ an "Alternative Cashless Exercise" with respect to _______________ Warrant Shares, resulting in a delivery obligation of the Company to the Holder of __________ shares of Common Stock.

 

2. Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $___________________ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to the holder __________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

4. Please issue the Common Stock into which the Warrant is being exercised to the Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

☐      Check here if requesting delivery as a certificate to the following name and to the following address:

 

Issue to: ________________________________

               ________________________________

Address: _________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________

 

 

 

 

☐      Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

DTC Participant: ________________________________

 

DTC Number: _________________________________________

Account Number: ________________________________

 

Authorization: ________________________________

By: ________________________________

Title: ________________________________

Dated: ________________________________

Account Number (if electronic book entry transfer): ________________________________

Transaction Code Number (if electronic book entry transfer): _________

 

Date: _______________ __, ______

 

 

________________________________

Name of Registered Holder

 

 

By: ________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated [●] from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

  Palisade Bio, Inc.
   
   
  By:___________________________
  Name:       
  Title:       
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December 16, 2020, by and among Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 20271 Goldenrod Lane, 2nd Floor, Germantown, Maryland 20876 to be renamed "Palisade Bio, Inc." pursuant to the Merger Agreement (as defined below) (the "Company"), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (each, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.       In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") by and among Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Leading BioSciences Private Company"), the Company and the Buyers of even date herewith, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, (x) Leading BioSciences Private Company has agreed to issue to each Buyer shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Leading BioSciences Private Company and (y) the Company has agreed to issue warrants (the "Equity Warrants") which will be exercisable to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") (as exercised, collectively, the "Equity Warrant Shares") in accordance with the terms of the Equity Warrants.

 

B.       In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement") by and among Leading BioSciences Private Company and the Buyers of even date herewith, Leading BioSciences Private Company issued to each Buyer warrants (the "Bridge Warrants" and together with the Equity Warrants, the "Warrants") which are exercisable to purchase shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Leading BioSciences Private Company, which upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (as defined below) will be exchanged for identical (with share numbers and exercise prices adjusted to reflect the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) Company warrants that will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (as exercised, collectively, the "Bridge Warrant Shares" and together with the Equity Warrant Shares, the "Warrant Shares") in accordance with the terms of the Bridge Warrants.

 

B.       In accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, provided that the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger among the Company, Townsgate Merger Sub 1, Inc., and Leading BioSciences Private Company, dated of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement") are consummated, 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 "1933 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 each of the Buyers hereby agree as follows:

 

 

 

1.                  Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)               "Additional Effective Date" means the date an Additional Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.

 

(b)               "Additional Effectiveness Deadline" means the date which is the earlier of (i) in the event that the Additional Registration Statement (x) is not subject to a full review by the SEC, the date which is thirty (30) days after the earlier of the applicable Additional Filing Date and the Additional Filing Deadline or (y) is subject to a full review by the SEC, the date which is sixty (60) days after the earlier of the applicable Additional Filing Date and the Additional Filing Deadline and (ii) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Additional Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review; provided, however, that if the Additional Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the SEC is closed for business, the Additional Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the SEC is open for business.

 

(c)               "Additional Filing Date" means the date on which an Additional Registration Statement is filed with the SEC.

 

(d)               "Additional Filing Deadline" means if Cutback Shares are required to be included in any Additional Registration Statement, the later of (i) the date sixty (60) days after the date substantially all of the Registrable Securities registered under the immediately preceding Registration Statement are sold and (ii) the date six (6) months from the Initial Effective Date or the most recent Additional Effective Date, as applicable.

 

(e)               "Additional Registrable Securities" means, (i) any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement, and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Equity Warrants, the Bridge Warrants, the Equity Warrant Shares, the Bridge Warrant Shares or the Cutback Shares, as applicable, as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitations on exercise of the Warrants.

 

(f)                "Additional Registration Statement" means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering the resale any Additional Registrable Securities.

 

(g)               "Additional Required Registration Amount" means any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement, all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f), without regard to any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants.

 

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(h)               "Applicable Percentage" means (x) with respect to the events described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 2(g), two percent (2.0%) and (y) with respect to the events described in clauses (iv), (v) and (vi) of Section 2(g), one and one-half percent (1.5%).

 

(i)                 "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to "stay at home", "shelter-in-place", "non-essential employee"  or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York, New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

(j)                 "Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

(k)               "Cutback Shares" means any of the Initial Required Registration Amount and/or the Additional Required Registration Amount of Registrable Securities not included in all Registration Statements previously declared effective hereunder as a result of a limitation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock of the Company permitted to be registered by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415. For the purpose of determining the Cutback Shares, in order to determine any applicable Required Registration Amount, unless an Investor gives written notice to the Company to the contrary with respect to the allocation of its Cutback Shares, first the Bridge Warrant Shares shall be excluded on a pro rata basis among the Investors until all of the Bridge Warrant Shares have been excluded and second the Equity Warrant Shares shall be excluded on a pro rata basis among the Investors until all of the Equity Warrant Shares have been excluded.

 

(l)                 "Designee" means Altium Capital Management, LP.

 

(m)             "effective" and "effectiveness" refer to a Registration Statement that has been declared effective by the SEC and is available for the resale of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby.

 

(n)               "Effective Date" means the Initial Effective Date and/or each Additional Effective Date, as applicable.

 

(o)               "Effectiveness Deadline" means the Initial Effectiveness Deadline and/or each Additional Effectiveness Deadline, as applicable.

 

(p)               "Eligible Market" means the Principal Market, the NYSE American, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market or The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

 

(q)               "Filing Date" means the Initial Filing Date and/or the Additional Filing Date(s), as applicable.

 

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(r)                "Filing Deadline" means the Initial Filing Deadline and/or each Additional Filing Deadline, as applicable.

 

(s)                "Final Reset Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Equity Warrants.

 

(t)                 "Initial Effective Date" means the date that the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

(u)               "Initial Effectiveness Deadline" means the date which is the earlier of (x) (i) in the event that the Initial Registration Statement is not subject to a full review by the SEC, forty five (45) days after the Final Reset Date or (ii) in the event that the Initial Registration Statement is subject to a full review by the SEC, seventy five (75) days after the Final Reset Date and (y) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Initial Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review; provided, however, that if the Initial Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the SEC is closed for business, the Initial Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the SEC is open for business.

 

(v)               "Initial Filing Deadline" means the date which is fifteen (15) calendar days after the Final Reset Date.

 

(w)             "Initial Registrable Securities" means (i) the Equity Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Equity Warrants, (ii) the Bridge Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the Bridge Warrants and (iii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Equity Warrant Shares, the Equity Warrants, the Bridge Warrant Shares or the Bridge Warrants, in each case, as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitations on the exercise of the Equity Warrants and/or the Bridge Warrants.

 

(x)               "Initial Registration Statement" means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering the resale of Initial Registrable Securities.

 

(y)               "Initial Required Registration Amount" means the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Equity Warrants and the Bridge Warrants without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth in the Equity Warrants and/or the Bridge Warrants, calculated as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination and all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f).

 

(z)               "Investor" means a Buyer or any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.

 

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(aa)            "Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(bb)           "Principal Market" means The Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

(cc)            "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 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.

 

(dd)           "Registrable Securities" means the Initial Registrable Securities and/or the Additional Registrable Securities, as applicable.

 

(ee)            "Registration Statement" means the Initial Registration Statement and/or the Additional Registration Statement(s), as applicable.

 

(ff)              "Required Holders" means the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities and shall include the Designee so long as the Designee or any of its affiliates holds any Warrants or Registrable Securities.

 

(gg)           "Required Registration Amount" means either the Initial Required Registration Amount and/or the Additional Required Registration Amount, as applicable.

 

(hh)           "Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.

 

(ii)              "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(jj)              "Trading Day" means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock on such day, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

2.                  Registration.

 

(a)               Initial Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the Initial Filing Deadline, file with the SEC the Initial Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Initial Registrable Securities. In the event that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e). The Initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Initial Required Registration Amount determined as of the date the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f). The Initial Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" and "Selling Stockholders" sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Initial Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Initial Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 a.m. New York time on the Business Day following the Initial Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Initial Registration Statement.

 

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(b)               Additional Mandatory Registrations. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than the Additional Filing Deadline, file with the SEC an Additional Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Additional Registrable Securities not previously registered on an Additional Registration Statement hereunder. To the extent the staff of the SEC does not permit the Additional Required Registration Amount to be registered on an Additional Registration Statement, the Company shall file Additional Registration Statements successively trying to register on each such Additional Registration Statement the maximum number of remaining Additional Registrable Securities until the Additional Required Registration Amount has been registered with the SEC. In the event that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e). Each Additional Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Additional Required Registration Amount determined as of the date such Additional Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f). Each Additional Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" and "Selling Stockholders" sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have each Additional Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Additional Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 a.m. New York time on the Business Day following the Additional Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Additional Registration Statement.

 

(c)               Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and any increase or decrease in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase or decrease thereof is declared effective by the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such Investor's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors which are covered by such Registration Statement. In no event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.

 

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(d)               Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Required Holders shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review and oversee any registration pursuant to this Section 2 ("Legal Counsel"), which shall be Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP or such other counsel as thereafter designated by the Required Holders. The Company and Legal Counsel shall reasonably cooperate with each other in performing the Company's obligations under this Agreement.

 

(e)               Ineligibility for Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

(f)                Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) is insufficient to cover the Required Registration Amount of Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement or an Investor's allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(c), the Company shall amend the applicable Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. 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 shares of Common Stock available for resale under the Registration Statement is less than the Required Registration Amount as of such time. The calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence shall be made without regard to any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants, such calculation shall assume that the Equity Warrants and the Bridge Warrants are then exercisable in full into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of all the Equity Warrants and the Bridge Warrants then outstanding without giving effect to any limitation on exercise included in the Equity Warrants and/or the Bridge Warrants.

 

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(g)               Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of Registration Statement. If (x) a Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the applicable Filing Deadline (a "Filing Failure") or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (an "Effectiveness Failure") or (y) on any day after the applicable Effective Date sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement cannot be made (other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in Section 3(r)) pursuant to such Registration Statement or otherwise (including, without limitation, because of the suspension of trading or any other limitation imposed by an Eligible Market, a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement, a failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or a failure to maintain the listing of the Common Stock) (a "Maintenance Failure"), then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, specific performance or the additional obligation of the Company to register any Cutback Shares), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to the Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of such Investor's Registrable Securities whether or not included in such Registration Statement on each of the following dates: (i) the day of a Filing Failure; (ii) the day of an Effectiveness Failure; (iii) the initial day of a Maintenance Failure; (iv) on the thirtieth day after the date of a Filing Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Filing Failure is cured; (v) on the thirtieth day after the date of an Effectiveness Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; and (vi) on the thirtieth day after the initial date of a Maintenance Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Maintenance Failure is cured. The payments to which a holder shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(g) are referred to herein as "Registration Delay Payments." In no event shall the aggregate amount of all Registration Delay Payments payable to an Investor exceed eight percent (8.0%) of the aggregate Purchase Price of such Investor's Registrable Securities. Registration Delay Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I) the dates set forth above and (II) the third Business Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.

 

3.                  Related Obligations.

 

At such time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(g), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:

 

(a)               The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline). The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to keep each Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the 1933 Act or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the "Registration Period"). The Company shall ensure that each 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 the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading. The term "reasonable best efforts" shall mean, among other things, that the Company shall submit to the SEC, within two (2) Business Days after the later of the date that (i) the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the staff of the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on a particular Registration Statement, as the case may be, and (ii) the approval of Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 3(c) (which approval is immediately sought), a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than two (2) Business Days after the submission of such request. The Company shall respond in writing to comments made by the SEC in respect of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the SEC that an amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective.

 

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(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 1933 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 1933 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 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 "1934 Act"), the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.

 

(c)               The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) a Registration Statement at least three (3) Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall furnish to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to any Registration Statement, (ii) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits and (iii) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations pursuant to this Section 3.

 

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(d)               The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, upon request, (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the 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, including copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.

 

(e)               The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (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 reasonably 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 (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (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 Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities 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 threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(f)                The Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event but in any event on the same Trading Day as such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and, if requested by an Investor, unless filed with the SEC through EDGAR and available to the public through the EDGAR system, deliver one copy of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and each Investor by facsimile or email on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate. By 9:30 a.m. New York City time on the Trading Day following the date any post-effective amendment has become effective, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

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(g)               The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(h)               If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter or an Investor believes that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, at the reasonable request of such Investor, the Company shall furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.

 

(i)                 If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter or an Investor believes that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel and (iii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investors (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

 

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(j)                 The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.

 

(k)               The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement 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 (ii) secure the inclusion for quotation of all of the Registrable Securities on the Principal Market or (iii) if, despite the Company's reasonable best efforts, the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to secure the inclusion for quotation on an Eligible Market for such Registrable Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(k).

 

(l)                 The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, 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 Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investors may request.

 

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(m)             If requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities.

 

(n)               The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a 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.

 

(o)               The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of a Registration Statement.

 

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

 

(q)               Within two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared 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 Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form required by the transfer agent in order to remove the legends on the Registrable Securities.

 

(r)                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date, the Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise required (a "Grace Period"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in writing of the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each notice the Company will not disclose the content of such material, non-public information to the Investors) and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and (ii) notify the Investors in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that no Grace Period shall exceed five (5) consecutive Trading Days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of forty (40) days and the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) Trading Days after the last day of any prior Grace Period (each, an "Allowable Grace Period"). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale, prior to the Investor's receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.

 

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(s)                Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall identify any Investor as an underwriter in any public disclosure or filing with the SEC, the Principal Market or any Eligible Market and any Investor being deemed an underwriter by the SEC shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from including the disclosure found in the "Plan of Distribution" section attached hereto as Exhibit A in the Registration Statement.

 

(t)                 Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Buyers in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

4.                  Obligations of the Investors.

 

(a)               At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated Filing Date of a Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete any registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.

 

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(b)               Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.

 

(c)               Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which the Investor has not yet settled.

 

(d)               Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

5.                  Expenses of Registration.

 

All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, 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. The Company shall also reimburse the Investors for the fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel in connection with the registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement, which amount shall be limited to $10,000 for each such registration, filing or qualification without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

6.                  Indemnification.

 

In the event any Registrable Securities 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 each Investor, the directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 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 preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the 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, (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, "Violations"). For the avoidance of doubt, the Violations set forth in this Section 6(a) are intended to apply, and shall apply, to direct claims asserted by any Buyer against the Company as well as any third party claims asserted by an Indemnified Person (other than a Buyer) against the Company. Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees 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): (i) 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 for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); and (ii) 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 or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.

 

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(b)               In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly 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 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are 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 such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c), such Investor shall reimburse the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Party 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 such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; 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 such 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 and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(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 all such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party, as applicable, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party, as the case may be, 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. In the case of an Indemnified Person, legal counsel referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be selected by the Investors holding at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall reasonably cooperate 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 and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. 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. The provisions of this Section 6(c) shall not apply to direct claims between the Company and a Buyer.

 

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(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 Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale 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 amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

8.                  Reports Under the 1934 Act.

 

With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other 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, so long as an Investor owns Registrable Securities:

 

(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 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

 

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(c)               furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 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 (unless such report or document is already publicly available), and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

 

9.                  Assignment of Registration Rights.

 

The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor's Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

10.              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 with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

11.              Miscellaneous.

 

(a)               Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Bridge Warrant Shares shall not be deemed "Registrable Securities" hereunder to the extent the Bridge Warrants Shares are registered on a registration statement previously declared effective by the SEC or the Bridge Warrant Shares are otherwise freely tradable by the holders thereof without any restriction or limitation (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if the holder thereof exercises the Bridge Warrants by paying the applicable Exercise Price (as defined in the Bridge Warrants) in cash).

 

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(b)               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 such record owner of such Registrable Securities.

 

(c)               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 delivery, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party), (iii) upon delivery, when sent by electronic mail (provided that the sending party does not receive an automated rejection notice); or (iv) 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, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Company from and after the Closing Date:

 

Leading Biosciences, Inc.

5800 Armada Drive, Suite 210

Carlsbad, CA 92008

Attention: JD Finley

Email: jd.finley@leadingbiosciences.com

 

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

 

Cooley LLP

4401 Eastgate Mall

San Diego, California 92121-190

Telephone: 858-550-6088

Attention: Karen Deschaine, Esq.

E-mail: kdeschaine@cooley.com

 

and, if to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date:

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc. 

c/o Silvestre Law Group, P.C. 

2629 Townsgate Rd., Suite 215 

Westlake Village CA 91362 

Attention: David Mazzo 

Email: dmazzo@cladrius.com

 

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

 

Silvestre Law Group, P.C. 

2629 Townsgate Road #215 

Westlake Village, CA 91361 

Attention: Raul Silvestre 

Email: rsilvestre@silvestrelaw.com

 

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If to the Transfer Agent:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 

6201 15th Avenue 

Brooklyn, NY 11219 

Attention: Tiffany Hill 

Telephone: (415) 366-8087 

Email: thill@astfinancial.com

 

If to Legal Counsel:

 

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 

919 Third Avenue 

New York, New York 10022 

Telephone: (212) 756-2000 

Facsimile: (212) 593-5955 

Attention: Eleazer Klein, Esq. 

Email: eleazer.klein@srz.com

 

If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number or email address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or to such other address, facsimile number and/or email address to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) 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 or e-mail transmission containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number or e-mail address 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.

 

(d)               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.

 

(e)               All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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. 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.

 

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(f)                If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

(g)               This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the instruments referenced herein and therein 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, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

(h)               Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.

 

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

 

(j)                 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 or electronic mail of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

 

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(k)               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 any 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.

 

(l)                 All consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, by the Required Holders, determined as if all of the Warrants held by Investors then outstanding have been exercised for Registrable Securities without regard to any limitations on exercise of the Warrants.

 

(m)             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)               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.

 

(o)               The obligations of each Investor hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any obligations on any Investor vis-à-vis any other Investor. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated herein.

 

* * * * * *

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

SENECA BIOPHARMA, Inc.

 

By:   /s/ Kenneth Carter                        

Name: Kenneth Carter, PhD

Title: Executive Chairman

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

BUYERS:

 

 

Altium Growth Fund, LP

By: Altium Capital Management, LP

 

By:   /s/ Mark Gottlieb                      

Name: Mark Gottlieb

Title: Signatory

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

  

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SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

 

Buyer

 

Buyer Address, Facsimile
Number and E-mail

Buyer's Representative's Address,

Facsimile Number and E-Mail

     
Altium Growth Fund, LP

c/o Altium Capital Management, LP

551 5th Avenue, 19th Floor (Suite 1920)

New York, NY 10176

Attention: Joshua Thomas

Telephone: 212-259-8404

E-mail: jthomas@altiumcap.com

 

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP

919 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Eleazer Klein, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 593-5955

Telephone: (212) 756-2000 

Email: eleazer.klein@srz.com 

     
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annex I-1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Support Agreement (this “Agreement”), is made as of December [●], 2020, by and between Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “PubCo”) and the Person set forth on Schedule A hereto (the “Stockholder”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder is the holder of the number of shares, par value $0.001 per share (“Company Shares”), of Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), set forth opposite the Stockholder’s name on Schedule A (all Company Shares and other securities of Company owned by the Stockholder, or hereafter issued to or otherwise acquired, whether beneficially or of record, or owned by the Stockholder prior to the termination of this Agreement, as well as shares set forth on Schedule A, being referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company, PubCo and Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”), which provides, among other things, for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company (the “Merger”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the PubCo has required that the Stockholder, and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, the Stockholder (in the Stockholder’s capacity as a holder of the Subject Shares) has agreed to, enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

 

The Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that:

 

1.1.             Voting of Subject Shares. From and after the date hereof, at every meeting of the holders of Company Shares (the “Company Stockholders”), however called, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof (or pursuant to a written consent if the Company Stockholders act by written consent in lieu of a meeting), the Stockholder shall, or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to, be present (in person or by proxy) and to vote the Subject Shares (a) in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement and approving the Merger, the other Contemplated Transactions, the matters to be set out in the Company Stockholder Written Consent, and the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (b) against approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with, the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger, and (c) against any Acquisition Proposal. Except as permitted under clauses (A) through (H) of Section 1.3 below, Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote the Subject Shares in Stockholder’s sole discretion and without any other limitation on those matters other than those set forth in this Section 1.1 that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the Company Stockholders.

 

 

1.2.             Voting in case of Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 4.2, if the Board of Directors of the Company has effected (and not withdrawn) a Company Board Adverse Recommendation Change with respect to an Acquisition Proposal in accordance with the Merger Agreement, then the obligation of the Stockholder to vote the Subject Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote in the manner set forth above in this Section 1.2 shall be modified such that the Stockholder, together with the other stockholders of Company entering into substantially similar voting agreements with PubCo on or about the date hereof (the “Other Voting Agreements”), shall only be required to collectively vote an aggregate number of Subject Shares (for this purpose meaning Subject Shares as defined herein together with Subject Shares as defined in the Other Voting Agreements (collectively, the “Covered Shares”)) equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of the total voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Company as of the record date for the meeting at which such vote is taken with respect to the matters to be set out in the Company Stockholder Written Consent in the manner set forth above in this Section 1.2, and the number of Subject Shares subject to this Agreement and all Other Voting Agreements in excess of that percentage shall be voted on a pro rata basis on the matters to be set out in the Company Stockholder Written Consent in a manner equivalent to the proportion of votes “For” and “Against” or abstain on the applicable the matters to be set out in the Company Stockholder Written Consent by the shares of the Company Common Stock other than the Covered Shares that are voted on the matters to be set out in the Company Stockholder Written Consent.

 

1.3.             No Inconsistent Arrangements. Except as provided hereunder or under the Merger Agreement, prior to Company obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Vote, the Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) create any Encumbrance other than restrictions imposed by Law or pursuant to this Agreement on any Subject Shares, (b) transfer, sell, assign, gift or otherwise dispose of (collectively, “Transfer”), or enter into any contract with respect to any Transfer of, the Subject Shares or any interest therein, (c) grant or permit the grant of any proxy, power of attorney or other authorization in or with respect to the Subject Shares, (d) deposit or permit the deposit of the Subject Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to the Subject Shares, or (e) take any action that, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, would have the effect of preventing the Stockholder from performing the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Stockholder may (A) make transfers or dispositions of the Subject Shares to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Stockholder or the immediate family of the Stockholder, (B) make transfers or dispositions of the Subject Shares by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the Stockholder, (C) make transfers of the Subject Shares to stockholders, direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), current or former partners (general or limited), members or managers of the Stockholder, as applicable, or to the estates of any such stockholders, affiliates, partners, members or managers, or to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Stockholder, (D) make transfers that occur by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce settlement, (E) make transfers or dispositions not involving a change in beneficial ownership, (F) if the Stockholder is a trust, make transfers or dispositions to any beneficiary of the Stockholder or the estate of any such beneficiary, (G) exercise an option or warrant (including a net or cashless exercise of such option or warrant) to purchase Company Shares and (H) Transfer Company Shares to Company to cover tax withholding obligations of the Stockholder in connection with any option exercise or the vesting of any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award, provided that the underlying Company Shares shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement. With respect to clauses (A) through (F) above, the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and either the Stockholder or the transferee provides the PubCo with a copy of such agreement promptly upon consummation of any such Transfer, provided, further that no filing under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with the establishment of such an agreement, provided that reasonable notice shall be provided to PubCo prior to any such filing and that that the underlying Company Shares shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

 

 

1.4.             Documentation and Information. The Stockholder shall permit and hereby authorizes the Company and PubCo to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other disclosure document that the Company or PubCo reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Merger and any of the Contemplated Transactions, the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Subject Shares and the nature of the Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement. Company is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 1.4.

 

1.5.             Irrevocable Proxy. Except as set forth in the Investor Agreements, the Stockholder hereby revokes (or agrees to cause to be revoked) any proxies that the Stockholder has heretofore granted with respect to the Subject Shares. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints the PubCo as attorney-in-fact and proxy for and on behalf of the Stockholder, for and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to: (a) attend any and all meetings of Company Stockholders, (b) vote, express consent or dissent or issue instructions to the record holder to vote the Subject Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 at any and all meetings of Company Stockholders or in connection with any action sought to be taken by written consent of Company Stockholders without a meeting and (c) grant or withhold, or issue instructions to the record holder to grant or withhold, consistent with the provisions of Section 1.1, all written consents with respect to the Subject Shares at any and all meetings of Company Stockholders or in connection with any action sought to be taken by written consent of Company Stockholders without a meeting. The Company agrees not to exercise the proxy granted herein for any purpose other than the purposes described in this Agreement. The foregoing proxy shall be deemed to be a proxy coupled with an interest, is irrevocable (and as such shall survive and not be affected by the death, incapacity, mental illness or insanity of the Stockholder, as applicable) until the termination of this Agreement and shall not be terminated by operation of law or upon the occurrence of any other event other than the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.2. The Stockholder authorizes such attorney and proxy to substitute any other Person to act hereunder, to revoke any substitution and to file this proxy and any substitution or revocation with the Secretary of Company. The Stockholder hereby affirms that the proxy set forth in this Section 1.5 is given in connection with and granted in consideration of and as an inducement to PubCo, Merger Sub and Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and that such proxy is given to secure the obligations of the Stockholder under Section 1.1. The proxy set forth in this Section 1.5 is executed and intended to be irrevocable, subject, however, to its automatic termination upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.2. With respect to any Subject Shares that are owned beneficially by the Stockholder but are not held of record by the Stockholder (other than shares beneficially owned by the Stockholder that are held in the name of a bank, broker or nominee), the Stockholder shall take all action necessary to cause the record holder of such Subject Shares to grant the irrevocable proxy and take all other actions provided for in this Section 1.5 with respect to such Subject Shares.

 

 

1.6.            No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement will be deemed to vest in the PubCo any direct or indirect ownership or incidents of ownership of or with respect to the Subject Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Shares will remain and belong to the Stockholder, and the PubCo will have no authority to manage, direct, superintend, restrict, regulate, govern or administer any of the policies or operations of Company or exercise any power or authority to direct Stockholder in the voting of any of the Subject Shares, except as otherwise expressly provided herein with respect to the Subject Shares and except as otherwise expressly provided in the Merger Agreement.

 

1.7.            Waiver of Appraisal Rights. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, exercise or perfect (or attempt to exercise, assert or perfect) any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger or quasi-appraisal rights that it may at any time have under applicable Laws, including Section 262 of the DGCL. The Stockholder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against PubCo, Merger Sub or Company or any of their respective successors, directors or officers, (a) challenging the validity, binding nature or enforceability of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation, entry into or consummation of the Merger Agreement

 

Article II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE Stockholder

 

The Stockholder represents and warrants to the PubCo that:

 

2.1.             Organization; Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Stockholder, if not a natural person, is duly incorporated or organized, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. The Stockholder has full legal capacity and power, right and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

 

2.2.             Ownership of Subject Shares; Total Shares. The Stockholder is the record or beneficial owner of the Subject Shares and has good and marketable title to the Subject Shares free and clear of any Encumbrances (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise transfer the Subject Shares), except (a) as provided hereunder, (b) pursuant to any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act, (c) subject to any risk of forfeiture with respect to any Company Shares granted to the Stockholder under an employee benefit plan of Company and (d) as provided in the Organizational Documents of Company. The Subject Shares listed on Schedule A opposite the Stockholder’s name constitute all of the Company Shares owned by the Stockholder as of the date hereof. Except pursuant to the Organizational Documents of Company, no Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Subject Shares. For purposes of this Agreement “Beneficial Ownership” shall be interpreted as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any securities that may be acquired by such Person pursuant to any Contract or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise (irrespective of whether the right to acquire such securities is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, including the passage of time in excess of 60 days, the satisfaction of any conditions, the occurrence of any event or any combination of the foregoing).

 

2.3.             Voting Power. Except as set forth in the Investor Agreements, Stockholder has full voting power, with respect to the Subject Shares, and full power of disposition, full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein and full power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case, with respect to all of the Subject Shares. None of the Subject Shares are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of the Subject Shares, except as provided hereunder.

 

2.4.             Reliance. The Stockholder has had the opportunity to review the Merger Agreement, including the provisions relating to the Exchange Ratio and CVR, and this Agreement with counsel of the Stockholder’s own choosing. The Stockholder has had an opportunity to review with its own tax advisors the tax consequences of the Merger and the Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands that it must rely solely on its advisors and not on any statements or representations made by PubCo, the Company or any of their respective agents or representatives. The Stockholder understands that such Stockholder (and not PubCo, the Company or the Surviving Corporation) shall be responsible for such Stockholder’s tax liability that may arise as a result of the Merger or the Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that the Company, PubCo and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

 

2.5.             Absence of Litigation. With respect to the Stockholder, as of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened in writing against, the Stockholder or any of the Stockholder’s properties or assets (including the Subject Shares) that could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 

2.6.             Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Stockholder does not and will not violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of: (a) the Organizational Documents of such Stockholder, (b) any applicable Law or any injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any Governmental Authority to which the Stockholder is subject, or (c) any Contract to which the Stockholder is a party or is bound or to which the Subject Shares are subject, such that it could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

The PubCo represents and warrants to the Stockholder that:

 

3.1.             Organization; Authorization. The PubCo is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is within the PubCo’s corporate powers and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions on the part of the PubCo. The PubCo has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.

 

3.2.             Binding Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the PubCo and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the PubCo enforceable against the PubCo in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Article IV
MISCELLANEOUS

 

4.1.             Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and received hereunder (a) one Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand, (c) if sent by email transmission prior to 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time, upon transmission (provided, no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto) or (d) if sent by email transmission after 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time and no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto, the Business Day following the date of transmission; provided that in each case the notice or other communication is sent to the physical address or email address set forth in accordance with the provisions of the Merger Agreement, and if to the Stockholder, to the Stockholder’s address or electronic mail address set forth on a signature page hereto, or to such other address or electronic mail address as the Stockholder may hereafter specify by written notice so given.

 

4.2.             Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically, without any notice or other action by any Person, upon the earlier of (a) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms and (b) the Effective Time. Upon termination of this Agreement, neither party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) nothing set forth in this Section 4.2 shall relieve either party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to termination hereof, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IV shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

 

4.3.             Confidentiality. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Stockholder shall hold any non-public information regarding this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the Merger in strict confidence and shall not divulge any such information to any third person until PubCo has publicly disclosed its entry into the Merger Agreement and this Agreement; providedhowever, that the Stockholder may disclose such information (a) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants, trustees, beneficiaries and other representatives (provided such representatives are subject to confidentiality obligations at least as restrictive as those contained herein), and (b) to any Affiliate, partner, member, stockholder, parent or subsidiary of Stockholder, provided in each case that the Stockholder informs the Person receiving the information that such information is confidential and such Person agrees in writing to abide by the terms of this Section 4.3. Neither the Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates (other than PubCo, whose actions shall be governed by the Merger Agreement), shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to this Agreement, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby without the prior written consent of the Company and PubCo, except as may be required by applicable Law in which circumstance such announcing party shall make reasonable efforts to consult with the Company and PubCo to the extent practicable. Company is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 4.3.

 

4.4.             Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

4.5.             Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except as set forth in Section 1.4 and Section 4.3, no provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Neither party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other party hereto, except that the PubCo may transfer or assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of its Affiliates at any time; provided that such transfer or assignment shall not relieve the PubCo of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

4.6.             Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions, each of the Parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, to the extent that neither of the foregoing courts has jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware; (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with clause (a) of this Section 4.6; (c) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts; (d) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party hereto; (e) agrees that service of process upon such Party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 4.1 of this Agreement; and (f) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

 

4.7.             Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by all Parties by electronic transmission in .PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

4.8.             Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

4.9.             Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

4.10.          Specific Performance. Any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity, and each of the Parties waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other Party with respect thereto. Each of the Parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other Party has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity.

 

 

4.11.          Construction.

 

(a)               For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: any singular term shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine gender.

 

(b)              The Parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(c)               As used in this Agreement, “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. The word “or” is not exclusive.

 

(d)              Except as otherwise indicated, references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person.

 

(e)               Except as otherwise indicated, references to any statute are to that statute and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, modified, re-enacted thereof, substituted, from time to time.

 

(f)                Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections,” “Articles,” and “Schedules” are intended to refer to Sections or Articles of this Agreement and Schedules to this Agreement, respectively.

 

(g)               The bold-faced headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

4.12.          Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use their respective reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary under applicable Law to perform their respective obligations as expressly set forth under this Agreement.

 

4.13.          Capacity as Stockholder. The Stockholder signs this Agreement solely in the Stockholder’s capacity as a holder of Company Shares, and not in the Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of Company or in the Stockholder’s capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall in any way restrict a director or officer of Company in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer of Company or in his or her capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust or prevent or be construed to create any obligation on the part of any director or officer of Company or any trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust from taking any action in his or her capacity as such director, officer, trustee or fiduciary.

 

 

4.14.          No Agreement Until Executed. Irrespective of negotiations among the parties or the exchanging of drafts of this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to evidence a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding between the parties hereto unless and until (a) the Company Board has approved, for purposes of any applicable anti-takeover laws and regulations, and any applicable provision of Company’s Organizational Documents, the Merger, (b) the Merger Agreement is executed by all parties thereto, and (c) this Agreement is executed by all parties hereto.

 

(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

  Seneca Biopharma, Inc.
   
By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Support Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

  STOCKHOLDER
   
   
  (Print Name of Stockholder)
   
   
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Name and Title of Signatory, if Signing
  on Behalf of an Entity)
   
   
  Address for Notices:
   
   
   
   
   
  Email:    

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Support Agreement]

 

Schedule A

 

Name of Stockholder

No.
Shares

No.
Options

No.

RSUs

No.
Warrants

[•] [•] [•] [•] [•]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Support Agreement (this “Agreement”), is made as of December [●], 2020, by and between Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Person set forth on Schedule A hereto (the “Stockholder”).

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder is the holder of the number of shares, par value $0.01 per share (“PubCo Shares”), of Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), set forth opposite the Stockholder’s name on Schedule A (all PubCo Shares and other securities of PubCo owned by the Stockholder, or hereafter issued to or otherwise acquired, whether beneficially or of record, or owned by the Stockholder prior to the termination of this Agreement, as well as shares set forth on Schedule A, being referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company, PubCo and Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”), which provides, among other things, for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company (the “Merger”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the PubCo has required that the Stockholder, and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, the Stockholder (in the Stockholder’s capacity as a holder of the Subject Shares) has agreed to, enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
VOTING AGREEMENT; GRANT OF PROXY

 

The Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that:

 

1.1.             Voting of Subject Shares. From and after the date hereof, at every meeting of the holders of PubCo Shares (the “PubCo Stockholders”), however called, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof (or pursuant to a written consent if the PubCo Stockholders act by written consent in lieu of a meeting), the Stockholder shall, or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to, be present (in person or by proxy) and to vote the Subject Shares (a) in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement and approving the Merger, the other Contemplated Transactions, the PubCo Stockholder Matters, and the other actions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (b) against approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with, the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger, and (c) against any Acquisition Proposal. Except as permitted under clauses (A) through (H) of Section 1.4 below, Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote the Subject Shares in Stockholder’s sole discretion and without any other limitation on those matters other than those set forth in this Section 1.1 that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the PubCo Stockholders.

 

 

 

1.2.             No Inconsistent Arrangements. Except as provided hereunder or under the Merger Agreement, prior to PubCo obtaining the Required PubCo Stockholder Vote, the Stockholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) create any Encumbrance other than restrictions imposed by Law or pursuant to this Agreement on any Subject Shares, (b) transfer, sell, assign, gift or otherwise dispose of (collectively, “Transfer”), or enter into any contract with respect to any Transfer of, the Subject Shares or any interest therein, (c) grant or permit the grant of any proxy, power of attorney or other authorization in or with respect to the Subject Shares, (d) deposit or permit the deposit of the Subject Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to the Subject Shares, or (e) take any action that, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, would have the effect of preventing the Stockholder from performing the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder. Any action taken in violation of the foregoing sentence shall be null and void ab initio. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Stockholder may (A) make transfers or dispositions of the Subject Shares to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Stockholder or the immediate family of the Stockholder, (B) make transfers or dispositions of the Subject Shares by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the Stockholder, (C) make transfers of the Subject Shares to stockholders, direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), current or former partners (general or limited), members or managers of the Stockholder, as applicable, or to the estates of any such stockholders, affiliates, partners, members or managers, or to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Stockholder, (D) make transfers that occur by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce settlement, (E) make transfers or dispositions not involving a change in beneficial ownership, (F) if the Stockholder is a trust, make transfers or dispositions to any beneficiary of the Stockholder or the estate of any such beneficiary, (G) exercise an option or warrant (including a net or cashless exercise of such option or warrant) to purchase PubCo Shares, and (H) Transfer PubCo Shares to PubCo to cover tax withholding obligations of the Stockholder in connection with any option exercise or the vesting of any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award, provided that the underlying PubCo Shares shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement. With respect to clauses (A) through (F) above, the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and either the Stockholder or the transferee provides the Company with a copy of such agreement promptly upon consummation of any such Transfer, provided, further that no filing under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with the establishment of such an agreement, provided that reasonable notice shall be provided to PubCo prior to any such filing and that that the underlying PubCo Shares shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

 

 

 

1.3.             Documentation and Information. The Stockholder shall permit and hereby authorizes the Company and PubCo to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other disclosure document that the Company or PubCo reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Merger and any of the Contemplated Transactions, the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Subject Shares and the nature of the Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement. PubCo is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 1.3.

 

1.4.             Irrevocable Proxy. The Stockholder hereby revokes (or agrees to cause to be revoked) any proxies that the Stockholder has heretofore granted with respect to the Subject Shares. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as attorney-in-fact and proxy for and on behalf of the Stockholder, for and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to: (a) attend any and all meetings of PubCo Stockholders, (b) vote, express consent or dissent or issue instructions to the record holder to vote the Subject Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 at any and all meetings of PubCo Stockholders or in connection with any action sought to be taken by written consent of PubCo Stockholders without a meeting and (c) grant or withhold, or issue instructions to the record holder to grant or withhold, consistent with the provisions of Section 1.1, all written consents with respect to the Subject Shares at any and all meetings of PubCo Stockholders or in connection with any action sought to be taken by written consent of PubCo Stockholders without a meeting. The Company agrees not to exercise the proxy granted herein for any purpose other than the purposes described in this Agreement. The foregoing proxy shall be deemed to be a proxy coupled with an interest, is irrevocable (and as such shall survive and not be affected by the death, incapacity, mental illness or insanity of the Stockholder, as applicable) until the termination of this Agreement and shall not be terminated by operation of law or upon the occurrence of any other event other than the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.2. The Stockholder authorizes such attorney and proxy to substitute any other Person to act hereunder, to revoke any substitution and to file this proxy and any substitution or revocation with the Secretary of PubCo. The Stockholder hereby affirms that the proxy set forth in this Section 1.4 is given in connection with and granted in consideration of and as an inducement to Company, PubCo and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement and that such proxy is given to secure the obligations of the Stockholder under Section 1.1. The proxy set forth in this Section 1.4 is executed and intended to be irrevocable, subject, however, to its automatic termination upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.2. With respect to any Subject Shares that are owned beneficially by the Stockholder but are not held of record by the Stockholder (other than shares beneficially owned by the Stockholder that are held in the name of a bank, broker or nominee), the Stockholder shall take all action necessary to cause the record holder of such Subject Shares to grant the irrevocable proxy and take all other actions provided for in this Section 1.4 with respect to such Subject Shares.

 

1.5.              No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement will be deemed to vest in the Company any direct or indirect ownership or incidents of ownership of or with respect to the Subject Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Shares will remain and belong to the Stockholder, and the Company will have no authority to manage, direct, superintend, restrict, regulate, govern or administer any of the policies or operations of PubCo or exercise any power or authority to direct Stockholder in the voting of any of the Subject Shares, except as otherwise expressly provided herein with respect to the Subject Shares and except as otherwise expressly provided in the Merger Agreement.

 

 

 

Article II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE Stockholder

 

The Stockholder represents and warrants to the Company that:

 

2.1.             Organization; Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Stockholder, if not a natural person, is duly incorporated or organized, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. The Stockholder has full legal capacity and power, right and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

2.2.             Ownership of Subject Shares; Total Shares. The Stockholder is the record or beneficial owner of the Subject Shares and has good and marketable title to the Subject Shares free and clear of any Encumbrances (including any restriction on the right to vote or otherwise transfer the Subject Shares), except (a) as provided hereunder, (b) pursuant to any applicable restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act, (c) subject to any risk of forfeiture with respect to any PubCo Shares granted to the Stockholder under an employee benefit plan of PubCo and (d) as provided in the Organizational Documents of PubCo. The Subject Shares listed on Schedule A opposite the Stockholder’s name constitute all of the PubCo Shares owned by the Stockholder as of the date hereof. Except pursuant to the Organizational Documents of PubCo, no Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Subject Shares. For purposes of this Agreement “Beneficial Ownership” shall be interpreted as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any securities that may be acquired by such Person pursuant to any Contract or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise (irrespective of whether the right to acquire such securities is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, including the passage of time in excess of 60 days, the satisfaction of any conditions, the occurrence of any event or any combination of the foregoing).

 

2.3.             Voting Power. The Stockholder has full voting power, with respect to the Subject Shares, and full power of disposition, full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein and full power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, in each case, with respect to all of the Subject Shares. None of the Subject Shares are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of the Subject Shares, except as provided hereunder.

 

2.4.             Reliance. The Stockholder has had the opportunity to review the Merger Agreement, including the provisions relating to the Exchange Ratio and CVR, and this Agreement with counsel of the Stockholder’s own choosing. The Stockholder has had an opportunity to review with its own tax advisors the tax consequences of the Merger and the Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands that it must rely solely on its advisors and not on any statements or representations made by PubCo, the Company or any of their respective agents or representatives. The Stockholder understands that such Stockholder (and not PubCo, the Company or the Surviving Corporation) shall be responsible for such Stockholder’s tax liability that may arise as a result of the Merger or the Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that the Company, PubCo and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

 

 

 

2.5.             Absence of Litigation. With respect to the Stockholder, as of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened in writing against, the Stockholder or any of the Stockholder’s properties or assets (including the Subject Shares) that could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

2.6.             Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Stockholder does not and will not violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of: (a) the Organizational Documents of such Stockholder, (b) any applicable Law or any injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any Governmental Authority to which the Stockholder is subject, or (c) any Contract to which the Stockholder is a party or is bound or to which the Subject Shares are subject, such that it could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform the Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Stockholder that:

 

3.1.             Organization; Authorization. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is within the Company’s corporate powers and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions on the part of the Company. The Company has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.

 

3.2.             Binding Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Article IV
MISCELLANEOUS

 

4.1.             Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and received hereunder (a) one Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand, (c) if sent by email transmission prior to 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time, upon transmission (provided, no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto) or (d) if sent by email transmission after 6:00 p.m. recipient’s local time and no “bounce back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto, the Business Day following the date of transmission; provided that in each case the notice or other communication is sent to the physical address or email address set forth in accordance with the provisions of the Merger Agreement, and if to the Stockholder, to the Stockholder’s address or electronic mail address set forth on a signature page hereto, or to such other address or electronic mail address as the Stockholder may hereafter specify by written notice so given.

 

 

 

4.2.             Termination. This Agreement shall terminate automatically, without any notice or other action by any Person, upon the earlier of (a) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms and (b) the Effective Time. Upon termination of this Agreement, neither party shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) nothing set forth in this Section 4.2 shall relieve either party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to termination hereof, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IV shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

4.3.             Confidentiality. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Stockholder shall hold any non-public information regarding this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the Merger in strict confidence and shall not divulge any such information to any third person until PubCo has publicly disclosed its entry into the Merger Agreement and this Agreement; providedhowever, that the Stockholder may disclose such information (a) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants, trustees, beneficiaries and other representatives (provided such representatives are subject to confidentiality obligations at least as restrictive as those contained herein), and (b) to any Affiliate, partner, member, stockholder, parent or subsidiary of Stockholder, provided in each case that the Stockholder informs the Person receiving the information that such information is confidential and such Person agrees in writing to abide by the terms of this Section 4.3. Neither the Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates (other than PubCo, whose actions shall be governed by the Merger Agreement), shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to this Agreement, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby without the prior written consent of the Company and PubCo, except as may be required by applicable Law in which circumstance such announcing party shall make reasonable efforts to consult with the Company and PubCo to the extent practicable. PubCo is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 4.3.

 

4.4.             Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

4.5.             Binding Effect; Benefit; Assignment. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except as set forth in Section 1.3 and Section 4.3, no provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Neither party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other party hereto, except that the Company may transfer or assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of its Affiliates at any time; provided that such transfer or assignment shall not relieve the Company of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

 

 

4.6.             Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions, each of the Parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, to the extent that neither of the foregoing courts has jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware; (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with clause (a) of this Section 4.6; (c) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts; (d) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party hereto; (e) agrees that service of process upon such Party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 4.1 of this Agreement; and (f) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

4.7.             Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by all Parties by electronic transmission in .PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

4.8.             Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

4.9.             Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

 

 

4.10.          Specific Performance. Any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity, and each of the Parties waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other Party with respect thereto. Each of the Parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other Party has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity.

 

4.11.          Construction.

 

(a)               For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: any singular term shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine gender.

 

(b)              The Parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(c)               As used in this Agreement, “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. The word “or” is not exclusive.

 

(d)              Except as otherwise indicated, references to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person.

 

(e)               Except as otherwise indicated, references to any statute are to that statute and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, modified, re-enacted thereof, substituted, from time to time.

 

(f)                Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections,” “Articles,” and “Schedules” are intended to refer to Sections or Articles of this Agreement and Schedules to this Agreement, respectively.

 

 

 

(g)               The bold-faced headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

4.12.          Further Assurances. Each of the Parties hereto will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all further documents and instruments and use their respective reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary under applicable Law to perform their respective obligations as expressly set forth under this Agreement.

 

4.13.          Capacity as Stockholder. The Stockholder signs this Agreement solely in the Stockholder’s capacity as a holder of PubCo Shares, and not in the Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries or in the Stockholder’s capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall in any way restrict a director or officer of PubCo in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer of PubCo or in his or her capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust or prevent or be construed to create any obligation on the part of any director or officer of PubCo or any trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust from taking any action in his or her capacity as such director, officer, trustee or fiduciary.

 

4.14.          No Agreement Until Executed. Irrespective of negotiations among the parties or the exchanging of drafts of this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute or be deemed to evidence a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding between the parties hereto unless and until (a) the PubCo Board has approved, for purposes of any applicable anti-takeover laws and regulations, and any applicable provision of PubCo’s Organizational Documents, the Merger, (b) the Merger Agreement is executed by all parties thereto, and (c) this Agreement is executed by all parties hereto.

 

(SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

Leading BioSciences, Inc.

 

 

By:  _______________________________
Name:
Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Support Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

STOCKHOLDER

 

__________________________________
(Print Name of Stockholder)

 

__________________________________
(Signature)

 

__________________________________
(Name and Title of Signatory, if Signing
on Behalf of
an Entity)

 

Address for Notices:

 

__________________________________

 

__________________________________

 

Email:_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Support Agreement]

 

 

 

Schedule A

 

Name of Stockholder

No. Shares

No. Options

No.

RSUs

No. Warrants

[•] [•] [•] [•] [•]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Lock-Up Agreement

 

December [·], 2020

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned (the “Stockholder”) understands that: (i) Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 16, 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”), with Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”) and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation; and (ii) in connection with the Merger, stockholders of the Company will receive shares of PubCo Common Stock. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.

 

As a material inducement to the willingness of each of the Parties to enter into the Merger Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Stockholder hereby agrees that the Stockholder will not, subject to the exceptions set forth in this letter agreement, during the period commencing upon the Effective Time and ending on the date that is 180 days after the Effective Time (the “Restricted Period”), (a) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of PubCo Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for PubCo Common Stock, including without limitation, PubCo Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Stockholder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities of PubCo which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant (collectively, the “Stockholder’s Shares”), (b) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stockholder’s Shares, regardless of whether any such transaction described in clause (a) or (b) above is to be settled by delivery of PubCo Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (c) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of PubCo Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for PubCo Common Stock, in each case other than (i) transfers of the Stockholder’s Shares as bona fide charitable contributions, gifts or donations, (ii) transfers or dispositions of the Stockholder’s Shares to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the Stockholder or the immediate family of the Stockholder, (iii) transfers or dispositions of the Stockholder’s Shares by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the Stockholder, (iv) transfers of the Stockholder’s Shares to stockholders, direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), current or former partners (general or limited), members or managers of the Stockholder, as applicable, or to the estates of any such stockholders, affiliates, partners, members or managers, or to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Stockholder, (v) transfers that occur by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce settlement, (vi) transfers or dispositions not involving a change in beneficial ownership, (vii) if the Stockholder is a trust, transfers or dispositions to any beneficiary of the Stockholder or the estate of any such beneficiary; provided that, in each case, the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this letter agreement and either the Stockholder or the transferee provides PubCo with a copy of such agreement promptly upon consummation of any such transfer, (viii) transfers pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the PubCo’s capital stock involving a change of control of the PubCo, provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Stockholder’s Shares shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this letter agreement, and (viv); and provided, further, that in each case of clauses (i)-(vii), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than filings made in respect of involuntary transfers or dispositions or a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period) and any such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value. For purposes of this letter agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

 

  1  

 

Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by this letter agreement, the Stockholder may (a) exercise an option or warrant (including a net or cashless exercise of such option or warrant) to purchase shares of PubCo Common Stock, provided that the underlying shares of PubCo Common Stock shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this letter agreement, (b) transfer shares of PubCo Common Stock to cover tax withholding obligations of the Stockholder in connection with any option exercise or the vesting of any restricted stock or restricted stock unit award, (c) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of PubCo Common Stock, provided that such plan does not provide for any transfers of PubCo Common Stock during the Restricted Period and provided further, that, no filing under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with the establishment of such a plan, or (d) transfer or dispose of shares of PubCo Common Stock acquired on the open market following the Effective Time.

 

Any attempted transfer in violation of this letter agreement will be of no effect and null and void, regardless of whether the purported transferee has any actual or constructive knowledge of the transfer restrictions set forth in this letter agreement, and will not be recorded on the stock transfer books of PubCo. In order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Stockholder agrees that PubCo may issue appropriate “stop transfer” certificates or instructions. PubCo may cause the legend set forth below, or a legend substantially equivalent thereto, to be placed upon any certificate(s) or other documents or instruments evidencing ownership of the Stockholder’s Shares:

 

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AND MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN COMPLIANCE WITH A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants that the Stockholder has full power and authority to enter into this letter agreement. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the Stockholder under this letter agreement will be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the Stockholder.

 

In the event that any holder of PubCo’s securities that is subject to a substantially similar agreement entered into by such holder, other than the Stockholder, is permitted by PubCo to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of shares of PubCo Common Stock for value other than as permitted by this or a substantially similar agreement entered into by such holder, the same percentage of shares of PubCo Common Stock held by the Stockholder shall be immediately and fully released on the same terms from any remaining restrictions set forth herein (the “Pro-Rata Release”); provided, however, that such Pro-Rata Release shall not be applied unless and until permission has been granted by PubCo to an equity holder or equity holders to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of all or a portion of such equity holders’ shares of PubCo Common Stock in an aggregate amount in excess of 1% of the number of shares of PubCo Common Stock originally subject to a substantially similar agreement.

 

Upon the release of any of the Stockholder’s Shares from this letter agreement, PubCo will cooperate with the Stockholder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Stockholder’s Shares without the restrictive legend above or the withdrawal of any stop transfer instructions.

 

  2  

 

The Stockholder understands that each of PubCo and the Company is relying upon this letter agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Merger. The Stockholder further understands that this letter agreement is irrevocable and is binding upon the Stockholder’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

This letter agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

The Stockholder understands that if the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Stockholder will be released from all obligations under this letter agreement.

 

This letter agreement may be executed by electronic (i.e., PDF) transmission, which is deemed an original.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  3  

 

                 
        Very truly yours,
     
    Print Name of Stockholder:  
 
     
        Signature (for individuals):
     
       
 
     
        Signature (for entities):
       
        By:  
 
         
            Name:  
 
         
            Title:  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Lock-up Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

Seneca Biopharma, INC.

 

December [·], 2020

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc.

20271 Goldenrod Lane, 2nd Floor

Germantown, Maryland 20876

 

Re: Seneca Biopharma, Inc. - Lock-Up Agreement

 

Dear Sirs:

 

This Lock-Up Agreement is being delivered to you in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), dated as of December [·], 2020 by and among Leading BioSciences, Inc. ("Leading BioSciences"), Seneca Biopharma, Inc. to be renamed "Palisade Bio, Inc." ("Seneca") and the investors party thereto (the "Buyers"), with respect to the issuance of (i) shares of Leading BioSciences' preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock"), and (ii) two series of warrants (the "Warrants"), which Warrants will be exercisable to purchase shares of Seneca's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Seneca Common Stock," and together with the Leading BioSciences' common stock, par value $0.001 per share, the "Common Stock"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

In order to induce the Buyers to enter into the Securities Purchase Agreement, the undersigned agrees that, commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date that is ninety (90) calendar days after the earliest of (x) such time as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1), (y) the one (1) year anniversary of the Closing Date, and (z) the date that the Initial Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission; provided that, this clause (z) shall only apply if there are no Cutback Shares (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) arising from the Initial Registration Statement, the undersigned will not, and will cause all affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act) of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned not to, (A) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents owned directly by the undersigned (including holding as a custodian) or with respect to which the undersigned has beneficial ownership within the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, the "Undersigned's Shares"), or (B) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of the Undersigned's Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (C) make any demand for or exercise any right or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or (D) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.

 

 

 

The foregoing restriction is expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned, and any affiliate of the undersigned and any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned, from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned's Shares even if the Undersigned's Shares would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned's Shares or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from the Undersigned's Shares.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned's Shares (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein or (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value.

 

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, "immediate family" shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, for the duration of this Lock-Up Agreement will have, good and marketable title to the Undersigned's Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims whatsoever. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with Seneca's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent") and registrar against the transfer of the Undersigned's Shares except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

In order to enforce this covenant, Seneca shall impose irrevocable stop-transfer instructions preventing the Transfer Agent from effecting any actions in violation of this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

The undersigned acknowledges that the execution, delivery and performance of this Lock-Up Agreement is a material inducement to each Buyer to complete the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and that Seneca shall be entitled to specific performance of the undersigned's obligations hereunder. The undersigned hereby represents that the undersigned has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Lock-Up Agreement, that the undersigned has received adequate consideration therefor and that the undersigned will indirectly benefit from the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

The undersigned understands and agrees that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned's heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

 

  2  

 

This Lock-Up Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but both of which shall be considered one and the same instrument.

 

This Lock-Up Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicting provision or rule (whether of the State of New York, or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York to be applied. In furtherance of the foregoing, the internal laws of the State of New York will control the interpretation and construction of this Lock-Up Agreement, even if under such jurisdiction's choice of law or conflict of law analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction would ordinarily apply.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  3  

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

______________________________

Exact Name of Stockholder

 

______________________________

Authorized Signature

 

______________________________

Title

 

Agreed to and Acknowledged:

 

SENECA BIOPHARMA, INC.

 

By: _______________________

       Name:

       Title:

 

LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

By: _______________________

       Name:

       Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

Execution Version

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December 16, 2020, by and among Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 5800 Armada Drive, Suite 210, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (the "Company"), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.                The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D ("Regulation D") as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the 1933 Act.

 

B.                 The Company has authorized a new series of senior secured notes of the Company, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Notes").

 

C.     Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell at the First Closing (as defined below), upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (which aggregate principal amount of Notes for all Buyers shall be $1,666,666.67) and (ii) warrants, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Warrants"), representing the right to acquire the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock") set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers (such shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, collectively, the "Warrant Shares").

 

D.                Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell at the Second Closing (as defined below), upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (which aggregate principal amount of Notes for all Buyers shall be $1,666,666.67) and (ii) Warrants representing the right to acquire Warrant Shares set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (6) on the Schedule of Buyers.

 

E.                 Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell at the Third Closing (as defined below), upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (7) on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (which aggregate principal amount of Notes for all Buyers shall be $1,666,666.67) and (ii) representing the right to acquire Warrant Shares set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (8) on the Schedule of Buyers.

 

F.      The Notes will rank senior to all outstanding and future indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), will be guaranteed by all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company, currently existing or created or acquired in the future and subject to certain exclusions and limitations, as evidenced by a guarantee agreement, in the form to be reasonably acceptable to the Buyers and entered into concurrently with the creation or acquisition of any Subsidiary ("Guarantee Agreement"), and will be secured by a first priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens under and as defined in the Notes) in all of the current and future assets (other than certain Excluded Assets (as defined in the Security Agreement (as defined below)) of the Company and all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company, created or acquired in the future and subject to certain exclusions and limitations, as evidenced by a pledge and security agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the "Security Agreement").

 

 

 

G.                The Notes, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares collectively are referred to herein as the "Securities."

 

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

 

1.      PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES.

 

(a)   Purchase of Notes.

 

(i)                 First Closing. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the First Closing Date (as defined below), (x) a principal amount of Notes as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers and (y) Warrants to acquire an initial amount of shares of Common Stock as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers(the "First Closing").

 

(ii)              Second Closing. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the Second Closing Date (as defined below), (x) a principal amount of Notes as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers and (y) Warrants to acquire an initial amount of shares of Common Stock as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (6) on the Schedule of Buyers (the "Second Closing").

 

(iii)            Third Closing. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the Third Closing Date (as defined below), (x) a principal amount of Notes as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (7) on the Schedule of Buyers and (y) Warrants to acquire an initial amount of shares of Common Stock as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (8) on the Schedule of Buyers (the "Third Closing", and together with the First Closing and the Second Closing, each a "Closing").

 

(b)   Closing Date.

 

(i)                 First Closing Date. The date and time of the First Closing (the "First Closing Date") shall be 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date hereof (or such other date and time as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer) after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the First Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. The location of the First Closing may be undertaken remotely by electronic transfer of First Closing documentation upon mutual agreement among the Company and the Buyers.

 

  -2-  

 

(ii)              Second Closing Date. The date and time of the Second Closing (the "Second Closing Date") shall be 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 1, 2021 (or such other date and time as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer) after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the Second Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. The location of the Second Closing may be undertaken remotely by electronic transfer of Second Closing documentation upon mutual agreement among the Company and the Buyers.

 

(iii)            Third Closing Date. The date and time of the Third Closing (the "Third Closing Date", and together with the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, each a "Closing Date") shall be 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on a date determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, provided that the Third Closing Date shall (i) not be earlier than March 16, 2021, nor later than the earlier of (1) the closing of the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (2) the termination of the Merger Agreement and (ii) not be earlier than the tenth (10th) calendar day following written notice of such determination provided to each Buyer by the Company, after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the Third Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. The location of the Third Closing may be undertaken remotely by electronic transfer of Third Closing documentation upon mutual agreement among the Company and the Buyers.

 

(c)   Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price for the Notes and the related Warrants to be purchased by each Buyer at the First Closing (the "First Purchase Price") shall be the amount set forth opposite each Buyer's name in column (9) of the Schedule of Buyers. The aggregate purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by each Buyer at the Second Closing (the "Second Purchase Price") shall be the amount set forth opposite each Buyer's name in column (10) of the Schedule of Buyers. The aggregate purchase price for the Notes to be purchased by each Buyer at the Third Closing (the "Third Purchase Price", and together with the First Purchase Price and the Second Purchase Price, the "Purchase Price") shall be the amount set forth opposite each Buyer's name in column (11) of the Schedule of Buyers. Each Buyer shall pay $750.00 for each $1,000 of principal amount of Notes and related Warrants to be purchased by such Buyer at each Closing. The Buyers and the Company agree that the Notes and the Warrants constitute an "investment unit" for purposes of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Buyers and the Company mutually agree that the allocation of the issue price of such investment unit between the Notes and the Warrants in accordance with Section 1273(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1273-2(h) shall be an aggregate amount of $0.01 per $750 of Purchase Price to be allocated to the Warrants and the balance of the Purchase Price allocated to the Notes, and neither the Buyers nor the Company shall take any position inconsistent with such allocation in any tax return or in any judicial or administrative proceeding in respect of taxes.

 

  -3-  

 

(d)   Form of Payment. On the applicable Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its applicable Purchase Price to the Company for the Notes and the related Warrants to be issued and sold to such Buyer at such applicable Closing (less, in the case of Altium Growth Fund, LP (the "Lead Investor"), the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(d)), by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company's written wire instructions and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer (x) the applicable Notes (allocated in the principal amounts as such Buyer shall request) which such Buyer is then purchasing hereunder and (y) a Warrant pursuant to which such Buyer shall have the right to acquire the applicable number of Warrant Shares, in each case, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.

 

2.      BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants with respect to only itself that, as of the date hereof and as of each applicable Closing Date:

 

(a)   No Public Sale or Distribution. Such Buyer is (i) acquiring the Notes and the Warrants and (ii) upon exercise of the Warrants (other than pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in the Warrants)) will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person (as defined below) to distribute any of the Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, "Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(b)   Accredited Investor Status. Such Buyer is an "accredited investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.

 

(c)   Reliance on Exemptions. Such 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 such Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.

 

(d)   Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have 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 requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer's right to rely on the Company's representations and warranties contained herein. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such 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.

 

  -4-  

 

(e)   No Governmental Review. Such 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 Resale. Such Buyer understands that: (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, (B) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act, as amended, (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, "Rule 144") or to an accredited investor in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act; (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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account or other loan or financing arrangement secured by the Securities and such pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in Section 3(b)), including, without limitation, this Section 2(f).

 

(g)   Legends. Such Buyer understands that the certificates or other instruments representing the Notes and the Warrants and, until such time as the exchange of the Warrant Shares are freely tradable or have been registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in the Primary Financing SPA (as defined in the Notes)), the stock certificates representing the Securities, except as set forth below, shall bear a restrictive legend in the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates:

 

  -5-  

 

[NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE [EXERCISABLE] HAVE BEEN] [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 MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD (X) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (Y) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A PRIVATE TRANSACTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

 

The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Securities upon which it is stamped, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the 1933 Act, (ii) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer, such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, or (iii) the Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or to an accredited investor in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent and all DTC fees associated with such issuance, if any.

 

(h)   Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which such Buyer is a party have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors' rights and remedies.

 

(i)     No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which such Buyer is a party and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

  -6-  

 

3.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that, as of the date hereof and as of each applicable Closing Date:

 

(a)   Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and its "Subsidiaries" (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns any of the capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest) are entities duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity 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 would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, "Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, individually or taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby or on the other Transaction Documents (as defined below) or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith, or on the authority or ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. The Company has no Subsidiaries except as set forth in Schedule 3(a). The outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

 

(b)   Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Security Documents (as defined below), and each of the other agreements entered into by the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the "Transaction Documents") and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants and the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors and (other than the filing of a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies), except as disclosed in Schedule 3(b), no further filing, consent or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors' rights and remedies. Each of the Subsidiaries party to any of the Transaction Documents has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under such Transaction Documents. The execution and delivery by the Subsidiaries party to any of the Transaction Documents of such Transaction Documents and the consummation by such Subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by such Subsidiaries' respective boards of directors (or other applicable governing body) and (other than filings as may be required by state securities agencies) no further filing, consent, or authorization is required by such Subsidiaries, their respective boards of directors (or other applicable governing body) or stockholders (or other applicable owners of equity of such Subsidiaries). The Transaction Documents to which any of the Subsidiaries are parties have been duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiaries, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Subsidiaries, enforceable against them in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors' rights and remedies. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Security Documents" means Guarantee Agreement (if any), the Security Agreement, the Perfection Certificate (as defined in the Security Agreement), any account control agreement, any and all financing statements, fixture filings, security agreements, pledges, assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, opinions of counsel, and all other documents requested by the Collateral Agent (as defined below) to create, perfect, and continue perfected or to better perfect the Collateral Agent's security interest in and liens on all of the assets of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (whether now owned or hereafter arising or acquired, tangible or intangible, real or personal), and in order to fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated hereby and under the other Transaction Documents.

 

  -7-  

 

(c)   Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Notes is duly authorized and, upon issuance, shall be validly issued and free from all preemptive or similar rights (except for those which have been validly waived prior to the date hereof), taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof. The issuance of the Warrants are duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, the Warrants shall be validly issued and free from all preemptive or similar rights (except for those which have been validly waived prior to the date hereof), taxes, liens and charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof. As of the applicable Closing Date, a number of shares of Common Stock shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance which equals (i) until the Closing Date (as defined in the Primary Financing SPA), the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal amounts of all Notes issued and issuable pursuant to section 1(a), by (y) the Initial Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrants) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof), (ii) from and after the Closing Date (as defined in the Primary Financing SPA) until the Final Reset Date (as defined in the Warrants), the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal amounts of all Notes issued and issuable pursuant to section 1(a), by (y) 25% of the Closing Per Share Price (as defined in the Primary Financing SPA) and (iii) from and after the Final Reset Date, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise in full of all of the Warrants then outstanding without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth therein (as applicable, the "Required Reserve Amount") (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof). Upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrants, the Warrant Shares when issued will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. Assuming the accuracy of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Securities is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

 

  -8-  

 

(d)   No Conflicts. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(d), the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries parties to any of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes and the Warrants and reservation for issuance and issuance of the Warrant Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), and its Bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the "Bylaws"), any memorandum of association, certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, any certificate of designations or other constituent documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the articles of association or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) in any respect 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 (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including foreign, federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations) and including all applicable foreign, federal and state laws, rules and regulations 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 clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished or made available to the Buyers true, correct and complete copies of its Certificate of Incorporation and its Bylaws, and the terms of all securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock") and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto.

 

(e)   Consents. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the filing of a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies), any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the applicable Closing Date (or in the case of filings detailed above, will be made timely after the applicable Closing Date).

 

  -9-  

 

(f)    Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer's Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) an "affiliate" of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 144) or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, a "beneficial owner" of more than 10% of the Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a 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 such Buyer's purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each 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.

 

(g)   No General Solicitation; Placement Agent's Fees. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent's fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers' commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, any placement agent fees payable to Evolution Venture Partners, LLC (the "Financial Advisor") in connection with the sale of the Securities. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorney's fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such claim. The Company acknowledges that it has engaged the Financial Advisor in connection with the sale of the Securities. Other than the Financial Advisor, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged any placement agent or other agent in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

(h)   No Integrated Offering. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, any of their affiliates, and any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated for quotation. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates and any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Notes to be integrated with other offerings for purposes of any such applicable stockholder approval provisions.

 

  -10-  

 

(i)     Financial Statements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(i), each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has no liabilities or obligations, absolute or contingent (individually or in the aggregate), except (i) liabilities and obligations incurred after June 30, 2020 in the ordinary course of business that are not material and (ii) obligations under contracts made in the ordinary course of business that would not be required to be reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied during the periods involved ("GAAP"). The unaudited financial statements included herein as Exhibit D 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 fairly present in all material respects the financial position of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, at the respective dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial statements will be subject to normal adjustments which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate. No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to any of the Buyers (including, without limitation, information referred to in Section 2(d) of this Agreement or in the disclosure schedules to this Agreement) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made, not misleading.

 

(j)     Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(j)(i), since June 30, 2020, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in the business, assets, liabilities, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(j)(ii), since June 30, 2020, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000 outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) had capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up, nor does the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the applicable Closing, will not be Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, "Insolvent" means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person's assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person's total Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) such Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.

 

  -11-  

 

(k)   Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under any certificate of designations, preferences or rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company (if any), its Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws or their organizational charter or memorandum of association or certificate of incorporation or articles of association or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except in all cases for possible violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate foreign, federal or state regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.

 

(l)     Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company is in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof.

 

(m)        Transactions With Affiliates. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(m), none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director or employee or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any corporation, partnership, trust or other Person in which any such officer, director, or employee has a substantial interest or is an employee, officer, director, trustee or partner.

 

(n)   Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, (i) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(i), has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(ii), is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(iii), is in violation of any term of or in default under any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(iv), is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company's officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3(n) provides a detailed description of the material terms of such outstanding Indebtedness. Schedule 3(n)(v) provides a list of all material contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 assuming the Company were to file such a registration statement on the date hereof or the Closing Date, as applicable. For purposes of this Agreement: (x) "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, "finance leases" in accordance with GAAP (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with GAAP, is classified as a finance lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, claim, lien, tax, right of first refusal, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; and (y) "Contingent Obligation" means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, finance lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

 

  -12-  

 

(o)   Absence of Litigation. 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, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company's or its Subsidiaries capital stock or any of the Company's Subsidiaries or any of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' officers or directors, whether of a civil or criminal nature or otherwise, in their capacities as such, except as set forth in Schedule 3(o). The matters set forth in Schedule 3(o) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(p)   Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will 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 have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)   Employee Benefits. Schedule 3(q) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Benefit Plans that is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"), whether or not such plan is subject to ERISA (each, a "Pension Plan"). For purposes of this Section 3(u), a "Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, practices, or other arrangement providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates or any beneficiary or dependent thereof that is sponsored or maintained by Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates contributes. Each Benefit Plan has been administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms all applicable laws and each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their affiliates is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the terms of any Benefit Plan. No "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan; each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their affiliates has not incurred and does not expect to incur material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any Pension Plan or any other "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and each Pension Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification. Except for liabilities that arise solely out of, or relate solely to, an Benefit Plan, none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates has any current or contingent liabilities (i) to any "employee benefit plan" (as defined in ERISA); (ii) under Title IV of ERISA, (iii) under Section 302 of ERISA, (iv) under Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code, (v) as a result of a failure to comply with the continuation coverage requirements of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, or (vi) under corresponding or similar provisions of foreign Laws or regulations. Each stock option, if any, granted by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their affiliates was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the applicable stock option plan of such entity and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of such capital stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. The amount by which the actuarial present value of all accrued benefits under any Benefit Plan (whether or not vested) exceeds the fair market value of the assets of such Benefit Plan is properly accrued and reflected, in all material respects, in the PPM.

 

  -13-  

 

(r)    Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. The Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their respective employees are good. No executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 501(f) promulgated under the 1933 Act) or other key employee the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has notified the Company or any such Subsidiary that such officer intends to leave the Company or any such Subsidiary or otherwise terminate such officer's employment with the Company or any such Subsidiary. No executive officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer or other key employee (as the case may be) does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (i) no allegations of sexual harassment have been made against any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct by an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  -14-  

 

(s)    Real Property.

 

(i)                 Schedule 3(s)(i) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all real property owned in fee (or the equivalent interest in the applicable jurisdiction) by the Company and its Subsidiaries (the "Owned Real Property"). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good, valid and marketable title in fee simple to the Owned Real Property and to all personal property owned by it which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except for Permitted Liens.

 

(ii)              Schedule 3(s)(ii) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all leases, subleases, licenses, occupancy and other agreements (including all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof and assignments and subleases thereof) (the "Company Leases"; and each, a "Company Lease") under which the Company or its Subsidiaries leases, subleases, licenses, uses or occupies (in each case whether as landlord, tenant, sublandlord, subtenant or by other occupancy arrangement), or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any real property (the "Leased Real Property", and together with the Owned Real Property, collectively, the "Real Property"). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has a valid and enforceable leasehold estate in all Leased Real Property free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except for Permitted Liens, and (ii) no default or breach by the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor any event with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries that with notice or the passage of time would result in a default or breach, has occurred under any Company Lease, nor does the Company or its Subsidiaries have knowledge of the existence of, any default, event or circumstance that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default by any other contracting parties under any such Leased Real Property.

 

(iii)            None of the Company or its Subsidiaries has granted or entered into any sublease, license, option, right of first refusal or other contractual right or similar agreement to purchase, assign or dispose of the Real Property or to allow or grant to any third party the right to use or occupy the Real Property. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of assessments for public improvements against the Real Property or written notice or law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree by any governmental authority, insurance company or board of fire underwriters or other body exercising similar functions that relates to violations of building, safety or fire ordinances or regulations that would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the value of such Real Property or its use in connection with the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

  -15-  

 

(t)     Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries owns (free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except for Permitted Liens) or possesses a valid license or other lawful right to use all Intellectual Property Rights (as defined below) necessary, used or held for use, to conduct its business as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the registrations or applications for registration of Intellectual Property Rights (including issued patents and applications for patent) owned or licensed to the Company and its Subsidiaries is listed on Schedule 3(t)(i), and each item of such Intellectual Property Rights is valid and enforceable. Each of the licenses (in-bound or out-bound) of Intellectual Property Rights or other contracts (including settlement agreements) with respect to the use, ownership or enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights to which any of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a party is listed on Schedule 3(t)(ii), each such contract is valid and enforceable, and none of the Company or its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, none of the counterparties to any such contract, is in material default or breach thereunder or thereof. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(t)(iii), none of the Company nor its Subsidiaries Intellectual Property Rights has expired or terminated, has been abandoned or canceled, or adjudged invalid or unenforceable or are scheduled or expected to expire or terminate or are scheduled or expected to be abandoned or canceled, or adjudged invalid or unenforceable, within three (3) months from the date of this Agreement. The conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property Rights of others, and in the past six (6) years, no claim, action or proceeding (including in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or any corresponding non-U.S. authority, or before any other governmental authority) has been made or brought alleging the foregoing. There is no claim, action or proceeding that has been made or brought in the past six (6) years by or against, being threatened by or, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, being threatened against, Company and its Subsidiaries regarding Intellectual Property Rights, including any challenging the validity, enforceability, ownership, enforcement, patentability or registrability of such Intellectual Property Rights. To the knowledge of Company and its Subsidiaries, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise conflicting with its Intellectual Property Rights. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries are aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing infringements, misappropriations or other conflicts, or claims, actions or proceedings. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of its Intellectual Property Rights and, to its knowledge, no unauthorized disclosure of any information comprising any Intellectual Property Rights has occurred. All present and former employees, consultants and independent contractors of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have been involved in the development of any material Intellectual Property Rights have entered into written agreements under which such Persons (A) agree to protect the trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and (B) assign to one of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, all right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property Rights created by such Person in the course of his, her or its employment or other engagement by one of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(t)(iv), no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency, university, research institute or other similar organization has sponsored any research by Company and its Subsidiaries or been involved with or otherwise sponsored any development of any Intellectual Property Rights claimed by the Company or its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual Property Rights" means all intellectual property and proprietary rights, including all (i) trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, domain names, and other designation of origin, together with all goodwill associated therewith, (ii) original works of authorship and copyrights, (iii) patents and patent applications, together with all divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues and reexaminations thereof, including all rights to file applications for patent, (iv) trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information and (v) inventions, licenses, approvals and governmental authorizations.

 

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(u)   IT Systems; Data Privacy and Security. The information technology and computer systems, including the software, firmware, hardware, equipment, networks, data communication lines, interfaces, databases, storage media, websites, platforms and related systems owned, licensed or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, "IT Systems") are sufficient for the conduct of each of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in all material respects, and to the knowledge of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, do not contain any "viruses", "worms", "time-bombs", "key-locks", or any other devices intentionally designed to disrupt or interfere with the operation of the IT Systems or equipment upon which the IT Systems operate, or the integrity of the data, information or signals the IT Systems produce; and during the last two (2) years, there have been no material failures, breakdowns, continued substandard performance or other adverse events affecting any of the IT Systems. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has and maintains commercially reasonable business continuity and disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities appropriate for its business and has taken commercially reasonable steps to safeguard the integrity and security of the IT Systems, and to the knowledge of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, there has been no unauthorized access, or any intrusions or breaches, of the IT Systems during the last two (2) years. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and during the last three (3) years has been, in compliance in all material respects with all Data Privacy and Security Laws applicable to it. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has maintained and posted all requisite privacy notices pursuant to Data Privacy and Security Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has commercially reasonable security measures in place designed to protect all Personal Data under its control or in its possession from unauthorized use, access, modification or destruction. During the last three (3) years, none of the Company nor its Subsidiaries has suffered any breach in security or other incident that has permitted any unauthorized access to the Personal Data under its control or possession. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains, and has remained in compliance, in all material respects, with, a comprehensive written information security program that includes commercially reasonable administrative, physical and technical measures intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, availability and security of Personal Data in is possession or under its control and the IT Systems against any unauthorized control, use, access, interruption, modification or corruption and to ensure the continued, uninterrupted and error-free operation of the IT Systems. There are no material claims, actions or proceedings against or affecting any of the Company or its Subsidiaries pending or threatened in writing, relating to or arising under Data Privacy and Security Laws. None of the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received any written notices from the Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Trade Commission, or the Attorney General of any state, or any equivalent foreign governmental authority, relating to possible violations of Data Privacy and Security Laws. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) "Data Privacy and Security Laws" shall mean (a) all applicable laws relating to the Processing of Personal Data or otherwise relating to privacy, data protection, data security, cyber security, breach notification or data localization, and (b) all published policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries relating to the Processing of Personal Data or otherwise relating to privacy, data protection, data security, cyber security, breach notification or data localization; (ii) "Process" or "Processing" shall mean the collection, use, storage, processing, recording, distribution, transfer, import, export, protection, disposal or disclosure or other activity regarding or operations performed on data or information (whether electronically or in any other form or medium); and (iii) "Personal Data" shall mean any information that, alone or in combination with other information held by the Company and its Subsidiaries, allows the identification of an individual, including name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number, driver's license number, passport number, customer or account number, biometrics, IP address, geolocation data or persistent device identifier, or any other information that is otherwise considered personal information, personal data, protected health information and is regulated by applicable Data Privacy and Security Laws.

 

  -17-  

 

(v)   Environmental Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined), (ii) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its respective business and (iii) is in compliance, in all material respects, with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received from any Person or governmental authority any written claim, demand, notice of violation, citation or notice of potential liability under any Environmental Law that remains pending or unresolved and, to the knowledge of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, no such claims, demands, citations or notices have been threatened in writing. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on the operations of the business or result in material liability of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (i) there has been no Release (as hereinafter defined) of Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) that could reasonably be expected to result in a claim or liability under any Environmental Law in, at, on or under or migrating from any real property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries or in, at, on or under any other property to which of the Company or its Subsidiaries sent Hazardous Materials for treatment or disposal; (ii) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or the subject of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree that requires the Company or its Subsidiaries to conduct a remedial action with respect to Hazardous Materials or requires the Company or its Subsidiaries to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any governmental authority or Person from or against any claim or liability under Environmental Laws; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, there are no underground storage tanks at any real property currently owned, leased or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries have made available to Buyers (i) true and correct copies of all permits, licenses and approvals maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries in compliance with Environmental Laws; and (ii) all material environmental reports, audits, site assessments and studies related to the Company and its Subsidiaries, its operations and currently and formerly owned, leased and operated real property. The term "Environmental Laws" means all laws relating to pollution or protection of human health and safety, natural resources or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all laws, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, authorizations, codes, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder. The term "Release" means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, dispersal, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing on or into the indoor or outdoor environment.

 

(w) Subsidiary Rights. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.

 

  -18-  

 

(x)   Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has timely paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(x), there are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company know of no basis for any such claim.

 

(y)   Internal Accounting. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and applicable law, and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(y), during the twelve months prior to the date hereof neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant relating to any material weakness in any part of the system of internal accounting controls of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(z)   Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(aa)         Investment Company Status. The Company is not, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities, will not be, an "investment company," an affiliate of an "investment company," a company controlled by an "investment company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(bb)        Ranking of Notes. No Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is senior to the Notes in right of payment, whether with respect of payment of redemptions, interest, damages or upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.

 

(cc)         Manipulation of Price. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result, or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) other than the Financial Advisor, sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) other than the Financial Advisor, paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

 

  -19-  

 

(dd)           FDA. As to each product subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended, and the regulations thereunder ("FDCA") that is manufactured, packaged, labeled, tested, distributed, sold, and/or marketed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each such product, a "Pharmaceutical Product"), such Pharmaceutical Product is being manufactured, packaged, labeled, tested, distributed, sold and/or marketed by the Company in compliance with all applicable requirements under FDCA and similar laws, rules and regulations relating to registration, investigational use, premarket clearance, licensure, or application approval, good manufacturing practices, good laboratory practices, good clinical practices, product listing, quotas, labeling, advertising, record keeping and filing of reports, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending, completed or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened, action (including any lawsuit, arbitration, or legal or administrative or regulatory proceeding, charge, complaint, or investigation) against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice, warning letter or other communication from the FDA or any other governmental entity, which (i) contests the premarket clearance, licensure, registration, or approval of, the uses of, the distribution of, the manufacturing or packaging of, the testing of, the sale of, or the labeling and promotion of any Pharmaceutical Product, (ii) withdraws its approval of, requests the recall, suspension, or seizure of, or withdraws or orders the withdrawal of advertising or sales promotional materials relating to, any Pharmaceutical Product, (iii) imposes a clinical hold on any clinical investigation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) enjoins production at any facility of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (v) enters or proposes to enter into a consent decree of permanent injunction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (vi) otherwise alleges any violation of any laws, rules or regulations by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect. The properties, business and operations of the Company have been and are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the FDA.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3(dd) or as disclosed in the SEC Documents (as defined below), the Company has not been informed by the FDA that the FDA will prohibit the marketing, sale, license or use in the United States of any product proposed to be developed, produced or marketed by the Company nor has the FDA expressed any concern as to approving or clearing for marketing any product being developed or proposed to be developed by the Company.

 

(ee)         U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not, and has never been, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code, and the Company shall so certify upon any Buyer's request.

 

(ff)  Transfer Taxes. On the applicable Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the issuance, sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.

 

  -20-  

 

(gg)        Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA") and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

 

(hh)           Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their affiliates are and has been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable U.S. and non-U.S. Laws, rules and regulations relating to terrorism or money laundering, including, without limitation, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the U. S. Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (18 U.S.C. §§1956 and 1957), as amended, and any applicable law prohibiting or directed against the financing or support of terrorist activities (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 2339A and 2339B), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency or self-regulatory body (collectively, the "Anti-Money Laundering Laws"), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, threatened.

 

(ii)  No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any owner or shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates is, or is directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, owned or controlled by any Person that is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ("OFAC") or the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce and including, without limitation, the designation as a "Specially Designated National" or on the "Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List" (collectively, "Blocked Persons"), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom or any other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, "Sanctions Laws"), or any Person with whom or with which a U.S. Person is prohibited from dealing under any of the Sanctions Laws; Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates, is located, organized, resident or doing business in a country or territory that is the subject or target of a comprehensive embargo or Sanctions Laws prohibiting dealings with the country or territory, which as of the date hereof, include, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria (each, a "Sanctioned Country"); the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Sanctions Laws; the Company and its Subsidiaries maintain in effect and enforces policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Company and its Subsidiaries with applicable Sanctions Laws; none of the Company nor its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates, acting in any capacity in connection with the operations of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates, conducts any business with or for the benefit of any Blocked Person or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, or deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to any applicable Sanctions Laws; no action of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates in connection with (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Securities, or (iii) the direct or indirect use of proceeds from the Securities or the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in the proceeds of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents being used, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available, directly or indirectly, to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of (i) unlawfully funding or facilitating any activities of or business with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions Laws, (ii) unlawfully funding or facilitating any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions Laws. For the past five (5) years, each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their affiliates has not knowingly engaged in and is not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions Laws or with any Sanctioned Country.

 

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(jj)  Anti-Bribery. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates nor anyone acting on their behalf have made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates, nor any owner or shareholder, director, officer, agent, employee or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates, has (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, to any employee or agent of a private entity with which any of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates does or seeks to do business or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions or any applicable provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the "FCPA"), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other similar law of any other jurisdiction in which any of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates operates its business, including, in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Anti-Bribery Laws"), (iv) taken, is currently taking or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, gift or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any Person while knowing that all or some portion of the money or value will be offered, given or promised to anyone to improperly influence official action, to obtain or retain business or otherwise to secure any improper advantage or (v) otherwise made any offer, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, unlawful kickback or other unlawful payment; Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their affiliates has instituted and has maintained, and will continue to maintain, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with the Anti-Bribery Laws and with this representation and warranty; none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates will directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the convertible securities or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture partner or other Person for the purpose of financing or facilitating any activity that would violate the Anti-Bribery Laws; there are, and have been, no allegations, investigations or inquiries with regard to a potential violation of any Anti-Bribery Laws by the Company, its Subsidiaries or their affiliates, or any of their respective current or former directors, officers, employees, owners, shareholders, stockholders, representatives, agents or other Persons acting or purporting to act on their behalf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  -22-  

 

(kk)        No Additional Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any agreement or understanding with any Buyer with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.

 

(ll)  Disclosure. All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, their business and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the disclosure schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of the Company is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. All of the written information furnished after the date hereof by or on behalf of the Company to Buyers pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, taken as a whole, will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date on which such information is so provided and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Each press release issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement did not, at the time of release, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or conditions (financial or otherwise), which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure at or before the date hereof which has not been so publicly disclosed. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 2.

 

(mm)   Stock Option Plans. Each stock option, if any, granted by the Company was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the applicable stock option plan of the Company and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company's stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

  -23-  

 

(nn)        No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no material disagreements of any kind presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by the Company to arise, between the Company and the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by the Company and the Company is current with respect to any fees owed to its accountants and lawyers which could affect the Company's ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents.

 

(oo)        No Disqualification Events. With respect to Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506(b) under the 1933 Act ("Regulation D Securities"), none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company's outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an "Issuer Covered Person" and, together, "Issuer Covered Persons") is subject to any of the "Bad Actor" disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the 1933 Act (a "Disqualification Event"), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Buyers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.

 

(pp)        Other Covered Persons. The Company is not aware of any Person (other than the Financial Advisor) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of Buyers or potential purchasers in connection with the sale of any Regulation D Securities.

 

(qq)        Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Buyers and the Financial Advisor in writing, prior to each Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person.

 

(rr)  Merger Agreement. The Company has delivered to such Buyer a duly executed copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Seneca Biopharma, Inc., Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Seneca, and the Company, dated as of December 16, 2020 (the "Merger Agreement"). The representations and warranties of the Company included in the Merger Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date which are true and correct as of such specified date), and the Company has no reason to believe that the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement) will not occur.

 

(ss)          Dilutive Effect. The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Warrants will increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement and with the Warrants are absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other members or stockholders of the Company.

 

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(tt)           Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested shareholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company's issuance of the Securities and any Buyer's ownership of the Securities. The Company has not adopted a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(uu)           Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1) of the 1933 Act.

 

4.      COVENANTS.

 

(a)   Best Efforts. Each party shall use its best efforts timely to satisfy each of the covenants and the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement.

 

(b)   Form D and Blue Sky. The Company agrees to file a Form D with respect to the Notes and Warrants as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, on or before each Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at the applicable Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on or prior to the applicable Closing Date. The Company shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United States following each Closing Date.

 

(c)   Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities solely as set forth in Schedule 4(c).

 

(d)   Fees. The Company shall pay an expense allowance to the Lead Investor (a Buyer) or its designee(s) for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents through each Closing Date (including all legal fees and disbursements in connection therewith, documentation and implementation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and due diligence in connection therewith) not reimbursed by the Company on or prior to the First Closing, which amount, at the option of the Lead Investor, may be withheld by such Buyer from its applicable Purchase Price at the applicable Closing; provided, however, in no event will the amount of costs, fees and expenses of the Lead Investor to be reimbursed by the Company in connection with this Agreement exceed $100,000 (including any amounts paid to the Lead Investor or its counsel prior to the First Closing in connection with this Agreement). The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent's fees, financial advisory fees, or broker's commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, any fees or commissions payable to the Financial Advisor. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorney's fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents, each party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Buyers.

 

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(e)   Pledge of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Securities may be pledged by a Buyer in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, Section 2(f) hereof; provided that a Buyer and its pledgee shall be required to comply with the provisions of Section 2(f) hereof in order to effect a sale, transfer or assignment of Securities to such pledgee. The Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by a Buyer.

 

(f)    Additional Notes or Warrants. So long as any Buyer beneficially owns any Notes or Warrants, the Company will not issue any Notes or Warrants other than to the Buyers as contemplated hereby and the Company shall not issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes of Warrants.

 

(g)   Corporate Existence. So long as any Buyer beneficially owns any Securities, the Company shall (i) maintain its corporate existence and (ii) not be party to any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Notes and Warrants) while any Notes are outstanding and thereafter only if the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Warrants.

 

(h)              Reservation of Shares. While any Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall take all action necessary to have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no less than the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount. If at any time the number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance is not sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in this Section 4(h), the Company will promptly take all corporate action necessary to authorize and reserve a sufficient number of shares, including, without limitation, calling a special meeting of stockholders to authorize additional shares to meet the Company's obligations under this Section 4(h), in the case of an insufficient number of authorized shares, obtain stockholder approval of an increase in such authorized number of shares, and voting the management shares of the Company in favor of an increase in the authorized shares of Common Stock to ensure that the number of authorized shares is sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in this Section 4(h).

 

(i)     Conduct of Business. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, including, without limitation, FCPA and other applicable Anti-Bribery Laws, OFAC regulations and other applicable Sanctions Laws, and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

(i)                 None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents shall:

 

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(a)       conduct any business or engage in any transaction or dealing with or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Blocked Person;

 

(b)       deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to the applicable Sanctions Laws;

 

(c)       use any of the proceeds of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to finance, promote or otherwise support in any manner any illegal activity, including, without limitation, any Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or Anti-Bribery Laws; or

 

(d)       violate, attempt to violate, or engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, any of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or Anti-Bribery Laws, or that would cause Buyers to be in violation of the Anti-Bribery Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Sanctions Laws.

 

(ii)              The Company shall maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by it and its Subsidiaries and their directors, officers, employees, agents representatives and affiliates with the Sanctions Laws and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(iii)            The Company will promptly notify the Buyers in writing if any of it, or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents, shall become a Blocked Person, or become directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a Blocked Person.

 

(iv)             The Company shall provide such information and documentation as the Buyers or any of their affiliates may require to satisfy compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(v)               The Company shall promptly notify the Buyers in writing should it become aware (a) of any changes to these covenants, or (b) if it cannot comply with the covenants set forth herein. The Company shall also promptly notify the Buyers in writing should they become aware of an investigation, litigation or regulatory action relating to an alleged or potential violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(vi)             The Company shall not transfer to any Subsidiary of the Company any assets, rights, liabilities, obligations or commitments of any type whatsoever, nor shall the Company permit any Subsidiary of the Company to acquire any assets or rights, or to incur any liabilities, obligations or commitments, of any kind.

 

  -27-  

 

(j)     Collateral Agent.

 

(i)                 Each Buyer hereby (a) appoints the Lead Investor as the collateral agent hereunder and under the Security Documents (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent"), and (b) authorizes the Collateral Agent (and its officers, directors, employees and agents) to take such action on such Buyer's behalf in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The Collateral Agent shall not have, by reason hereof or pursuant to any Security Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Buyer. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees and agents shall have any liability to any Buyer for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection hereof or the Security Documents except to the extent caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, and each Buyer agrees to defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Collateral Agent and all of its officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the "Collateral Agent Indemnitees") from and against any losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expenses) incurred by such Collateral Agent Indemnitee, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising from or in connection with the performance by such Collateral Agent Indemnitee of the duties and obligations of Collateral Agent pursuant hereto or any of the Security Documents.

 

(ii)              The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any written notices, statements, certificates, orders or other documents or any telephone message believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents and its duties hereunder or thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by it.

 

(iii)            The Collateral Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and duties hereunder and under the Notes and the Security Documents at any time by giving at least ten (10) Business Days prior written notice to the Company and each holder of the Notes. Such resignation shall take effect upon the acceptance by a successor Collateral Agent of appointment as provided below. Upon any such notice of resignation, the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Notes shall appoint a successor Collateral Agent. Upon the acceptance of the appointment as Collateral Agent, such successor Collateral Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Notes and the Security Agreement. After any Collateral Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 4(i) shall inure to its benefit. If a successor Collateral Agent shall not have been so appointed within said ten (10) Business Day period, the retiring Collateral Agent shall then appoint a successor Collateral Agent who shall serve until such time, if any, as the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Notes appoints a successor Collateral Agent as provided above. As used herein, "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to "stay at home", "shelter-in-place", "non-essential employee" or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York, New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

  -28-  

 

(iv)             The Company hereby covenants and agrees to take all actions as promptly as practicable reasonably requested by either the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Notes or the Collateral Agent (or its successor), from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Section 4(i), to secure a successor Collateral Agent satisfactory to such requesting part(y)(ies), in their sole discretion, including, without limitation, by paying all fees of such successor Collateral Agent, by having the Company agree to indemnify any successor Collateral Agent and by each of the Company executing a collateral agency agreement or similar agreement and/or any amendment to the Security Documents reasonably requested or required by the successor Collateral Agent.

 

(k)   Additional Issuances of Securities.

 

(i)                 For purposes of this Section 4(j), the following definitions shall apply.

 

(1)   "Convertible Securities" means any stock or securities (other than Options (as defined below)) convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.

 

(2)   "Options" means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(3)   "Common Stock Equivalents" means, collectively, Options and Convertible Securities.

 

(4)   "Subsequent Placement" means any direct or indirect, offer, sale, grant any option to purchase, or other disposition of any of the Company's or its Subsidiaries' equity or equity equivalent securities, including without limitation any debt, preferred stock or other instrument or security whether or not such security is, at any time during its life and under any circumstances, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents.

 

(ii)              The Company shall not enter into any Subsequent Placement other than as contemplated by the Primary Financing SPA, unless the Company has prepaid the Notes in full pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) of the Notes or it has complied with this Section 4(j)(ii).

 

(1)   The Company shall deliver to each Buyer an irrevocable written notice (the "Offer Notice") of any proposed or intended issuance or sale or exchange (the "Offer") of the securities being offered (the "Offered Securities") in a Subsequent Placement, which Offer Notice shall (w) identify and describe the Offered Securities, (x) describe the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (y) identify the persons or entities (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (z) offer to issue and sell to or exchange with such Buyers an amount of the Offered Securities for a purchase price equal to all Outstanding Amounts of the Notes assuming all Notes were issued pursuant to Section 1(a) including all accrued Interest thereon, allocated among such Buyers (a) based on such Buyer's pro rata portion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased hereunder (the "Basic Amount"), and (b) with respect to each Buyer that elects to purchase its Basic Amount, any additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts of other Buyers as such Buyer shall indicate it will purchase or acquire should the other Buyers subscribe for less than their Basic Amounts (the "Undersubscription Amount"), which process shall be repeated until the Buyers shall have an opportunity to subscribe for any remaining Undersubscription Amount.

 

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(2)   To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, such Buyer must deliver a written notice to the Company prior to the end of the tenth (10th) Business Day after such Buyer's receipt of the Offer Notice (the "Offer Period"), setting forth the portion of such Buyer's Basic Amount that such Buyer elects to purchase and, if such Buyer shall elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount, if any, that such Buyer elects to purchase (in either case, the "Notice of Acceptance"). If the Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Buyers are less than the total of all of the Basic Amounts, then each Buyer who has set forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, that if the Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total of all the Basic Amounts and the Basic Amounts subscribed for (the "Available Undersubscription Amount"), each Buyer who has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the Basic Amount of such Buyer bears to the total Basic Amounts of all Buyers that have subscribed for Undersubscription Amounts, subject to rounding by the Company to the extent its deems reasonably necessary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company desires to modify or amend the terms and conditions of the Offer prior to the expiration of the Offer Period, the Company may deliver to the Buyers a new Offer Notice and the Offer Period shall expire on the tenth (10th) Business Day after such Buyer's receipt of such new Offer Notice.

 

(3)   The Company shall have ten (10) Business Days from the expiration of the Offer Period above to offer, issue, sell or exchange all or any part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been given by the Buyers (the "Refused Securities") pursuant to a definitive agreement (the "Subsequent Placement Agreement") but only to the offerees described in the Offer Notice (if so described therein) and only upon terms and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates) that are not more favorable to the acquiring Person or Persons or less favorable to the Company than those set forth in the Offer Notice.

 

(4)   In the event the Company shall propose to sell less than all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms specified in Section 4(j)(ii)(3) above), then each Buyer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, reduce the number or amount of the Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that such Buyer elected to purchase pursuant to Section 4(j)(ii)(2) above multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities the Company actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered Securities to be issued or sold to Buyers pursuant to Section 4(j)(ii)(3) above prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that any Buyer so elects to reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, the Company may not issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have again been offered to the Buyers in accordance with Section 4(j)(ii)(1) above.

 

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(5)   Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, the Buyers shall acquire from the Company, and the Company shall issue to the Buyers, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in the Notices of Acceptance, as reduced pursuant to Section 4(j)(ii)(3) above if the Buyers have so elected, upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer. The purchase by the Buyers of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and delivery by the Company and the Buyers of a purchase agreement relating to such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Buyers and their respective counsel.

 

(6)   Any Offered Securities not acquired by the Buyers or other Persons in accordance with Section 4(j)(ii)(3) above may not be issued, sold or exchanged until they are again offered to the Buyers under the procedures specified in this Agreement.

 

(7)   The Company and the Buyers agree that if any Buyer elects to participate in the Offer, neither the Subsequent Placement Agreement with respect to such Offer nor any other transaction documents related thereto shall include any term or provisions whereby any Buyer shall be required to agree to any restrictions in trading as to any securities of the Company owned by such Buyer prior to such Subsequent Placement.

 

(8)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(j) and unless otherwise agreed to by the Buyers, the Company shall either confirm in writing to the Buyers that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Placement has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the Offered Securities, in either case in such a manner such that the Buyers will not be in possession of material non-public information, by the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following delivery of the Offer Notice. If by the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following delivery of the Offer Notice no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Offered Securities has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by the Buyers, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and the Buyers shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company. Should the Company decide to pursue such transaction with respect to the Offered Securities, the Company shall provide each Buyer with another Offer Notice and each Buyer will again have the right of participation set forth in this Section 4(j)(ii). The Company shall not be permitted to deliver more than one such Offer Notice to the Buyers in any 60 day period.

 

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(l)     Within thirty (30) calendar days after the Closing (or such later date as determined by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion), (i) the Collateral Agent shall have received an account control agreement with respect to each account referred to in Schedule IV of the Security Agreement as in effect on the date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, duly executed by the Company and such bank or financial institution, or (ii) the Company shall enter into such other arrangements as are satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, as required under Section 5(i) of the Security Agreement and subject to the terms thereof.

 

(m) Closing Documents. On or prior to fourteen (14) calendar days after the applicable Closing Date, the Company agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Buyer and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP a complete closing set of the executed Transaction Documents, Notes and any other documents required to be delivered to any party pursuant to Section 7 hereof or otherwise.

 

5.      REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.

 

(a)   Register. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Notes and Warrants in which the Company shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Notes and Warrants have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee), the principal amount of Notes held by such Person and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by such Person. The Company shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.

 

(b)   Transfer Agent Instructions. If and when the Common Stock is registered under the 1934 Act, the Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to its transfer agent, and any subsequent transfer agent, in the form attached as Exhibit F to the Primary Financing SPA, to issue certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC, registered in the name of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s), upon exercise of the Warrant in such amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (as defined in the Primary Financing SPA) referred to therein, and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(f) hereof, will be given by the Company to its Transfer Agent, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2(f), the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves the Warrant Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144, the transfer agent shall issue such Securities to the Buyer, assignee or transferee, as the case may be, without any restrictive legend. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to a Buyer. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 5(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 5(b), that a Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

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6.      CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL.

 

The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the applicable Notes and the related Warrants to each Buyer at the applicable Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company's sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:

 

(i)                 Such Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.

 

(ii)              Such Buyer shall have delivered the applicable Purchase Price (less, in the case of the Lead Investor, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(d)) for the Notes and related Warrants being purchased by such Buyer at the applicable Closing pursuant to Section 1(d) hereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.

 

(iii)            The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct as of the date when made and as of the applicable Closing 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 as of such specified date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the applicable Closing Date.

 

(iv)             The Merger Agreement shall not have been terminated as of the applicable Closing Date.

 

7.      CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.

 

The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the applicable Notes and the related Warrants at the applicable Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer's sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

 

(i)                 The Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party (with the Notes and Warrants allocated in such principal amounts as such Buyer shall request), being purchased by such Buyer at the applicable Closing pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(ii)              Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of Cooley LLP, the Company's outside counsel, dated as of the applicable Closing Date, in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto.

 

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(iii)            The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the good standing of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in each such entity's jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction, as of a date within ten (10) days prior to the applicable Closing Date.

 

(iv)             The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the Company's and each of its Subsidiaries' qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of each jurisdiction in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, as of a date within ten (10) days prior to the applicable Closing Date.

 

(v)               The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and the organizational documents of each of its Subsidiaries as certified by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of the jurisdiction of formation of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries within ten (10) days prior to the applicable Closing Date.

 

(vi)             The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, executed by the Secretary of the Company and dated as of the applicable Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and each of its Subsidiaries' applicable governing body in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer and (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the organizational documents of each of its Subsidiaries, each as in effect at the applicable Closing, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

(vii)          The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in (i) Section 3 shall be true and correct as of the date when made and as of the applicable Closing 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 as of such specified date) and (ii) the Merger Agreement are true and correct as of the applicable Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date which shall be true and correct as of such specified date), and the Company shall have no reason to believe that the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement) will not occur, and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all 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 applicable Closing Date. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the applicable Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G.

 

(viii)        The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a duly executed Merger Agreement by all parties thereto, which shall not have been terminated as of the applicable Closing Date, and of which no provision shall have been amended or waived as of the applicable Closing Date without the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in Section 9(e)).

 

  -34-  

 

(ix)             The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities.

 

(x)               If the applicable Closing Date is (i) the Second Closing Date, the First Closing Date shall have been completed and (ii) the Third Closing, the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date shall have been completed.

 

(xi)             Such Buyer shall have received the Company's wire instructions on Company letterhead duly executed by an authorized executive officer of the Company.

 

(xii)          Each of the Company's Subsidiaries shall have executed and delivered to such Buyer the Guarantee Agreement.

 

(xiii)        The Collateral Agent shall have received all documents, instruments, filings and recordations and searches reasonably necessary in connection with the perfection of a valid security interest in the Collateral of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, and, in the case of UCC filings, such filings shall be in proper form for filing.

 

(xiv)         The Collateral Agent shall have received the results of searches (including comparable searches in any jurisdiction outside the United States) for any effective UCC financing statements, tax liens or judgment liens filed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of any of the foregoing, which results shall not show any such liens (other than Permitted Liens acceptable to the Collateral Agent).

 

(xv)           The Collateral Agent shall have received the Security Agreement, duly executed by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, together with the original stock certificates representing all of the equity interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, accompanied by undated stock powers and allonges executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer.

 

(xvi)         The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.

 

8.      TERMINATION. In the event that the First Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer on or before five (5) Business Days from the date hereof due to the Company's or such Buyer's failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above (and the nonbreaching party's failure to waive such unsatisfied condition(s)), the nonbreaching party shall have the option to terminate this Agreement with respect to such breaching party at the close of business on such date by delivering a written notice to that effect to each other party to this Agreement and without liability of any party to any other party; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 8, the Company shall remain obligated to reimburse the Lead Investor or its designee(s), as applicable, for the expenses described in Section 4(d) above.

 

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9.      MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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. 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 WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. In addition to, but not in limitation of, any other rights of a Buyer hereunder, if (a) this Agreement is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection of any indemnification or other obligation hereunder then outstanding or enforcement or any such obligation is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or a Buyer otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Agreement or to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors' rights and involving a claim under this Agreement, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by such Buyer for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and disbursements.  The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Agreement shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the Purchase Price paid for the Notes was less than the original principal amount thereof.

 

(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 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 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.

 

  -36-  

 

(d)   Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

(e)            Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, 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 and therein 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 any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. 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 with the written consent of the Company and the holders of at least a majority of the applicable Securities and shall include the Required Holders.; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 4(j) cannot be amended without the additional prior written approval of the Collateral Agent or its successor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9(e) shall be binding upon each Buyer and holders of the applicable Securities and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the Buyers or holders of the applicable Securities then outstanding. 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 the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents, holders of Notes or holders of the Warrants, as the case may be. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company confirms that, except as set forth in this Agreement, no Buyer has made any commitment or promise or has any other obligation to provide any financing to the Company or otherwise. As used herein, "Required Holders" means the Lead Investor; provided, however, that, at any time after the First Closing when neither the Lead Investor nor any of its affiliates holds any Securities, Required Holders shall mean holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of Notes then outstanding.

 

(f)    Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon delivery, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party) or by electronic mail; (iii) upon delivery, when sent by electronic mail (provided that the sending party does not receive an automated rejection notice); or (iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

 

  -37-  

 

If to the Company:

 

Leading BioSciences, Inc.

5800 Armada Drive, Suite 210

Carlsbad, CA 92008

Attention: JD Finley

Email: jd.finley@leadingbiosciences.com

 

With a copy to:

 

Cooley LLP

4401 Eastgate Mall

San Diego, CA 92121

Attention: Karen Elizabeth Deschaine, Esq.

E-mail: kdeschaine@cooley.com

 

If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number and e-mail address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers,

 

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

 

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 756-2000
Facsimile: (212) 593-5955
Attention: Eleazer N. Klein, Esq.
E-mail: eleazer.klein@srz.com

 

or to such other address, facsimile number and/or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) calendar 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 or e-mail containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

  -38-  

 

(g)   Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any purchasers of the Notes or the Warrants. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, including by way of a Fundamental Transaction (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes and Warrants). A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights. For the avoidance of doubt, each Buyer may, without the consent of the Company, assign some or all of its right of participation set forth in Section 4(k)(ii) to any other Person approved by the Required Holders, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights, and which assignment may occur (x) prior to receiving an Offer Notice or (y) after receiving an Offer Notice up to the date of execution and delivery by the Company and the Buyers of a purchase agreement relating to the Offered Securities.

 

(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, except that each Indemnitee (as defined below) shall have the right to enforce the obligations of the Company with respect to Section 9(k).

 

(i)     Survival. Unless this Agreement is terminated under Section 8, the representations and warranties of the Buyers and the Company contained in Sections 2 and 3, and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 4, 5 and 9 shall survive the Closing. Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.

 

(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 any 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)   Indemnification.

 

(i) In consideration of each Buyer's execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Company's other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each other holder of the Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons' 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 by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company) and arising out of or resulting from any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities. 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 that is permissible under applicable law.

 

  -39-  

 

(ii)       Promptly after receipt by an Indemnitee under this Section 9(k) of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving an Indemnified Liability, such Indemnitee shall, if a claim for indemnification in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 9(k), 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 Indemnitee; provided, however, that an Indemnitee shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such Indemnitee to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of the Indemnitee, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnitee and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnitee and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. Legal counsel referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be selected by the Buyers holding at least a majority of the Securities issued and issuable hereunder. The Indemnitee shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Indemnified Liabilities by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnitee that relates to such action or Indemnified Liabilities. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnitee 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 Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld conditioned or delayed, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which (i) does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnitee of a release from all liability in respect to such Indemnified Liabilities or litigation, (ii) requires any admission of wrongdoing by such Indemnitee, or (iii) obligates or requires an Indemnitee to take, or refrain from taking, any action. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnitee 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 Indemnitee under this Section 9(k), except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  -40-  

 

(iii)       The indemnification required by this Section 9(k) 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 Liabilities are incurred.

 

(iv)       The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (x) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnitee against the indemnifying party or others, and (y) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.

 

(l)     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.

 

(m)        Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of the Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which such holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, the Company recognizes that in the event that it fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Buyers. The Company therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to seek temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security.

 

(n)   Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.

 

(o)   Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to the Buyers hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

  -41-  

 

(p)   Independent Nature of Buyers' Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Buyer under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as, and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers are not acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges and each Buyer confirms that it has independently participated in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Buyer shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  -42-  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

      COMPANY:
       
      LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.
         
         
      By:

/s/ Thomas M. Hallam

        Name: Thomas M. Hallam, PhD,
        Title: Chief Executive Officer
         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

BUYERS:

 

ALTIUM GROWTH FUND, LP

By: Altium Capital management, LP

 

 

 

By: /s/ Mark Gottlieb                                    

Name: Mark Gottlieb

Title: Signatory

 

 

Maximum Percentage to be included in the Warrants:

 

ý 4.99%

¨ 9.99%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

 

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)

Buyer

Address and
Facsimile Number

Aggregate
Principal
Amount of Notes at First Closing

Number of Warrant Shares at First Closing

Aggregate
Principal
Amount of Notes at Second Closing

Number of Warrant Shares at Second Closing

Aggregate
Principal
Amount of Notes at Third Closing

Number of Warrant Shares at Third Closing

First Purchase Price

Second Purchase Price

Third Purchase Price

Legal Representative's Address and Facsimile Number

Altium Growth Fund, LP

c/o Altium Capital Management, LP

551 5th Avenue, 19th Floor (Suite 1920)

New York, NY 10176

Attention: Joshua Thomas

Telephone: 212-259-8404

E-mail: jthomas@altiumcap.com

$1,666,666.67

 

3,460,687

 

$1,666,666.67

 

3,460,687

 

$1,666,666.67

 

3,460,687

 

$1,250,000

 

$1,250,000

 

$1,250,000

 

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Eleazer Klein, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 593-5955
Telephone: (212) 756-2376
E-mail: eleazer.klein@srz.com

 

TOTAL   $1,666,666.67 3,460,687 $1,666,666.67 3,460,687 $1,666,666.67 3,460,687 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 $1,250,000  

Exhibit 10.6

 

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December 16, 2020, by and among Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 5800 Armada Drive, Suite 210, Carlsbad, CA 92008 ("Leading BioSciences"), Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with headquarters located at 20271 Goldenrod Lane, 2nd Floor, Germantown, Maryland 20876 ("Seneca"), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (each, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.    Leading BioSciences, Seneca and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D ("Regulation D") as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the 1933 Act.

 

B.     Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and Leading BioSciences wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate number of shares of Leading BioSciences' Series 1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock"), with the rights, preferences and privileges as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Leading BioSciences filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on or before the date hereof and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Leading BioSciences' Certificate of Incorporation"), set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (which aggregate amount of Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock for all Buyers together (the "Buyers' Allocation Number") shall equal the aggregate Purchase Price (set forth in Column 5 of the Schedule of Buyers) divided by $0.4816, which is the per share Purchase Price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof and including any securities, cash, rights or other property distributed with respect to the Leading BioSciences Common Stock or Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock), and shall collectively be referred to herein as the "Initial Preferred Shares"), a portion of which, as required by Section 1(a)(i) below, may be issued in escrow to The Bank of New York Mellon acting as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent") in accordance with those certain escrow agreements by and among each Buyer, on the one hand, and Leading BioSciences, Seneca and the Escrow Agent on the other hand, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (collectively, the "Securities Escrow Agreement") and which shall be delivered from time to time to the Buyers pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Securities Escrow Agreement, and (ii) up to that aggregate number of shares of Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (4) of the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (which aggregate amount for all Buyers shall equal 300% of the Buyers' Allocation Number) (the "Additional Preferred Shares" and together with the Initial Preferred Shares, the "Preferred Shares"), which shall be issued, in addition with certain Initial Preferred Shares, in escrow to the Escrow Agent in accordance with the Securities Escrow Agreement and which shall be delivered from time to time to the Buyers pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Securities Escrow Agreement.

 

 

 

C.     In addition, Seneca hereby agrees to issue to each Buyer, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, warrants, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Warrants"), representing the right to acquire an initial amount of shares of Seneca's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Seneca Common Stock") equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the quotient determined by dividing the Purchase Price (as defined below) paid by such Buyer on the Closing Date, by the lower of the Closing Per Share Price and the Initial Per Share Price (each as defined below) (such shares of Seneca Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, collectively, the "Warrant Shares").

 

D.                Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Buyers and Seneca are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which Seneca has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

 

E.                 The Preferred Shares (and, as applicable, the Exchange Shares issued in exchange therefor), the Warrants and the Warrant Shares collectively are referred to herein as the "Securities."

 

NOW, THEREFORE, Leading BioSciences, Seneca and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:

 

1.      PURCHASE AND SALE OF PREFERRED SHARES AND WARRANTS.

 

(a)   Preferred Shares.

 

(i)                 Issuance and Delivery of Initial Preferred Shares. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 7 and 8 below, Leading BioSciences shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from Leading BioSciences on the Closing Date, the number of Initial Preferred Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (the "Initial Closing"); provided, however, if Section 1(c)(v) prevents the delivery on the Initial Closing Date (as defined below) of all or any portion of the Initial Preferred Shares to a Buyer, Leading BioSciences shall issue in escrow in the name of the Escrow Agent a number of shares of Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock equal to the number of Initial Preferred Shares in excess of the Maximum Percentage (as defined below), and on the second (2nd) Trading Day immediately after the delivery to the Escrow Agent (with a copy to Seneca) of a capacity notice by such Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E setting forth such Buyer's election to receive all or any portion of the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of the Initial Preferred Shares such Buyer is entitled to pursuant to this Section 1(a)(i) and the delivery of which is no longer prevented by Section 1(c)(v) (an "Initial Preferred Shares Capacity Notice") (each second (2nd) Trading Day immediately following the delivery to the Escrow Agent of an Initial Preferred Shares Capacity Notice, an "Initial Exchange Shares Delivery Date"), subject to Section 1(c)(v), Seneca acknowledges that, in each case, without any additional consideration, the Escrow Agent shall transfer from the escrow account governed by the Securities Escrow Agreement and deliver via The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") free delivery / free receive system, the Initial Preferred Shares (once exchanged for the Exchange Shares as set forth herein) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof and including any securities, cash, rights or other property distributed with respect to such Initial Preferred Shares or in exchange for such Initial Preferred Shares). Seneca shall notify the Escrow Agent in writing of the occurrence of an Initial Exchange Shares Delivery Date applicable to each Buyer and shall deliver a copy of such notice to such Buyer. Upon request of an Investor Representative (as defined in the applicable Securities Escrow Agreement), upon delivery of any Initial Preferred Shares Capacity Notice to the Escrow Agent, Seneca hereby agrees to give instructions and to take any additional actions reasonably requested by such Investor Representative, to cause the Escrow Agent to promptly deliver (but in no event later than two (2) Trading Days after such request) the Exchange Shares issued in exchange for Initial Preferred Shares to which the applicable Buyer(s) are entitled pursuant to such Initial Preferred Shares Capacity Notice.

 

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(ii)              Issuance of Additional Shares. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 7 and 8 below, on the Closing Date, Leading BioSciences shall issue in escrow in the name of the Escrow Agent a number of shares of Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock equal to 300% of the number of Initial Preferred Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers, in accordance with the terms hereof and the Securities Escrow Agreement (the "Additional Closing" and together with the Initial Closing, the "Closing").

 

(b)   Closing. The date and time of the Closing (the "Closing Date") shall be 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on a date mutually agreed to by Leading BioSciences, Seneca and each Buyer after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 7 and 8 below, at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. The Closing may also be undertaken remotely by electronic transfer of Closing documentation.

 

(c)   Issuance of Warrants and Delivery of Additional Preferred Shares.

 

(i)                 Obligation to Issue Warrants. On the Warrant Closing Date (as defined below), and for no additional consideration, Seneca shall issue to each Buyer Warrants to acquire an initial amount of shares of Seneca Common Stock equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the quotient determined by dividing the Purchase Price paid by such Buyer on the Closing Date, by the lower of the Closing Per Share Price and the Initial Per Share Price (the "Warrant Closing").

 

(ii)              Obligation to Deliver Additional Preferred Shares. Promptly, but in any event by no later than:

 

(a) the earlier to occur of (x) each Reset Date (as defined below) and (y) with respect to any Buyer, the first (1st) Trading Day following the delivery, if any, to Seneca of a written notice by such Buyer (an "Early Delivery Notice") at any time from the fifth (5th) Trading Day (as defined in the Warrants) immediately preceding each Reset Date indicating that such Buyer elects to determine the Per Share Price (as defined below) of such Reset Date using, (x) with respect to the Initial Reset Date (as defined below), eighty-five (85%) of the sum of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices (as defined in the Warrants) of the Seneca Common Stock during the period beginning on the tenth (10th) Trading Day immediately preceding such Reset Date and ending on the date such Buyer delivers such Early Delivery Notice to Seneca, inclusive (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events during such period), divided by five (5) and (y) with respect to each other Reset Date, the sum of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices (as defined in the Warrants) of the Seneca Common Stock during the period beginning on the tenth (10th) Trading Day immediately preceding such Reset Date and ending on the date such Buyer delivers such Early Delivery Notice to Seneca, inclusive (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events during such period), divided by five (5) (each such earlier date, a "First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date"); and/or

 

  3  

 

(b) if Section 1(c)(v) prevents the delivery on the applicable First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date of all or any portion of the Exchange Shares (as defined in Section 5(d)) issued in exchange of Additional Preferred Shares to a Buyer, the second (2nd) Trading Day immediately after the delivery to the Escrow Agent (with a copy to Seneca) of a notice by such Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E setting forth such Buyer's election to receive all or any portion of the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of the Additional Preferred Shares such Buyer is entitled to pursuant to this Section 1(c)(ii) and the delivery of which is no longer prevented by Section 1(c)(v) (an "Additional Preferred Shares Capacity Notice" and together with the Initial Preferred Shares Capacity Notice, a "Capacity Notice") (each First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date and each second (2nd) Trading Day immediately following the delivery to the Escrow Agent of an Additional Preferred Shares Capacity Notice, an "Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date" and together with the Initial Exchange Share Delivery Date, the "Exchange Shares Delivery Date"),

 

subject to Section 1(c)(v), Seneca acknowledges that, in each case, without any additional consideration, the Escrow Agent shall transfer from the escrow account governed by the Securities Escrow Agreement and deliver via DTC free delivery / free receive system, the Additional Preferred Shares (once exchanged for the Exchange Shares as set forth herein) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof and including any securities, cash, rights or other property distributed with respect to such Additional Preferred Shares or in exchange for such Additional Preferred Shares), which such Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Additional Preferred Shares shall be equal to the lesser of:

 

  4  

 

(A) the number of Exchange Shares issued in exchange for the Additional Preferred Shares deposited in such Buyer's escrow account and remaining in such Buyer's escrow account, if any, as of the applicable date of determination (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof); and

 

(B) the number of Exchange Shares issued in exchange for the number of Additional Preferred Shares (if positive) obtained by subtracting (I) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the aggregate Purchase Price paid by such Buyer on the Closing Date, by (y) with respect to each applicable Buyer, the lower of (1) the Closing Per Share Price and (2) the lowest Per Share Price related to all the Reset Date(s) preceding the applicable Reset Date, if any (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events related to the Common Stock occurring after the Closing Date or the applicable Reset Date, as applicable), from (II) the quotient determined by dividing (x) the aggregate Purchase Price paid by such Buyer on the Closing Date, by (y) with respect to such Buyer, the Per Share Price applicable to such Reset Date.

 

(iii)            Seneca shall notify the Escrow Agent in writing of the occurrence of a First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date applicable to each Buyer and shall deliver a copy of such notice to such Buyer. On the First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date relating to the Final Reset Date applicable to each Buyer, the Investor Representative related to such Buyer and Seneca shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release to Seneca from the applicable escrow account governed by the Securities Escrow Agreement any Exchange Shares issued in exchange for Additional Preferred Shares to the extent that the Buyer(s) affiliated with such Investor Representative is not entitled to receive such Exchange Shares pursuant to this Section 1(c)(iii) without giving effect to the limitations under Section 1(c)(v). Upon request of an Investor Representative, upon delivery of any Additional Preferred Shares Capacity Notice to the Escrow Agent, Seneca hereby agrees to give instructions and to take any additional actions reasonably requested by such Investor Representative, to cause the Escrow Agent to promptly deliver (but in no event later than two (2) Trading Days after such request) the Exchange Shares issued in exchange for Additional Preferred Shares to which the applicable Buyer(s) are entitled pursuant to such Additional Preferred Shares Capacity Notice.

 

As used in this Agreement:

 

"Closing Per Share Price" means the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Purchase Price paid by such Buyer on the Closing Date, by (y) the amount of Initial Preferred Shares purchased by such Buyer on the Closing Date (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events related to the Common Stock occurring after the Closing Date).

 

"Initial Per Share Price" means the Per Share Price calculated with respect to the first Reset Date occurring hereunder (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events related to the Common Stock occurring after such Reset Date).

 

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"Per Share Price" means (i) with respect to the Initial Reset Date, 85% multiplied by the arithmetic average of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the tenth (10th) Trading Day immediately preceding the Initial Reset Date and ending, with respect to each applicable Buyer, on the First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date related to such Initial Reset Date, inclusive (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events related to the Common Stock occurring after the applicable Reset Date), and (ii) with respect to all other Reset Dates, the arithmetic average of the five (5) lowest Weighted Average Prices of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the tenth (10th) Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Reset Date and ending, with respect to each applicable Buyer, on the First Additional Exchange Shares Delivery Date related to such Reset Date, inclusive (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events related to the Common Stock occurring after the applicable Reset Date).

 

"Reset Date" means each of the following dates: (i) the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day immediately following the Closing Date (such date, the "Initial Reset Date"); (ii) the forty-fifth (45th) calendar day from the Closing Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday (as defined in the Warrants), the next day that is not a Holiday; (iii) the ninetieth (90th) calendar day immediately following the Closing Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday; and (iv) the one-hundred thirty-fifth (135th) calendar day immediately following the Closing Date or, if such date falls on a Holiday, the next day that is not a Holiday (such date, the "Final Reset Date").

 

(iv)    Mechanics of Delivery of Exchange Shares.

 

(1)   General. Seneca shall be responsible for all fees and expenses of its transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent") and all fees and expenses with respect to the delivery of Exchange Warrants issued in exchange of Bridge Warrants and Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares and transfer of such shares to each Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC, if any, including, without limitation, for same day processing. Seneca's obligations to cause the Transfer Agent to deliver and transfer Exchange Warrants issued in exchange of Bridge Warrants and Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares to the Buyers in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and the Securities Escrow Agreement are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by such Buyer to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person (as defined below) or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event will any (i) Exchange Warrants issued in exchange of Bridge Warrants, (ii) shares of Seneca Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Exchange Warrants (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if the holder thereof exercises the Exchange Warrants by paying the applicable Exercise Price (as defined in the Exchange Warrants) in cash) or (iii) Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares be delivered with any restrictive legends or any restrictions or limitations on resale by the Buyers. If Seneca and/or the Transfer Agent requires any legal opinions with respect to the delivery of any Exchange Warrants issued in Exchange of Bridge Warrants, shares of Seneca Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Exchange Warrants or Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares, in each case, without restrictive legends or the removal of any such restrictive legends, Seneca agrees to cause at its expense its legal counsel to issue any such legal opinions. Seneca hereby acknowledges and agrees that the holding period of any Exchange Warrants issued in exchange of Bridge Warrants and Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares delivered hereunder for purposes of Rule 144 (as defined below) shall be deemed to have commenced on the Closing Date. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) "Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof and (ii) "Bridge Warrants" means the Warrants as defined in the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

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(2)   Seneca's Failure to Timely Deliver Exchange Shares. If Seneca shall fail for any reason or for no reason to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC on the applicable Exchange Shares Delivery Date for such number of Exchange Shares issued in exchange of shares of Seneca Common Stock to which such Buyer is entitled under Section 1 (a "Delivery Failure"), then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, Seneca shall pay in cash to such Buyer on each day after such Exchange Shares Delivery Date that Seneca shall fail to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock to which such Buyer is entitled pursuant to Seneca's obligation pursuant to clause (ii) below, an amount equal to 1.5 % of the product of (A) the number of Exchange Shares not issued to such Buyer on or prior to the applicable Exchange Shares Delivery Date and to which the Buyer is entitled, and (B) any trading price of the Seneca Common Stock selected by the Buyer in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable Exchange Shares Delivery Date and ending on the date Seneca makes the applicable cash payment, and if on or after such Trading Day such Buyer (or any Person in respect of, or on behalf, of such Buyer) purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Seneca Common Stock related to the applicable Delivery Failure, then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, Seneca shall, within two (2) Trading Days after such Buyer's request and in such Buyer's discretion, either (i) pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to such Buyer's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Seneca Common Stock so purchased (the "Buy-In Price"), at which point Seneca's obligation to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC for such shares of Seneca Common Stock shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC and pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Seneca Common Stock, multiplied by (B) any trading price of the Seneca Common Stock selected by such Buyer in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable Exchange Shares Delivery Date and ending on the date of such delivery and payment under this Section 1(c)(iv)(2). Nothing shall limit any Buyer's right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to Seneca's failure to timely electronically deliver shares of Seneca Common Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(3)   Charges, Taxes and Expenses.  Issuance of the Preferred Shares to the Escrow Agent and subsequent delivery of the Exchange Shares issued in exchange thereof to the Buyers shall be made without charge to the Buyers for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of such issuance and transfer, all of which taxes (other than the Buyers' income taxes) and expenses shall be paid by Seneca, and the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of such Preferred Shares shall be delivered in the name of the respective Buyer or in such name or names as may be directed by the respective Buyer.

 

(4)   Closing of Books.  Neither Leading BioSciences nor Seneca will close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of such Buyer's rights with respect to the Exchange Warrants issued in exchange of Bridge Warrants or Exchange Shares issued in exchange of the Preferred Shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(v)               Blocker. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Seneca shall not deliver Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares, and no Buyer shall have the right to receive Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares, and any such delivery shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such delivery, such Buyer together with its other Attribution Parties (as defined in the Warrants) would beneficially own in excess of such percentage corresponding to the checked box on such Buyer's signature page attached hereto (the "Maximum Percentage") of the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such delivery. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Seneca Common Stock beneficially owned by such Buyer and the other Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock held by such Buyer and all other Attribution Parties plus the number of Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares delivered to such Buyer pursuant to Section 1hereof with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrants beneficially owned by such Buyer or any of the other Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of Seneca beneficially owned by such Buyer or any of the other Attribution Parties (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. For purposes of this Section 1(c)(v), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). For purposes of determining the number of outstanding shares of Seneca Common Stock that the Buyers may receive without exceeding the Maximum Percentage, the Buyers may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Seneca Common Stock as reflected in (1) Seneca's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the SEC, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by Seneca or (3) any other written notice by Seneca or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock outstanding (the "Reported Outstanding Share Number"). If Seneca receives a Capacity Notice from such Buyer at a time when the actual number of outstanding shares of Seneca Common Stock is less than the Reported Outstanding Share Number, Seneca shall promptly notify the Buyers in writing of the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock then outstanding and, to the extent that such Capacity Notice would otherwise cause a Buyer's beneficial ownership, as determined pursuant to this Section 1(c)(v), to exceed the Maximum Percentage, such Buyer must notify Seneca of a reduced number of Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares to be delivered pursuant to such Capacity Notice. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of a Buyer, Seneca shall within one (1) Business Day (as defined below) confirm in writing or by electronic mail to such Buyer the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Seneca Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of Seneca, including the Warrants held by each Buyer and the other Attribution Parties since the date as of which the Reported Outstanding Share Number was reported. In the event that the delivery of Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares to such Buyer results in such Buyer and the other Attribution Parties being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Seneca Common Stock (as determined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act), the number of shares so delivered by which such Buyer's and the other Attribution Parties' aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the "Excess Shares") shall be deemed null and void and shall be cancelled ab initio, and such Buyer shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares. If a Buyer's right to receive Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares is limited, in whole or in part, by this Section 1(c)(v), all such Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares that are so limited shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of such Buyer by the Escrow Agent until the earlier to occur of the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date and such time as such Buyer notifies Seneca that its right thereto would not result in such Buyer exceeding the Maximum Percentage and Seneca shall promptly but in any event within two (2) Trading Days after the delivery of such Capacity Notice deliver to such Buyer the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of such Preferred Shares. Upon delivery of a written notice to Seneca, each Buyer may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to Seneca and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to such Buyer and the other Attribution Parties and not to any of the other Buyers that is not an Attribution Party of such Buyer. For purposes of clarity, the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of the Preferred Shares deliverable pursuant to the terms hereof in excess of the Maximum Percentage shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by such Buyer for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the 1934 Act. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 1(c)(v) to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph or any portion of this paragraph which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 1(c)(v) or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this paragraph may not be waived and shall apply to a successor of such Buyer. As used herein, "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to "stay at home", "shelter-in-place", "non-essential employee" or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York, New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

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(d)   Warrant Closing. The time of the Warrant Closing shall be 10:00 a.m., New York City time on the seventeenth (17th) Trading Day immediately following the Closing Date (the "Warrant Closing Date"), at the offices of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. The Warrant Closing may also be undertaken remotely by electronic transfer of Warrant Closing documentation.

 

(e)   Purchase Price. The purchase price for the Preferred Shares and the related Warrants to be purchased by each Buyer pursuant to this Agreement shall be the amount set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (5) of the Schedule of Buyers (the "Purchase Price"). If a Buyer, or an affiliate of such Buyer, is also party to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 16. 2020 by and between Leading BioSciences and the buyers thereto (the "Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement"), at such Buyer's election and upon surrender of such Buyer's, or such Buyer's affiliate's, Note (as defined below), the Purchase Price may be offset by an amount equal to the Outstanding Amount (as defined in the Note) due and payable by Leading BioSciences to such Buyer, or such Buyer's affiliate, on the date immediately prior to the Closing Date under those senior secured notes (the "Notes") issued by Leading BioSciences pursuant to the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement. Leading BioSciences and each Buyer that is, or has an affiliate that is, a party to the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement, acknowledges and agrees that, effective immediately upon the Closing and the issuance of Initial Preferred Shares hereunder, and immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, pursuant to Section 1 of the Notes, the Note, if any, issued to such Buyer or such Buyer's affiliates shall be deemed to have been repaid concurrently with the Closing, shall have no further force and effect and shall be deemed to be cancelled.

 

(f)    Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its respective Purchase Price (less, in the case of Altium Growth Fund, LP (the "Lead Investor"), any amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5(h) and less, in the case of any electing Buyer as described in Section 1(e), any Outstanding Amount pursuant to such Buyer's, or such Buyer's affiliate's, Note surrendered to Leading BioSciences pursuant to Section 1(e)) to Leading BioSciences for the Preferred Shares and the Warrants to be issued and sold to such Buyer pursuant to this Agreement by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with Leading BioSciences' written wire instructions and (ii) Leading BioSciences shall deliver to each Buyer the number of Initial Preferred Shares such Buyer is purchasing as is set forth opposite such Buyer's name in column (3) of the Schedule of Buyers, subject to Section 1(a)(i). On the Warrant Closing Date, Seneca shall deliver to each Buyer a Warrant pursuant to which such Buyer shall have the right to acquire an initial amount of shares of Seneca Common Stock equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the quotient determined by dividing the Purchase Price paid by such Buyer on the Closing Date, by the lower of the Closing Per Share Price and the Initial Per Share Price, duly executed on behalf of Seneca and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.

 

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2.      BUYER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants with respect to only itself to each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)   No Public Sale or Distribution. Such Buyer is (i) acquiring the Preferred Shares and the Warrants and (ii) upon exercise of the Warrants (other than pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in the Warrants)) will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities.

 

(b)   Accredited Investor Status; No Disqualification Events. Such Buyer is an "accredited investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D. To the extent such Buyer is a beneficial owner of 10% or more of Seneca Common Stock as of the date hereof or as of the Closing Date, none of (i) such Buyer, (ii) any of such Buyer's directors, executive officers, other officers that may serve as a director or officer of any company in which it invests, general partners or managing members, or (iii) any beneficial owner of Leading BioSciences' or Seneca's voting equity securities (in accordance with Rule 506(d) of the 1933 Act) held by such Buyer is subject to any Disqualification Event (as defined below), except for Disqualification Events covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the 1933 Act and disclosed reasonably in advance of the Closing in writing in reasonable detail to Leading BioSciences and Seneca.

 

(c)   Reliance on Exemptions. Such 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 Leading BioSciences and Seneca are relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.

 

(d)   Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of Leading BioSciences and Seneca and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities that have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of Leading BioSciences and Seneca. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer's right to rely on Leading BioSciences' and Seneca's representations and warranties contained herein. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such 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. Such Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Evolution Venture Partners, LLC (the "Financial Advisor") nor any Affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Financial Advisor has provided such Buyer with any information or advice with respect to the Securities nor is such information or advice necessary or desired.  Neither the Financial Advisor nor any Affiliate has made or makes any representation as to Leading BioSciences and Seneca or the quality of the Securities and the Financial Advisor and any Affiliate may have acquired non-public information with respect to Leading BioSciences and Seneca which such Buyer agrees need not be provided to it.  In connection with the issuance of the Securities to such Buyer, neither the Financial Advisor nor any of its Affiliates has acted as a financial advisor or fiduciary to such Buyer.

 

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(e)   No Governmental Review. Such 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 Resale. Such Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement: (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, (B) subject to Section 1(c)(iv)(1), such Buyer shall have delivered to Seneca an opinion of counsel, in a form reasonably acceptable to Seneca, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer provides Seneca with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act, as amended, (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, "Rule 144") or to an accredited investor in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act; (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 Seneca 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; provided, however, that on the Closing Date, (x) the Preferred Shares will be exchanged, or pursuant to Section 5(d) will be exchangeable, for shares of Seneca Common Stock and (y) the Bridge Warrants will be exchanged for Exchanged Warrants, which will be exercisable to purchase Seneca Common Stock, in each case, registered under the 1933 Act pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by Seneca in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) (as amended from time to time, the "Form S-4"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account or other loan or financing arrangement secured by the Securities and such pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide Seneca with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to Seneca pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in Section 4(b)), including, without limitation, this Section 2(f).

 

(g)   Legends. Such Buyer understands that the certificates or other instruments representing the Preferred Shares and the Warrants and, until such time as the resale or exchange of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares have been registered under the 1933 Act as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement or the Form S-4, as applicable, the stock certificates representing the Securities, except as set forth below, shall bear a restrictive legend in the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates):

 

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[NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN][THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF 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 MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD (x) PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT OR (Y) TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A PRIVATE TRANSACTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

 

The legend set forth above shall be removed and Seneca shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Securities upon which it is stamped or issue to such holder by electronic delivery at the applicable balance account at DTC, if (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the 1933 Act or exchanged for other securities in a transaction registered under the 1933 Act, (ii) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer, except as provided in Section 1(c)(iv)(1), such holder provides Seneca with an opinion of counsel, in a form reasonably acceptable to Seneca, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, or (iii) the Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144. Seneca shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent and all DTC fees associated with such issuance. If Seneca shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to the holder of the Securities within two (2) Trading Days after the occurrence of any of (i) through (iii) above (the initial date of such occurrence, the "Legend Removal Date" and such failure, a "Legend Removal Failure"), a certificate without such legend to such holder or to issue such Securities to such holder by electronic delivery at the applicable balance account at DTC, then, in addition to all other remedies available to such holder, Seneca shall pay in cash to such holder on each day after the second (2nd) Trading Day after the Legend Removal Date and during such Legend Removal Failure an amount equal to 2.0% of the product of (i) the number of shares represented by such certificate, and (ii) any trading price of the Seneca Common Stock selected by the holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable Legend Removal Date and ending on the date Seneca makes the applicable cash payment, and if on or after such Trading Day the holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Seneca Common Stock relating to the applicable Legend Removal Failure, then Seneca shall, within two (2) Trading Days after the holder's request and in the holder's discretion, either (i) pay cash to the holder in an amount equal to the holder's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the Seneca Common Stock so purchased (the "Legend Buy-In Price"), at which point the obligation of Seneca to deliver such unlegended Securities shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the holder such unlegended Securities as provided above and pay cash to the holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Legend Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Seneca Common Stock, times (B) any trading price of the Seneca Common Stock selected by the holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable Legend Removal Date and ending on the date Seneca makes the applicable cash payment. Seneca shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent and all DTC fees associated with such issuance.

 

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(h)   Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which such Buyer is a party have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors' rights and remedies.

 

(i)     No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which such Buyer is a party and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

3.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LEADING BIOSCIENCES.

 

Leading BioSciences represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)   Organization and Qualification. Each of Leading BioSciences and its "Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries" (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which Leading BioSciences, directly or indirectly, owns any of the capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest) are entities duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of Leading BioSciences and each of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity 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 would not reasonably be expected to have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, "Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, individually or taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby or on the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents (as defined below) or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith, or on the authority or ability of Leading BioSciences to perform any of its obligations under any of the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents. Leading BioSciences has no Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries except as set forth in Schedule 3(a). The outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by Leading BioSciences or another Leading BioSciences Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries are outstanding.

 

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(b)   Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. As of (i) the date hereof, subject to the approval of the Leading BioSciences stockholders of the transactions contemplated by the Draft Merger Agreement (collectively, the "Leading Required Stockholder Approvals") and (ii) the Closing Date, Leading BioSciences has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Securities Escrow Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements (as defined in Section 8(xi)), the Leak-Out Agreements (as defined in Section 8(xx)) and each of the other agreements entered into by Leading BioSciences in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the "Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents") and to issue the Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents by Leading BioSciences and the consummation by Leading BioSciences of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Preferred Shares, have been duly authorized by Leading BioSciences' Board of Directors and (other than the filing of a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies), no further filing, consent or authorization is required by Leading BioSciences, its Board of Directors or its stockholders. This Agreement and the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Leading BioSciences, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of Leading BioSciences, enforceable against Leading BioSciences in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors' rights and remedies.

 

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(c)   Issuance of Preferred Shares. As of (i) the date hereof, subject to the Leading Required Stockholder Approvals, and (ii) the Closing Date, the issuance of the Preferred Shares is duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents, the Preferred Shares shall be validly issued and free from all preemptive or similar rights (except for those which have been validly waived prior to the date hereof), taxes, liens and charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof and the Preferred Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock. Assuming the accuracy of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, the offer and issuance by Leading BioSciences of the Preferred Shares is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

 

(d)   No Conflicts. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(d), the execution, delivery and performance of the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents by Leading BioSciences and any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and the consummation by Leading BioSciences of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Preferred Shares) will not (i) as of (x) the date hereof, subject to the Leading Required Stockholder Approvals, and (y) as of the Closing Date, result in a violation of the Leading BioSciences’ Certificate of Incorporation or Leading BioSciences Bylaws (as defined below) or other organizational documents of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, any capital stock of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or the articles of association or bylaws of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) in any respect under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including foreign, federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations) applicable to Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)   Consents. As of (i) the date hereof, subject to the Leading Required Stockholder Approvals, and (ii) the Closing Date and as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), Leading BioSciences is not required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the filing of a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies), any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which Leading BioSciences is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date (or in the case of filings detailed above, will be made timely after the Closing Date).

 

(f)    Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer's Purchase of Securities. Leading BioSciences acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length purchaser with respect to the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that, prior to the purchase of Securities hereunder, no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, (ii) an "affiliate" of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 144) or (iii) to the knowledge of Leading BioSciences, a "beneficial owner" of more than 10% of the Leading BioSciences Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act). Leading BioSciences further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer's purchase of the Securities. Leading BioSciences further represents to each Buyer that Leading BioSciences' decision to enter into the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by Leading BioSciences and its representatives.

 

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(g)   No General Solicitation; Financial Advisor's Fees. Neither Leading BioSciences, nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. Leading BioSciences shall be responsible for the payment of any Financial Advisor's fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers' commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, Financial Advisor fees payable to the Financial Advisor in connection with the sale of the Securities. Leading BioSciences shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorney's fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such claim. Leading BioSciences acknowledges that it has engaged the Financial Advisor in connection with the sale of the Securities. Other than the Financial Advisor, neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has not engaged any Financial Advisor or other agent in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

(h)   No Integrated Offering. None of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of the stockholders of Leading BioSciences for purposes of the 1933 Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of Seneca are listed or designated for quotation. None of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings for purposes of any such applicable stockholder approval provisions.

 

(i)     Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. Leading BioSciences and its Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested stockholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Leading BioSciences’ Certificate of Incorporation, Leading BioSciences Bylaws or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, Leading BioSciences' issuance of the Preferred Shares and any Buyer's ownership of the Securities. Leading BioSciences and its Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any member rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or a change in control of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries.

 

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(j)     Financial Statements. As of the date hereof, the sections of the draft Form S-4 provided to Buyers (the “Draft Form S-4”) titled “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Leading BioSciences,” “Leading BioSciences’ Business,” “Leading BioSciences Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Related Party Transactions of Directors and Executive Officers of the Combined Company – Leading BioSciences Transactions” and “Principal Stockholders of Leading BioSciences,” and at the time the Final Form S-4 or such amendment thereto is filed with the SEC, do not, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date hereof, the Draft Form S-4, and as of each filing date of the Final Form S-4 or any amendment thereto, the financial statements of Leading BioSciences included in the Draft Form S-4 comply, and in the Final Form S-4 will comply, as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied during the periods involved ("GAAP"). Such financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial position of each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, at the respective dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial statements will be subject to normal adjustments which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate. No other information provided by or on behalf of Leading BioSciences to any of the Buyers which is not included in the Draft Form S-4 (including, without limitation, information referred to in Section 2(d) of this Agreement or in the disclosure schedules to this Agreement) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made, not misleading.

 

(k)   Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(k)(i), since December 31, 2019, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in the business, assets, liabilities, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(k)(ii), since December 31, 2019, neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000 outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) had capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up, nor does Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of its creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing, will not be Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, "Insolvent" means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person's assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person's total Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) such Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.

 

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(l)     Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under the Leading BioSciences’ Certificate of Incorporation, the Leading BioSciences Bylaws, any certificate of designations, preferences or rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, or their organizational charter or memorandum of association or certificate of incorporation or articles of association or bylaws, respectively. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, and neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except in all cases for possible violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate foreign, federal or state regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect, and neither Leading BioSciences nor any such Leading BioSciences Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth in Schedule 3(l), Leading BioSciences has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Seneca Common Stock by the Nasdaq Capital Market (the "Principal Market") in the foreseeable future.

 

(m)          Transactions With Affiliates. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(m), none of the officers, directors or employees of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is presently a party to any transaction with Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director or employee or, to the knowledge of the Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, any corporation, partnership, trust or other Person in which any such officer, director, or employee has a substantial interest or is an employee, officer, director, trustee or partner.

 

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(n)   Equity Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Leading BioSciences consists of (i) 250,000,000 shares of Leading BioSciences Common Stock, of which, as of the date hereof ,102,041,277 are issued and outstanding, 35,000,000 are reserved for issuance pursuant to Leading BioSciences' stock option and purchase plans, of which 30,410,243 are subject to outstanding Leading BioSciences options granted under the Leading BioSciences stock plans and 15,370,906 are reserved for issuance pursuant to securities exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock and (ii) 33,594,625 shares of preferred stock, of which, as of the date hereof, 11,674,131 were issued and outstanding. No Leading BioSciences Common Stock or Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock are held in treasury. All of such outstanding shares are duly authorized and have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. (i) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(i), hereto, none of Leading BioSciences' or any Leading BioSciences Subsidiary's capital equity is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by Leading BioSciences or any Leading BioSciences Subsidiary's; (ii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(ii), 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, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any capital equity of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which Leading BioSciences is or may become bound to issue additional capital stock of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any capital equity of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries; (iii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(iii), there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or by which Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is or may become bound; (iv) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(o)(iv), there are no financing statements securing obligations in any amounts filed in connection with Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries; (v), except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(v), there are no agreements or arrangements under which Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act; (vi) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(vi), there are no outstanding securities or instruments of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries; (vii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(vii), there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; (viii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(viii), neither Leading BioSciences nor any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has any stock appreciation rights or "phantom stock" plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (ix) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n)(ix), Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of Leading BioSciences' or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiary's respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or could not have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. True, correct and complete copies of Leading BioSciences’ Certificate of Incorporation, and Leading BioSciences' bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the "Leading BioSciences Bylaws"), and the terms of all securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Leading BioSciences Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto shall be provided to the Buyers on the Closing Date.

 

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(o)   Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, (i) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(o)(i), has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(o)(ii), is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument would reasonably be expected to result in a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect, (iii) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(o)(iii), is in violation of any term of, or in default under, any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) except as disclosed in Schedule 3(o)(iv), is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of Leading BioSciences' officers, has or is expected to have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3(o) provides a detailed description of the material terms of such outstanding Indebtedness. Schedule 3(o)(v) provides a list of all material contracts, agreements and instruments of Leading BioSciences that would be required to be filed as exhibits to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 assuming Leading BioSciences were to file such a registration statement on the date hereof or the Closing Date, as applicable. For purposes of this Agreement (other than Section 4(l)): (x) "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, "finance leases" in accordance with GAAP) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with GAAP, is classified as a finance lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, claim, lien, tax, right of first refusal, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations (as defined below) in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; and (y) "Contingent Obligation" means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, finance lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

 

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(p)   Absence of Litigation. 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 Leading BioSciences, threatened against or affecting Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, the Leading BioSciences Common Stock, the Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiary's capital stock or any of Leading BioSciences' or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiary's officers or directors, whether of a civil or criminal nature or otherwise, in their capacities as such, except as set forth in Schedule 3(p). The matters set forth in Schedule 3(p) would not reasonably be expected to have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)   Insurance. Leading BioSciences and each of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of Leading BioSciences believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it 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 have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r)    Employee Benefits. Schedule 3(r) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Leading BioSciences Benefit Plans that is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"), whether or not such plan is subject to ERISA (each, a "Leading BioSciences Pension Plan"). For purposes of this Section 3(s), a "Leading BioSciences Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, practices, or other arrangement providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates or any beneficiary or dependent thereof that is sponsored or maintained by Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates contributes. Each Leading BioSciences Benefit Plan has been administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms all applicable laws and each of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and their affiliates is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the terms of any Leading BioSciences Benefit Plan. No "reportable event" (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any Leading BioSciences Pension Plan; each of the Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and their affiliates has not incurred and does not expect to incur material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any Pension Plan or any other "pension plan" (as defined in ERISA) or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and each Pension Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification. Except for liabilities that arise solely out of, or relate solely to, an Leading BioSciences Benefit Plan, none of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates has any current or contingent liabilities (i) to any "employee benefit plan" (as defined in ERISA); (ii) under Title IV of ERISA, (iii) under Section 302 of ERISA, (iv) under Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code, (v) as a result of a failure to comply with the continuation coverage requirements of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, or (vi) under corresponding or similar provisions of foreign Laws or regulations. Each stock option, if any, granted by Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and their affiliates was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the applicable stock option plan of such entity and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of such capital stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. The amount by which the actuarial present value of all accrued benefits under any Leading BioSciences Benefit Plan (whether or not vested) exceeds the fair market value of the assets of such Leading BioSciences Benefit Plan will be properly accrued and reflected, in all material respects, in the Form S-4.

 

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(s)    Employee Relations. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their respective employees are good. No executive officer (as defined in Rule 501(f) promulgated under the 1933 Act) or other key employee of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has notified Leading BioSciences or any such Leading BioSciences Subsidiary that such officer intends to leave Leading BioSciences or any such Leading BioSciences Subsidiary or otherwise terminate such officer's employment with Leading BioSciences or any such Leading BioSciences Subsidiary. No executive officer or other key employee of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer or other key employee (as the case may be) does not subject Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, (i) no allegations of sexual harassment have been made against any employee of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, and (ii) none of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct by an employee of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries.

 

(t)     Real Property.

 

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(i)                 Schedule 3(t)(i) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all real property owned in fee (or the equivalent interest in the applicable jurisdiction) by Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (the "Leading BioSciences Owned Real Property"). Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has good, valid and marketable title in fee simple to the Leading BioSciences Owned Real Property and to all personal property owned by it which is material to the business of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects.

 

(ii)              Schedule 3(t)(ii) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all leases, subleases, licenses, occupancy and other agreements (including all amendments, modifications and supplements thereof and assignments and subleases thereof) (the "Leading BioSciences Leases"; and each, a "Leading Biosciences Lease") under which Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, subleases, licenses, uses or occupies (in each case whether as landlord, tenant, sublandlord, subtenant or by other occupancy arrangement), or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any real property (the "Leading BioSciences Leased Real Property", and together with the Leading BioSciences Owned Real Property, collectively, the "Leading BioSciences Real Property"). Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has a valid and enforceable leasehold estate in all Leading BioSciences Leased Real Property free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, and (ii) no default or breach by Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, nor any event with respect to Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries that with notice or the passage of time would result in a default or breach, has occurred under any Leading BioSciences Lease, nor does Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have knowledge of the existence of, any default, event or circumstance that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default by any other contracting parties under any such Leading BioSciences Leased Real Property.

 

(iii)            None of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has granted or entered into any sublease, license, option, right of first refusal or other contractual right or similar agreement to purchase, assign or dispose of the Leading BioSciences Real Property or to allow or grant to any third party the right to use or occupy the Leading BioSciences Real Property. None of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has received any written notice of assessments for public improvements against the Leading BioSciences Real Property or written notice or law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree by any governmental authority, insurance company or board of fire underwriters or other body exercising similar functions that relates to violations of building, safety or fire ordinances or regulations that would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect on the value of such Leading BioSciences Real Property or its use in connection with the business of the Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries.

 

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(u)   Intellectual Property Rights. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries owns (free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects) or possesses a valid license or other lawful right to use all Intellectual Property Rights (as defined below) necessary, used or held for use, to conduct its business as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the registrations or applications for registration of Intellectual Property Rights (including issued patents and applications for patent) owned or licensed to Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is listed on Schedule 3(u)(i), and each item of such Intellectual Property Rights is valid and enforceable. Each of the licenses (in-bound or out-bound) of Intellectual Property Rights or other contracts (including settlement agreements) with respect to the use, ownership or enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights to which any of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is a party is listed on Schedule 3(u)(ii), each such contract is valid and enforceable, and none of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, none of the counterparties to any such contract, is in default or breach thereunder or thereof. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(u)(iii), none Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries Intellectual Property Rights has expired or terminated, has been abandoned or canceled, or adjudged invalid or unenforceable or are scheduled or expected to expire or terminate or are scheduled or expected to be abandoned or canceled, or adjudged invalid or unenforceable, within three (3) months from the date of this Agreement. The conduct of the business of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate or conflict with the Intellectual Property Rights of others, and in the past six (6) years, no claim, action or proceeding (including in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or any corresponding non-U.S. authority, or before any other governmental authority) has been made or brought alleging the foregoing. There is no claim, action or proceeding that has been made or brought in the past six (6) years by or against, being threatened by or, to the knowledge of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, being threatened against, Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries regarding Intellectual Property Rights, including any challenging the validity, enforceability, ownership, enforcement, patentability or registrability of such Intellectual Property Rights. To the knowledge of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise conflicting with its Intellectual Property Rights. None of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries are aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing infringements, misappropriations or other conflicts, or claims, actions or proceedings. Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of its Intellectual Property Rights and, to its knowledge, no unauthorized disclosure of any information comprising any Intellectual Property Rights has occurred. All present and former employees, consultants and independent contractors of each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries that have been involved in the development of any material Intellectual Property Rights have entered into written agreements under which such Persons (A) agree to protect the trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, as applicable, and (B) assign to one of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, as applicable, all right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property Rights created by such Person in the course of his, her or its employment or other engagement by one of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 3(u)(iv), no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency, university, research institute or other similar organization has sponsored any research by Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or been involved with or otherwise sponsored any development of any Intellectual Property Rights claimed by Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual Property Rights" means all intellectual property and proprietary rights, including all (i) trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, domain names, and other designation of origin, together with all goodwill associated therewith, (ii) original works of authorship and copyrights, (iii) patents and patent applications, together with all divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues and reexaminations thereof, including all rights to file applications for patent, (iv) trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information and (v) inventions, licenses, approvals and governmental authorizations.

 

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(v)   IT Systems; Data Privacy and Security. The information technology and computer systems, including the software, firmware, hardware, equipment, networks, data communication lines, interfaces, databases, storage media, websites, platforms and related systems owned, licensed or leased by Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (collectively, "Leading BioSciences IT Systems") are sufficient for the conduct of each of the businesses of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, in all material respects, and to the knowledge of each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, do not contain any "viruses", "worms", "time-bombs", "key-locks", or any other devices intentionally designed to disrupt or interfere with the operation of the Leading BioSciences IT Systems or equipment upon which the Leading BioSciences IT Systems operate, or the integrity of the data, information or signals Leading BioSciences IT Systems produce; and during the last two (2) years, there have been no material failures, breakdowns, continued substandard performance or other adverse events affecting any of Leading BioSciences IT Systems. Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has and maintains commercially reasonable business continuity and disaster recovery plans, procedures and facilities appropriate for its business and has taken commercially reasonable steps to safeguard the integrity and security of Leading BioSciences IT Systems, and to the knowledge of each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, there has been no unauthorized access, or any intrusions or breaches, of the Leading BioSciences IT Systems during the last two (2) years. Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is, and during the last three (3) years has been, in compliance in all material respects with all Leading BioSciences Data Privacy and Security Laws applicable to it. Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has maintained and posted all requisite privacy notices pursuant to Leading BioSciences Data Privacy and Security Laws. Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has commercially reasonable security measures in place designed to protect all Personal Data under its control or in its possession from unauthorized use, access, modification or destruction. During the last three (3) years, none of Leading BioSciences nor the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has suffered any breach in security or other incident that has permitted any unauthorized access to the Personal Data under its control or possession. Each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries maintains, and has remained in compliance, in all material respects, with, a comprehensive written information security program that includes commercially reasonable administrative, physical and technical measures intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, availability and security of Personal Data in is possession or under its control and Leading BioSciences IT Systems against any unauthorized control, use, access, interruption, modification or corruption and to ensure the continued, uninterrupted and error-free operation of Leading BioSciences IT Systems. There are no material claims, actions or proceedings against or affecting any of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries pending or threatened in writing, relating to or arising under Leading BioSciences Data Privacy and Security Laws. None of Leading BioSciences nor the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has received any written notices from the Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Trade Commission, or the Attorney General of any state, or any equivalent foreign governmental authority, relating to possible violations of Leading BioSciences Data Privacy and Security Laws. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) "Leading BioSciences Data Privacy and Security Laws" shall mean (a) all applicable laws relating to the Processing of Personal Data or otherwise relating to privacy, data protection, data security, cyber security, breach notification or data localization, and (b) all published policies of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries relating to the Processing of Personal Data or otherwise relating to privacy, data protection, data security, cyber security, breach notification or data localization; (ii) "Process" or "Processing" shall mean the collection, use, storage, processing, recording, distribution, transfer, import, export, protection, disposal or disclosure or other activity regarding or operations performed on data or information (whether electronically or in any other form or medium); and (iii) "Leading BioSciences Personal Data" shall mean any information that, alone or in combination with other information held by Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, allows the identification of an individual, including name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number, driver's license number, passport number, customer or account number, biometrics, IP address, geolocation data or persistent device identifier, or any other information that is otherwise considered personal information, personal data, protected health information and is regulated by applicable Leading BioSciences Data Privacy and Security Laws.

 

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(w)        Environmental Laws. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all Environmental Laws (as defined below), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) is in compliance, in all respects, with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where, in each of the foregoing causes (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. Neither Leading BioSciences nor the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has received from any Person or governmental authority any written claim, demand, notice of violation, citation or notice of potential liability under any Environmental Law that remains pending or unresolved and, to the knowledge of each of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, no such claims, demands, citations or notices have been threatened in writing. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on the operations of the business or result in material liability of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, (i) there has been no Release (as hereinafter defined) of Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) that could reasonably be expected to result in a claim or liability under any Environmental Law in, at, on or under or migrating from any real property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or in, at, on or under any other property to which of Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries sent Hazardous Materials for treatment or disposal; (ii) neither Leading BioSciences nor the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or the subject of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree that requires Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries to conduct a remedial action with respect to Hazardous Materials or requires Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any governmental authority or Person from or against any claim or liability under Environmental Laws; and (iii) to the knowledge of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, there are no underground storage tanks at any real property currently owned, leased or operated by Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries. Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have made available to Buyers (i) true and correct copies of all permits, licenses and approvals maintained by Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries in compliance with Environmental Laws; and (ii) all material environmental reports, audits, site assessments and studies related to Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, its operations and currently and formerly owned, leased and operated real property. The term "Environmental Laws" means all laws relating to pollution or protection of human health and safety, natural resources or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all laws, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, authorizations, codes, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder. The term "Release" means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, dispersal, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing on or into the indoor or outdoor environment.

 

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(x)               Subsidiary Rights. Leading BioSciences or one of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries as owned by Leading BioSciences or such Leading BioSciences Subsidiary.

 

(y)               Tax Status. Leading BioSciences and each of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (i) has timely made or filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has timely paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of Leading BioSciences know of no basis for any such claim.

 

(z)   Internal Accounting. Leading BioSciences and each of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and applicable law, and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(z), during the twelve months prior to the date hereof neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant relating to any material weakness in any part of the system of internal accounting controls of Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries.

 

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(aa)           Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between Leading BioSciences and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that would be reasonably likely to have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect.

 

(bb)           Investment Company Status. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities, and for so long as any Buyer holds any Securities, will not be, an "investment company," an affiliate of an "investment company," a company controlled by an "investment company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(cc)               Acknowledgement Regarding Buyers' Trading Activity. Leading BioSciences acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in the Leak-Out Agreements, (i) none of the Buyers has been asked to agree, nor has any Buyer agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling, long and/or short, securities of Leading BioSciences or Seneca, or "derivative" securities based on securities issued by Leading BioSciences or Seneca or to hold the Securities for any specified term; (ii) any Buyer, and counter-parties in "derivative" transactions to which any such Buyer is a party, directly or indirectly, presently may have a "short" position in the Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock and (iii) each Buyer shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm's length counter-party in any "derivative" transaction. Leading BioSciences further understands and acknowledges that (a) one or more Buyers may engage in hedging and/or trading activities at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, including, without limitation, during the periods that the value of the Warrant Shares are being determined and (b) such hedging and/or trading activities, if any, can reduce the value of the existing stockholders' equity interest in Leading BioSciences and/or Seneca, both at and after the time the hedging and/or trading activities are being conducted. Leading BioSciences acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging and/or trading activities do not constitute a breach of this Agreement, the Warrants or any of the documents executed in connection herewith.

 

(dd)           Manipulation of Price. Leading BioSciences has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result, or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of Leading BioSciences or Seneca to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) other than the Financial Advisor, sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) other than the Financial Advisor, paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of Leading BioSciences or Seneca.

 

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(ee)            FDA. As to each product subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended, and the regulations thereunder ("FDCA") that is manufactured, packaged, labeled, tested, distributed, sold, and/or marketed by Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries (each such product, a "Pharmaceutical Product"), such Pharmaceutical Product is being manufactured, packaged, labeled, tested, distributed, sold and/or marketed by Leading BioSciences in compliance with all applicable requirements under FDCA and similar laws, rules and regulations relating to registration, investigational use, premarket clearance, licensure, or application approval, good manufacturing practices, good laboratory practices, good clinical practices, product listing, quotas, labeling, advertising, record keeping and filing of reports, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending, completed or, to Leading BioSciences' knowledge, threatened, action (including any lawsuit, arbitration, or legal or administrative or regulatory proceeding, charge, complaint, or investigation) against Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, and none of Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries has received any notice, warning letter or other communication from the FDA or any other governmental entity, which (i) contests the premarket clearance, licensure, registration, or approval of, the uses of, the distribution of, the manufacturing or packaging of, the testing of, the sale of, or the labeling and promotion of any Pharmaceutical Product, (ii) withdraws its approval of, requests the recall, suspension, or seizure of, or withdraws or orders the withdrawal of advertising or sales promotional materials relating to, any Pharmaceutical Product, (iii) imposes a clinical hold on any clinical investigation by Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, (iv) enjoins production at any facility of Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, (v) enters or proposes to enter into a consent decree of permanent injunction with Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, or (vi) otherwise alleges any violation of any laws, rules or regulations by Leading BioSciences or any of its Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, and which, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect. The properties, business and operations of Leading BioSciences have been and are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the FDA.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3(ee), Leading BioSciences has not been informed by the FDA that the FDA will prohibit the marketing, sale, license or use in the United States of any product proposed to be developed, produced or marketed by Leading BioSciences nor has the FDA expressed any concern as to approving or clearing for marketing any product being developed or proposed to be developed by Leading BioSciences.

 

(ff)  U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation.  Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, and so long as any of the Securities are held by any of the Buyers, shall become, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of Code, and Leading BioSciences and each Leading BioSciences Subsidiary shall so certify upon any Buyer's request.

 

(gg)           Transfer Taxes.  On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the issuance, sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by Leading BioSciences, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.

 

(hh)           Bank Holding Company Act. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA") and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"). Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

 

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(ii)  Shell Company Status. Leading BioSciences is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i)(1) of the 1933 Act.

 

(jj)  Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and their affiliates are and has been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable U.S. and non-U.S. Laws, rules and regulations relating to terrorism or money laundering, including, without limitation, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the U. S. Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (18 U.S.C. §§1956 and 1957), as amended, and any applicable law prohibiting or directed against the financing or support of terrorist activities (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 2339A and 2339B), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency or self-regulatory body (collectively, the "Anti-Money Laundering Laws"), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, threatened.

 

(kk)           No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, nor any owner or stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates is, or is directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, owned or controlled by any Person that is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ("OFAC") or the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce and including, without limitation, the designation as a "Specially Designated National" or on the "Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List" (collectively, "Blocked Persons"), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom or any other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, "Sanctions Laws"), or any Person with whom or with which a U.S. Person is prohibited from dealing under any of the Sanctions Laws; Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, is located, organized, resident or doing business in a country or territory that is the subject or target of a comprehensive embargo or Sanctions Laws prohibiting dealings with the country or territory, which as of the date hereof, include, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria (each, a "Sanctioned Country"); Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Sanctions Laws; Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries maintain in effect and enforces policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by Leading BioSciences and the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries with applicable Sanctions Laws; none of Leading BioSciences nor the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, acting in any capacity in connection with the operations of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, conducts any business with or for the benefit of any Blocked Person or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, or deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to any applicable Sanctions Laws; no action of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates in connection with (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Securities, or (iii) the direct or indirect use of proceeds from the Securities or the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereby or by the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in the proceeds of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents being used, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available, directly or indirectly, to any Leading BioSciences Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of (i) unlawfully funding or facilitating any activities of or business with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions Laws, (ii) unlawfully funding or facilitating any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions Laws. For the past five (5) years, each of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and their affiliates has not knowingly engaged in and is not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions Laws or with any Sanctioned Country.

 

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(ll)  Anti-Bribery. None of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates nor anyone acting on their behalf have made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law. None of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, nor any owner or stockholder, director, officer, agent, employee or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, has (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, to any employee or agent of a private entity with which any of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates does or seeks to do business or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions or any applicable provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the "FCPA"), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other similar law of any other jurisdiction in which any of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences or their affiliates operates its business, including, in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Anti-Bribery Laws"), (iv) taken, is currently taking or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, gift or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any Person while knowing that all or some portion of the money or value will be offered, given or promised to anyone to improperly influence official action, to obtain or retain business or otherwise to secure any improper advantage or (v) otherwise made any offer, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, unlawful kickback or other unlawful payment; Each of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and their affiliates has instituted and has maintained, and will continue to maintain, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with the Anti-Bribery Laws and with this representation and warranty; none of Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates will directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the convertible securities or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture partner or other Person for the purpose of financing or facilitating any activity that would violate the Anti-Bribery Laws; there are, and have been, no allegations, investigations or inquiries with regard to a potential violation of any Anti-Bribery Laws by Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their affiliates, or any of their respective current or former directors, officers, employees, owners, stockholders, representatives, agents or other Persons acting or purporting to act on their behalf.

 

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(mm)      No Additional Agreements. Neither Leading BioSciences nor any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries have any agreement or understanding with any Buyer with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents.

 

(nn)           Disclosure. Except for discussions specifically regarding the offer and sale of the Securities, Leading BioSciences confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information concerning Leading BioSciences, any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries (as defined below), other than the existence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. Leading BioSciences understands and confirms that each of the Buyers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of Leading BioSciences and Seneca. All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, their business and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of Leading BioSciences is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. All of the written information furnished after the date hereof by or on behalf of Leading BioSciences to you pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement and the other Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents, taken as a whole, will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date on which such information is so provided and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Each press release issued by Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement did not at the time of release contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or conditions (financial or otherwise), which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure at or before the date hereof or announcement by Leading BioSciences but which has not been so publicly disclosed. Leading BioSciences acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 2.

 

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(oo)           Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by Leading BioSciences was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the applicable Leading BioSciences stock plan and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Leading BioSciences Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No option granted under Leading BioSciences' stock option plan has been backdated. Leading BioSciences has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Leading BioSciences policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding Leading BioSciences or the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

(pp)           No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no material disagreements of any kind presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by Leading BioSciences to arise, between Leading BioSciences and the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by Leading BioSciences and Leading BioSciences is current with respect to any fees owed to its accountants and lawyers which could affect Leading BioSciences' ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents.

 

(qq)           No Disqualification Events. With respect to Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506(b) of Regulation D ("Regulation D Securities"), none of Leading BioSciences, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of Leading BioSciences participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of Leading BioSciences' outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with Leading BioSciences in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an "Leading BioSciences Covered Person" and, together, "Leading BioSciences Covered Persons") is subject to any of the "Bad Actor" disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the 1933 Act (a "Disqualification Event"), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). Leading BioSciences has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. Leading BioSciences has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Buyers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.

 

(rr)              Other Covered Persons. Leading BioSciences is not aware of any Person (other than the Financial Advisor) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of Buyers or potential purchasers in connection with the sale of any Regulation D Securities.

 

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(ss)             Notice of Disqualification Events. Leading BioSciences will notify the Buyers and the Financial Advisor in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Leading BioSciences Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Leading BioSciences Covered Person.

 

(tt)           Dilutive Effect. Leading BioSciences understands and acknowledges that the number of Additional Preferred Shares issuable pursuant to Section 1(c)(ii) and the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Warrants will increase in certain circumstances. Leading BioSciences further acknowledges that its obligation to issue Additional Preferred Shares pursuant to this Agreement and the obligation of Seneca to issue Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement and with the Warrants are absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of Leading BioSciences or Seneca.

 

(uu)        Merger Agreement Terms. The Merger Agreement conforms in all material respects to the Draft Merger Agreement, and there are no terms in the Merger Agreement that is, or will be, less favorable to the Buyers than those terms set forth in the Draft Merger Agreement.

 

(vv)        COVID-19. Since December 31, 2019, there has not occurred, directly or indirectly as a result of, with respect to or in connection with SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemic or disease outbreaks, any material disruption in, or material negative impact on, Leading BioSciences or any of the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries' business or business operations, whether in the near, medium or long term or of short, medium or long duration, including as a result of, with respect to or in connection with: (a) any temporary or permanent whole or partial loss of customer(s), supplier(s), service provider(s), systems or technology provider(s), or infrastructure; (b) any temporary or permanent whole or partial loss of access to, or the services of, facilities (including offices or co-location facilities), employees, independent contractors or consultants, technology or networks, utilities, services and repair or other resources; (c) any excessive or unusual costs, expenses, fees, rates, royalties or charges of any nature, including with respect to compensation of employees, independent contractors or consultants or costs of employee benefits or insurance (including health insurance and business interruption or similar insurance); (d) any delay in the payment or performance of obligations by third Persons, regardless of whether caused or allegedly caused by force majeure or a similar concept or otherwise; (e) any cause similar to any of the forgoing; or (f) any combination of the forgoing.

 

4.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SENECA.

 

Seneca represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)   Merger Agreement Representations. Except as set forth on Schedule 4(a), Seneca hereby makes the representations and warranties to the Buyers that are set forth in Section 4 of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Seneca, Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Seneca, and Leading BioSciences, dated as of December 16, 2020 (the "Merger Agreement"), mutatis mutandis.

 

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(b)   Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. Seneca has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities Escrow Agreement, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (as defined in Section 6(b)), the Lock-Up Agreements, the Leak-Out Agreements and each of the other agreements entered into by Seneca in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the "Seneca Transaction Documents" and, together with the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents, the "Transaction Documents") and to issue the Warrants and the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Seneca Transaction Documents by Seneca and the consummation by Seneca of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Warrants and the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized by Seneca's Board of Directors and (other than the filing with the SEC of one or more Registration Statements (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies) no further filing, consent or authorization is required by Seneca, its Board of Directors or its stockholders (other than, as of the date hereof, stockholder consent related to items in the Form S-4). This Agreement and the other Seneca Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Seneca, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of Seneca, enforceable against Seneca in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors' rights and remedies.

 

(c)   Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Warrants are duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Seneca Transaction Documents, the Warrants shall be validly issued and free from all preemptive or similar rights (except for those which have been validly waived prior to the date hereof), taxes, liens and charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof. As of the Closing Date, a number of shares of Seneca Common Stock shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance which equals (i) until the Final Reset Date, the number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Warrants assuming that the Maximum Eligibility Number (as defined in the Warrants) equals 400% of the Exchanged Shares issued in exchange for the Initial Preferred Shares issued to the Buyers on the Closing Date, without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth in the Warrants and (ii) from and after the Final Reset Date, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise in full of all of the Warrants and Exchange Warrants then outstanding without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth therein, (the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), as applicable, the "Required Reserve Amount") (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof). Upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the Warrants, the Warrant Shares when issued will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Seneca Common Stock. Assuming the accuracy of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, the offer and issuance by Seneca of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

 

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(d)   No Conflicts. Except as disclosed in Schedule 4(d), the execution, delivery and performance of the Seneca Transaction Documents by Seneca and the consummation by Seneca of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Warrants and reservation for issuance and issuance of the Warrant Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Seneca certificate of incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the "Seneca Certificate of Incorporation"), and the Seneca bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the "Seneca Bylaws") or other organizational documents of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries, any capital stock of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries or the articles of association or bylaws of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) in any respect under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including foreign, federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Principal Market and including all applicable foreign, federal, state laws, rules and regulations) applicable to Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries is bound or affected; except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Seneca Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, (i) "Seneca Subsidiaries" means any entity in which Seneca, directly or indirectly, owns any of the capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest (the Seneca Subsidiaries, together with the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, the "Subsidiaries"); and (ii)  "Seneca Material Adverse Effect" means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Seneca and the Seneca Subsidiaries, individually or taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby or on the other Seneca Transaction Documents (as defined below) or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith, or on the authority or ability of Seneca to perform any of its obligations under any of the Seneca Transaction Documents (as defined below).

 

(e)   Consents. Other than from Leading BioSciences pursuant to the Merger Agreement and approval of the Principal Market to list additional shares on the Principal Market (in each case, as of the date hereof), Seneca is not required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the filing with the SEC of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies), any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Seneca Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which Seneca is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence will have been obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date (or in the case of filings detailed above, will be made timely after the Closing Date), and Seneca is unaware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent Seneca from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings contemplated by the Seneca Transaction Documents. Except as disclosed in the 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, Seneca is not in violation of the listing requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Seneca Common Stock in the foreseeable future. The issuance by Seneca of the Warrants and Warrant Shares shall not have the effect of delisting or suspending the Seneca Common Stock from the Principal Market.

 

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(f)    Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer's Purchase of Securities. Seneca acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length purchaser with respect to the Seneca Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries, (ii) an "affiliate" of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 144) or (iii) to the knowledge of Seneca, a "beneficial owner" of more than 10% of the Seneca Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act). Seneca further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Seneca Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Seneca Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer's purchase of the Securities. Seneca further represents to each Buyer that Seneca's decision to enter into the Seneca Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by Seneca and its representatives.

 

(g)   No General Solicitation. Neither Seneca, nor any of the Seneca Subsidiaries or their affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

(h)   No Integrated Offering. None of Seneca, the Seneca Subsidiaries their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of Seneca for purposes of the 1933 Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of Seneca are listed or designated for quotation. None of Seneca, the Seneca Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings for purposes of any such applicable stockholder approval provisions.

 

(i)     Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. Seneca and its Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested stockholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Seneca Certificate of Incorporation and the Seneca bylaws, or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, Seneca's issuance of the Securities and any Buyer's ownership of the Securities. Seneca and its Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Seneca Common Stock or a change in control of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries.

 

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(j)     Investment Company Status. Neither Seneca nor any of the Seneca Subsidiaries is, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities, and for so long as any Buyer holds any Securities, will not be, an "investment company," an affiliate of an "investment company," a company controlled by an "investment company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(k)   Registration Rights. Other than each of the Buyers, no Person has any right to cause Seneca or any Seneca Subsidiary to effect the registration under the 1933 Act of any securities of Seneca or any Seneca Subsidiary.

 

(l)     Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of Seneca as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by Leading BioSciences of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder: (i) the fair saleable value of Seneca's assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of Seneca's existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) Seneca's assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by Seneca, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of Seneca, together with the proceeds Seneca would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. Seneca does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). Seneca has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. As of the date hereof, there is no outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of Seneca or any Seneca Subsidiary, or for which Seneca or any Seneca Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Section 4(l), "Indebtedness" means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade account payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in Seneca's consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Neither Seneca nor any Seneca Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

(m) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer's Trading Activity. Seneca acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in the Leak-Out Agreements, (i) none of the Buyers has been asked to agree, nor has any Buyer agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling, long and/or short, securities of Seneca, or "derivative" securities based on securities issued by Seneca or to hold the Securities for any specified term; (ii) any Buyer, and counter-parties in "derivative" transactions to which any such Buyer is a party, directly or indirectly, presently may have a "short" position in the Seneca Common Stock and (iii) each Buyer shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm's length counter-party in any "derivative" transaction. Seneca further understands and acknowledges that (a) one or more Buyers may engage in hedging and/or trading activities at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, including, without limitation, during the periods that the value of the Warrant Shares are being determined and (b) such hedging and/or trading activities, if any, can reduce the value of the existing stockholders' equity interest in Seneca both at and after the time the hedging and/or trading activities are being conducted. Seneca acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging and/or trading activities do not constitute a breach of this Agreement, the Warrants or any of the documents executed in connection herewith.

 

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(n)   Manipulation of Price.  Seneca has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result, or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of Seneca to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) other than the Placement Agent, sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) other than the Placement Agent, paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of Seneca.

 

(o)   U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. Neither Seneca nor any of the Seneca Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, and so long as any of the Securities are held by any of the Buyers, shall become, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code, and Seneca and each Seneca Subsidiary shall so certify upon any Buyer's request.

 

(p)   Eligibility for Registration. Seneca is eligible to register the Warrant Shares for resale by the Buyers using Form S-3 promulgated under the 1933 Act.

 

(q)               Transfer Taxes.  On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the issuance, sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by Seneca, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.

 

(r)    Shell Company Status. Seneca is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in, or subject to, Rule 144(i)(1) of the 1933 Act.

 

(s)    Disclosure. Except for discussions specifically regarding the offer and sale of the Securities, Seneca confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information concerning Leading BioSciences, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries, Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries, other than the existence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Seneca Transaction Documents. Seneca understands and confirms that each of the Buyers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of Seneca. All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding Seneca and the Seneca Subsidiaries, their businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. All of the written information furnished after the date hereof by or on behalf of Seneca or any of the Seneca Subsidiaries to you pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement and the other Seneca Transaction Documents, taken as a whole, will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date on which such information is so provided and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

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(t)     No Disqualification Events.  With respect to Regulation D Securities to be offered and sold hereunder, none of Seneca, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of Seneca participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of Seneca's outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with Seneca in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an "Seneca Covered Person" and, together, "Seneca Covered Persons") is subject to a Disqualification Event, except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). Seneca has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Seneca Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. Seneca has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Buyers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.

 

(u)   Other Covered Persons. Seneca is not aware of any Person (other than the Placement Agent) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of Buyers or potential purchasers in connection with the sale of any Regulation D Securities.

 

(v)   Notice of Disqualification Events. Seneca will notify the Buyers and the Placement Agent in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Seneca Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, reasonably be expected to become a Disqualification Event relating to any Seneca Covered Person.

 

(w) Lock-Up Parties. The Persons identified on Schedule 4(w) set forth all Persons that will be subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act immediately following the consummation of the Merger.

 

(x)   Merger Agreement Terms. The Merger Agreement conforms in all material respects to the Draft Merger Agreement, and there are no terms in the Merger Agreement that is, or will be, less favorable to the Buyers than those terms set forth in the Draft Merger Agreement.

 

5.      COVENANTS.

 

(a)      Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Each party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts timely to satisfy each of the covenants and the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement.

 

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(b)      Form D and Blue Sky. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca agrees to file a Form D with respect to the Preferred Shares and Warrants, respectively, as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall, on or before the Closing Date, take such action as it shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at the Closing and the Warrant Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on or prior to the Closing Date. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date.

 

(c)       Reporting Status. Until the date on which the Investors (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall have sold all of the Warrant Shares and shares issuable upon exercise of the Exchange Warrants and none of the Warrants and Exchange Warrants are outstanding (the "Reporting Period"), Seneca shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and Seneca shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act unless the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would no longer require or otherwise permit such termination, and Seneca shall take all actions reasonably necessary to maintain its eligibility to register the Warrant Shares for resale by the Investors on Form S-3 or, if it is ineligible to use Form S-3, on Form S-1.

 

(d)   Exchange of Shares.

 

(i) Promptly following the issuance of the Preferred Shares on the Closing Date (x) the Preferred Shares shall be exchanged for shares of Seneca Common Stock (the "Exchange Shares") and (y) the Bridge Warrants will be exchanged for identical Seneca warrants to purchase shares of Seneca Common Stock (the "Exchange Warrants"), in each case, at the completion of the Merger on the terms described in the Merger Agreement, the most recent draft thereof as of the date of this Agreement provided to such Buyer for such Buyer’s review (the “Draft Merger Agreement”). Such Exchange Shares shall be delivered to each Buyer by crediting to such Buyer's or its designee's balance account within (i) with respect to the Exchange Shares being issued in exchange of the Initial Preferred Shares not subject to Section 1(c)(v), two (2) Trading Days following the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to the Exchange Shares being issued in exchange of any Preferred Shares (excluding such Initial Preferred Shares set forth in the immediately preceding clause (i)), on the applicable Exchange Shares Delivery Date. Promptly following the Merger (but, in any event, no later than one (1) Trading Day thereafter), the Exchange Warrants will be delivered to the Buyers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event will any Exchange Shares, shares of Seneca Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Exchange Warrants or Exchange Warrants be delivered with any restrictive legends or any restrictions or limitations on resale by the Buyers, except to the extent any Buyer is then an affiliate of Seneca. If Seneca and/or the Transfer Agent requires any legal opinions with respect to the delivery of any Exchange Shares, Exchange Warrants or shares of Seneca Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Exchange Warrants without restrictive legends or the removal of any such restrictive legends, Seneca agrees to cause at its expense its legal counsel to issue any such legal opinions.

 

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(ii) So long as such Buyer has paid its Purchase Price hereunder and has complied with the requirements set forth in Section 2.7 of the Merger Agreement, as applicable, if, following the completion of the Merger, Seneca shall fail for any reason or for no reason to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC within two (2) Trading Days following the Closing Date (the "Merger Delivery Date") the applicable Exchange Shares with respect to the Initial Preferred Shares to which such Buyer is entitled hereunder (a "Merger Delivery Failure"), then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, Seneca shall pay in cash to such Buyer on each day after such Merger Delivery Date that Seneca shall fail to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock to which such Buyer is entitled pursuant to the exchange of the Initial Preferred Shares for Seneca Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, an amount equal to 2.0% of the product of (A) the number of Exchange Shares with respect to the Initial Preferred Shares not delivered to such Buyer on or prior to the Merger Delivery Date and to which the Buyer is entitled, and (B) any trading price of the Seneca Common Stock selected by the Buyer in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the Merger Delivery Date and ending on the date Seneca makes the applicable cash payment, and if on or after such Trading Day such Buyer (or any Person in respect of, or on behalf, of such Buyer) purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Seneca Common Stock related to the applicable Merger Delivery Failure, then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, Seneca shall, within two (2) Trading Days after such Buyer's request and in such Buyer's discretion, either (i) pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to such Buyer's total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Seneca Common Stock so purchased (the "Merger Buy-In Price"), at which point Seneca's obligation to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC for such shares of Seneca Common Stock shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to credit such Buyer's or its designee's balance account with DTC and pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Merger Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Seneca Common Stock, multiplied by (B) any trading price of the Seneca Common Stock selected by such Buyer in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the Merger Delivery Date and ending on the date of such delivery and payment under this Section 5(d)(ii). Nothing shall limit any Buyer's right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to Seneca's failure to timely electronically deliver shares of Seneca Common Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

(e)   Use of Proceeds. Leading BioSciences shall use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for working capital and general corporate purposes, which shall not include the payment of any outstanding Indebtedness, other than the Notes issued pursuant to the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

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(f)    Financial Information. Seneca agrees to send the following to each Investor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) during the Reporting Period (i) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, within one (1) Business Day after the filing thereof with the SEC, a copy of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any Current Reports on Form 8-K (or any analogous reports under the 1934 Act) and any registration statements (other than on Form S-8) or amendments filed pursuant to the 1933 Act, (ii) unless the following have been widely disseminated by wire service or in one or more newspapers of general circulation, on the same day as the release thereof, facsimile or e-mailed copies of all press releases issued by Seneca, and (iii) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, copies of any notices and other information made available or given to the stockholders of Seneca generally, contemporaneously with the making available or giving thereof to the stockholders.

 

(g)   Listing. During the Reporting Period, Seneca shall promptly secure the listing of all of the Exchange Shares and Registrable Securities on the Principal Market and shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain such listing of all Exchange Shares and Registrable Securities from time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents. Seneca shall maintain the authorization for quotation of the Seneca Common Stock on the Principal Market or any other Eligible Market (as defined in the Warrants). During the Reporting Period, neither Seneca nor any of the Seneca Subsidiaries shall take any action which would be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Seneca Common Stock on the Principal Market. Seneca shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 5(g).

 

(h)   Fees. Leading BioSciences shall, upon the request of the Lead Investor (a Buyer) or its designee(s), deposit with counsel for the Lead Investor up to $50,000 (in addition to any other amounts paid to any Buyer or its counsel prior to the date of this Agreement) for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including all legal fees and disbursements in connection therewith, documentation and implementation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and due diligence in connection therewith). At the Closing, Leading BioSciences shall reimburse the Lead Investor (a Buyer) or its designee(s) for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including all legal fees and disbursements in connection therewith, documentation and implementation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and due diligence in connection therewith), which amount may be withheld by such Buyer from its Purchase Price to the extent not previously deposited by Leading BioSciences; provided, however, in no event will the amount of costs, fees and expenses of the Lead Investor to be reimbursed by Leading BioSciences in connection with this Agreement and the Closing exceed $125,000 (including any amounts paid to the Lead Investor or its counsel prior to the Closing in connection with this Agreement) without the prior approval from Leading BioSciences. Leading BioSciences shall be responsible for the payment of any Financial Advisor's fees, financial advisory fees, or broker's commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, any fees or commissions payable to the Financial Advisor and the Escrow Agent. Leading BioSciences shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorney's fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents, each party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Buyers.

 

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(i)                Pledge of Securities. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca acknowledges and agrees that the Securities (excluding Securities held in escrow pursuant to the Securities Escrow Agreement) may be pledged by an Investor, at the Investor's sole cost and expense, in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Investor effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide Seneca with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to Seneca pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, Section 2(f) hereof; provided that an Investor and its pledgee shall be required to comply with the provisions of Section 2(f) hereof in order to effect a sale, transfer or assignment of Securities to such pledgee. Seneca hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by an Investor, at the Investor's sole cost and expense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(j)     Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information. On or before the Disclosure Time (as defined below), Seneca shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K or Form S-4 describing the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement (and all schedules and exhibits to this Agreement), the form of the Warrant, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities Escrow Agreement, the Form of Lock-Up Agreement and the form of Leak-Out Agreement as exhibits to such filing (including all attachments), the "8-K Filing"). From and after the first filing of the Form S-4 (the "Initial Form S-4"), no Buyer shall be in possession of any material, non-public information received from Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents, that is not disclosed in the Initial Form S-4. In addition, from and after the filing of the Initial Form S-4, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates, employees or agents, on the one hand, and any of the Buyers or any of their affiliates, on the other hand, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall not, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries and its and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents, not to, provide any Buyer with any material, non-public information regarding Leading BioSciences, Seneca or any of their respective Subsidiaries from and after the filing of the Initial Form S-4 without the express prior written consent of such Buyer. If, after the filing of the Initial Form S-4, a Buyer has, or reasonably believes it has, received any such material, non-public information regarding Leading BioSciences, Seneca or any of their respective Subsidiaries from Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents, it may provide Seneca with written notice thereof. Following the filing of the Initial Form S-4, Seneca shall, within two (2) Trading Days of receipt of such notice, make public disclosure of such material, non-public information. In the event of a breach of the foregoing covenant by Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents, in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in the Transaction Documents, a Buyer shall have the right to make a public disclosure, in the form of a press release, public advertisement or otherwise, of such material, non-public information without the prior approval by Leading BioSciences, Seneca, their respective Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents. No Buyer shall have any liability to Leading BioSciences, Seneca, their respective Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents for any such disclosure. To the extent that Leading BioSciences or Seneca delivers any material, non-public information to a Buyer without such Buyer's consent, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca hereby covenants and agrees that such Buyer shall not have any duty of confidentiality to Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents with respect to, or a duty to Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents not to trade on the basis of, such material, non-public information. Subject to the foregoing, none of Leading BioSciences, Seneca, their respective Subsidiaries nor any Buyer shall issue any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 8-K Filing and contemporaneously therewith, (ii) in the Form S-4, and (iii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided, that in the case of clause (i) the Lead Investor shall be consulted by Leading BioSciences or Seneca in connection with any such 8-K Filing or other public disclosure prior to its release). Except for the Form S-4 and the Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, without the prior written consent of any applicable Buyer, none of Leading BioSciences, Seneca or any of their respective Subsidiaries or affiliates shall disclose the name of such Buyer in any filing, announcement, release or otherwise. Following the filing of the initial Form S-4, upon receipt or delivery by Seneca of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, unless Seneca has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to Seneca or the Seneca Subsidiaries, Seneca shall contemporaneously with any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, nonpublic information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that Seneca believes that a notice contains material, nonpublic information relating to Seneca or the Seneca Subsidiaries, Seneca so shall indicate to the Buyers contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Buyers shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, nonpublic information relating to Seneca or the Seneca Subsidiaries. As used herein, "Disclosure Time" means, (i) if this Agreement is signed on a day that is not a Trading Day or after 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) and before midnight (New York City time) on any Trading Day, 9:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately following the date hereof, unless otherwise instructed in writing as to an earlier time by the Lead Investor, or (ii) if this Agreement is signed between midnight (New York City time) and 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, no later than 9:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof, unless otherwise instructed in writing as to an earlier time by the Lead Investor.

 

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(k)              Corporate Existence. So long as any Buyer beneficially owns any Securities, Seneca shall maintain its corporate existence and shall not be party to any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Warrants) unless Seneca is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Warrants.

 

(l)                Reservation of Shares. From and after the Closing of the Merger and while any Warrants remain outstanding, Seneca shall take all action necessary to have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no less than the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount. If at any time the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance is not sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in this Section 5(l), Seneca will promptly take all corporate action necessary to authorize and reserve a sufficient number of shares, including, without limitation, calling a special meeting of stockholders to authorize additional shares to meet Seneca's obligations under this Section 5(l), in the case of an insufficient number of authorized shares, obtain stockholder approval of an increase in such authorized number of shares, and voting the management shares of Seneca in favor of an increase in the authorized shares of Seneca Common Stock to ensure that the number of authorized shares is sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in this Section 5(l).

 

(m)        Conduct of Business. The business of Leading BioSciences, Seneca and their respective Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, including, without limitation, FCPA and other applicable Anti-Bribery Laws, OFAC regulations and other applicable Sanctions Laws, and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

(i)                 None of Leading BioSciences, Seneca, nor any of their Subsidiaries or affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents shall:

 

(a)       conduct any business or engage in any transaction or dealing with or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Blocked Person;

 

(b)       deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to the applicable Sanctions Laws;

 

(c)       use any of the proceeds of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to finance, promote or otherwise support in any manner any illegal activity, including, without limitation, any Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or Anti-Bribery Laws; or

 

(d)       violate, attempt to violate, or engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, any of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(ii)              Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by it and its Subsidiaries and their directors, officers, employees, agents representatives and affiliates with the Sanctions Laws and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

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(iii)            During the Reporting Period, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca will promptly notify the Buyers in writing if any of it, or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents, shall become a Blocked Person, or become directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a Blocked Person.

 

(iv)             During the Reporting Period, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall provide such information and documentation as the Buyers or any of their affiliates may require to satisfy compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, or Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(v)               The covenants set forth above shall be ongoing during the Reporting Period. During the Reporting Period, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall promptly notify the Buyers in writing should it become aware (a) of any changes to these covenants, or (b) if it cannot comply with the covenants set forth herein. During the Reporting Period, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall also promptly notify the Buyers in writing should they become aware of an investigation, litigation or regulatory action relating to an alleged or potential violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws, Sanctions Laws, and Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(n)   Additional Issuances of Securities.

 

(i)                 For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply.

 

(1)   "Convertible Securities" means any stock or securities (other than Options) convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock.

 

(2)   "Options" means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock, Seneca Common Stock or Convertible Securities, including without limitation, any Warrants.

 

(3)   "Common Stock Equivalents" means, collectively, Options and Convertible Securities.

 

(ii)              From the date hereof until the date that is one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the earliest of (x) such time as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1), (y) the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date, and (z) the date that the Initial Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, that this clause (z) shall only apply if there are no Cutback Shares (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) arising from the Initial Registration Statement (such earliest date, the "Trigger Date"), Seneca shall not, directly or indirectly, file any registration statement or any amendment or supplement thereto other than (A) the Form S-4 and (B) registration statements after the effective date of the Merger with respect to the issuance or resale of any Excluded Securities (as defined in the Warrants) ((A) and (B), including any amendments or supplements thereto provided that the registration statements referenced in clauses (A) and (B) shall not register pursuant to any amendment or supplement thereto a greater number of shares of Seneca Common Stock as being contemplated on the date hereof (as such number of shares of Seneca Common Stock may be adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof), collectively, "Exempt Registration Statements"), or cause any registration statement other than the Exempt Registration Statements to be declared effective by the SEC, or grant any registration rights to any Person that can be exercised prior to such time as set forth above, other than pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. From the date hereof until the Trigger Date, except for Excluded Securities, neither Leading BioSciences nor Seneca shall, (1) directly or indirectly, offer, sell, grant any option to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition of) any of its or its Subsidiaries' debt, equity or equity equivalent securities, including without limitation any debt, preferred stock or other instrument or security that is, at any time during its life and under any circumstances, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock, Seneca Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, including, without limitation, any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock or directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to any fixed price (any such offer, sale, grant, disposition or announcement being referred to as a "Subsequent Placement"), (2) enter into, or effect a transaction under, any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit or "at-the-market" offering, whereby Leading BioSciences or Seneca may issue securities at a future determined price or (3) be party to any solicitations, negotiations or discussions with regard to the foregoing.

 

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(iii)   From the date hereof until the date that is eighteen (18) months following the Closing Date, Seneca will not, directly or indirectly, effect any Subsequent Placement unless Seneca shall have first complied with this Section 5(n)(iii).

 

(1)   Seneca shall deliver to each Buyer an irrevocable written notice (the "Offer Notice") of any proposed or intended issuance or sale or exchange (the "Offer") of the securities being offered (the "Offered Securities") in a Subsequent Placement, which Offer Notice shall (w) identify and describe the Offered Securities, (x) describe the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (y) identify the Persons (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (z) offer to issue and sell to or exchange with such Buyers at least fifty percent (50%) of the Offered Securities, allocated among such Buyers (a) based on such Buyer's pro rata portion of the number of Initial Preferred Shares purchased hereunder (the "Basic Amount") and (b) with respect to each Buyer that elects to purchase its Basic Amount, any additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts of other Buyers as such Buyer shall indicate it will purchase or acquire should the other Buyers subscribe for less than their Basic Amounts (the "Undersubscription Amount"), which process shall be repeated until the Buyers shall have an opportunity to subscribe for any remaining Undersubscription Amount.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(2)   To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, such Buyer must deliver a written notice to Seneca prior to the end of the tenth (10th) Business Day after such Buyer's receipt of the Offer Notice (the "Offer Period"), setting forth the portion of such Buyer's Basic Amount that such Buyer elects to purchase and, if such Buyer shall elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount, if any, that such Buyer elects to purchase (in either case, the "Notice of Acceptance"). If the Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Buyers are less than the total of all of the Basic Amounts, then each Buyer who has set forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, that if the Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total of all the Basic Amounts and the Basic Amounts subscribed for (the "Available Undersubscription Amount"), each Buyer who has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the Basic Amount of such Buyer bears to the total Basic Amounts of all Buyers that have subscribed for Undersubscription Amounts, subject to rounding by Seneca to the extent it deems reasonably necessary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if Seneca desires to modify or amend the terms and conditions of the Offer prior to the expiration of the Offer Period, Seneca may deliver to the Buyers a new Offer Notice and the Offer Period shall expire on the tenth (10th) Business Day after such Buyer's receipt of such new Offer Notice. If a Buyer does not timely notify Seneca of its willingness to participate in the Subsequent Placement or otherwise fails to respond to the Offer Notice during the Offer Period, Seneca may effect such Subsequent Placement without the participation of such on the terms set forth in the Offer Notice.

 

(3)   Seneca shall have five (5) Business Days from the expiration of the Offer Period above to offer, issue, sell or exchange all or any part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been given by the Buyers (the "Refused Securities") pursuant to a definitive agreement (the "Subsequent Placement Agreement"), but only to the offerees described in the Offer Notice (if so described therein) and only upon terms and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates) that are not more favorable to the acquiring Person or Persons or less favorable to Seneca than those set forth in the Offer Notice and to publicly announce (a) the execution of such Subsequent Placement Agreement and (b) either (x) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Subsequent Placement Agreement or (y) the termination of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, which shall be filed with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K with such Subsequent Placement Agreement and any documents contemplated therein filed as exhibits thereto.

 

(4)   In the event Seneca shall propose to sell less than all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms specified in Section 5(n)(iii)(3) above), then each Buyer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, reduce the number or amount of the Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that such Buyer elected to purchase pursuant to Section 5(n)(iii)(2) above multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities Seneca actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered Securities to be issued or sold to Buyers pursuant to Section 5(n)(iii)(3) above prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that any Buyer so elects to reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, Seneca may not issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have again been offered to the Buyers in accordance with Section 5(n)(iii)(1) above.

 

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(5)   Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, the Buyers shall acquire from Seneca, and Seneca shall issue to the Buyers, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in the Notices of Acceptance, as reduced pursuant to Section 5(n)(iii)(4) above if the Buyers have so elected, upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if Seneca does not consummate the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, within fifteen (15) Business Days of the expiration of the Offer Period, Seneca shall issue to the Buyers, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in the Notice of Acceptance, as reduced pursuant to Section 5(n)(iii)(4) above if the Buyers have so elected, upon the terms and conditions specified in the Offer. The purchase by the Buyers of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and delivery by Seneca and the Buyers of a purchase agreement relating to such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Buyers and their respective counsel.

 

(6)               Any Offered Securities not acquired by the Buyers or other Persons in accordance with Section 5(n)(iii)(3) above may not be issued, sold or exchanged until they are again offered to the Buyers under the procedures specified in this Section 5(n)(iii).

 

(7)   Seneca and the Buyers agree that if any Buyer elects to participate in the Offer, (x) neither the Subsequent Placement Agreement with respect to such Offer nor any other transaction documents related thereto shall include any term or provisions whereby any Buyer shall be required to agree to any restrictions in trading as to any securities of Seneca owned by such Buyer prior to such Subsequent Placement and (y) the Buyers shall be entitled to the same registration rights provided to other investors in the Subsequent Placement.

 

(8)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5(n) and unless otherwise agreed to by the Buyers, Seneca shall either confirm in writing to the Buyers that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Placement has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the Offered Securities, in either case in such a manner such that the Buyers will not be in possession of material, nonpublic information, by the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following delivery of the Offer Notice. If by the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following delivery of the Offer Notice no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Offered Securities has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by the Buyers, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and the Buyers shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, nonpublic information with respect to Seneca. Should Seneca decide to pursue such transaction with respect to the Offered Securities, Seneca shall provide each Buyer with another Offer Notice and each Buyer will again have the right of participation set forth in this Section 5(n)(iii). Seneca shall not be permitted to deliver more than one (1) such Offer Notice to the Buyers in any 60 day period (other than the Offer Notices contemplated by the last sentence of Section 5(n)(iii)(2) of this Agreement).

 

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(iv)          The restrictions contained in subsections (ii) and (iii) of this Section 5(n) shall not apply to any issuance or proposed issuance of any Excluded Securities.

 

(o)              Public Information. At any time during the period commencing from the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date and ending at such time that all of the Registrable Securities, if a registration statement is not available for the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, may be sold without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1), if Seneca shall (i) fail for any reason to satisfy the requirements of Rule 144(c)(1), including, without limitation, the failure to satisfy the current public information requirements under Rule 144(c) or (ii) if Seneca shall fail to satisfy any condition set forth in Rule 144(i)(2) (each, a "Public Information Failure") then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder of Securities by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity), Seneca shall pay to each such holder an amount in cash equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate Purchase Price of such holder's Securities on the day of a Public Information Failure and on every thirtieth day (prorated for periods totaling less than thirty days) thereafter until the earlier of (i) the date such Public Information Failure is cured and (ii) such time that such Public Information Failure no longer prevents a holder of Securities from selling such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 without any restrictions or limitations. The payments to which a holder shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 5(o) are referred to herein as "Public Information Failure Payments." Public Information Failure Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I) the last day of the calendar month during which such Public Information Failure Payments are incurred and (II) the third Business Day after the event or failure giving rise to the Public Information Failure Payments is cured. In the event Seneca fails to make Public Information Failure Payments in a timely manner, such Public Information Failure Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.

 

(p)   Notice of Disqualification Events. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca will notify the Buyers in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Leading BioSciences Covered Person or Seneca Covered Person, respectively, and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, reasonably be expected to become a Disqualification Event relating to any Leading BioSciences Covered Person or Seneca Covered Person, respectively.

 

(q)              FAST Compliance. While any Warrants or Bridge Warrants are outstanding, Seneca shall maintain a transfer agent that participates in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program. As used herein, Bridge Warrants means the Warrants as defined in the Bridge Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

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(r)    Lock-Up. Seneca shall not amend, modify, waive or terminate any provision of any of the Lock-Up Agreements except to extend the term of the lock-up period and shall enforce the provisions of each Lock-Up Agreement in accordance with its terms. If any officer or director that is a party to a Lock-Up Agreement breaches any provision of a Lock-Up Agreement, Seneca shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to seek specific performance of the terms of such Lock-Up Agreement.

 

(s)    Leak-Out. Seneca shall not amend, modify, waive or terminate any provision of any of the Leak-Out Agreements and shall enforce the provisions of each Leak-Out Agreement in accordance with its terms. If any officer or director that is a party to a Leak-Out Agreement breaches any provision of a Leak-Out Agreement, Seneca shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to seek specific performance of the terms of such Leak-Out Agreement.

 

(t)     Variable Securities. Until the earlier to occur of (x) the date on which no Warrants or Bridge Warrants remain outstanding and (y) the date that is three (3) years from the Initial Closing Date, Leading BioSciences, Seneca, each Leading BioSciences Subsidiary and each Seneca Subsidiary shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any Subsequent Placement involving a Variable Rate Transaction; provided that from and after the date that is 18 months after the Initial Closing Date, Seneca may conduct one or more “at the market offering,” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder, with one or more broker-dealers acting as agent therefor. "Variable Rate Transaction" means a transaction in which Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any Leading BioSciences Subsidiary or any Seneca Subsidiary (i) issues or sells any Convertible Securities either (A) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of Leading BioSciences or Seneca or the market for the Leading BioSciences Common Stock, Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock or Seneca Common Stock, other than pursuant to a customary "weighted average" anti-dilution provision or (ii) enters into any agreement (including, without limitation, an equity line of credit or an "at-the-market" offering) whereby Leading BioSciences, Seneca, any Leading BioSciences Subsidiary or any Seneca Subsidiary may sell securities at a future determined price (other than standard and customary "preemptive" or "participation" rights) provided, however, a Variable Rate Transaction shall not include (x) any of the transactions pursuant to the Draft Merger Agreement or (y) the issuance of shares of Seneca Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities issued by Seneca prior to the Closing Date in connection with the exercise, exchange, cancellation or termination of the convertible securities that are outstanding on the day immediately preceding the date of this Agreement so long as such Options or Convertible Securities are not amended in any manner following the date hereof. Each Buyer shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against Leading BioSciences, Seneca, the Leading BioSciences Subsidiaries and the Seneca Subsidiaries to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages for an actual breach of this Section 5(t).

 

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(u)   Merger Agreement. Neither Leading BioSciences nor Seneca shall amend or waive any of the terms of the Merger Agreement without the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in Section 10(e)).

 

(v)   No Net Short Position.

 

(i)                 During the period beginning from the Closing Date and ending on the Final Reset Date, such Buyer shall not maintain a Net Short Position (as defined below).

 

(ii)              As used in this Section 5(v):

 

(1)   "Net Short Position" by a Buyer means a position whereby such Buyer has executed one or more sales of Common Stock that is marked as a short sale (as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the 1934 Act) and that is executed at a time when such Buyer has no Equivalent Offsetting Long Position in the Common Stock or contract for the foregoing.

 

(2)   "Equivalent Offsetting Long Position in the Common Stock" means, with respect to a Buyer, all shares of Seneca Common Stock (A) that are owned by such Buyer, (B) that may be issued to such Buyer as Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of the Warrants without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth therein, (C) that may be issued to such Buyers upon exercise of the Bridge Warrants without giving effect to any limitation on exercise set forth therein and (D) that would be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise in full of all other Options and Convertible Securities then held by such Buyer, if any, without giving effect to any limitation on conversion, exchange or exercise set forth therein.

 

(w)            Closing Documents. On or prior to fourteen (14) calendar days after the Closing Date, Seneca agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Buyer and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP a complete closing set (which may be solely in electronic format) of the executed Transaction Documents, Securities and any other documents required to be delivered to any party pursuant to Section 8 hereof or otherwise.

 

(x)              Milestone Consideration. Each Buyer hereby acknowledges and agrees that, as a holder of Leading Biosciences Preferred Stock prior to the Merger, it shall not be entitled to any Milestone Payment set forth in Section 2.13 of the Merger Agreement payable to the stockholders of Leading BioSciences pursuant to the Merger Agreement, if any, and each Buyer covenants and agrees not to contest, challenge or otherwise dispute such treatment thereunder.

 

6.      REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.

 

(a)   Register. Seneca shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of Seneca as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Warrants in which Seneca shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Warrants have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee) and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by such Person. Seneca shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.

 

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(b)   Transfer Agent Instructions. Following completion of the Merger, Seneca shall issue irrevocable instructions to its Transfer Agent, and any subsequent transfer agent, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, (the "Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions") to issue certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC, registered in the name of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s), for the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares upon delivery of a Capacity Notice or upon exercise of the Warrant, as applicable, in such amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to Seneca upon delivery of a Capacity Notice or upon exercise of the Warrants, as applicable. Seneca warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section 6(b), and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(f) hereof, will be given by Seneca to its Transfer Agent, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of Seneca as and to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2(f), Seneca shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its Transfer Agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves the Warrant Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144, the Transfer Agent shall issue such Securities to the Buyer, assignee or transferee, as the case may be, without any restrictive legend. Seneca acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to a Buyer. Accordingly, Seneca acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 6(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Seneca of the provisions of this Section 6(b), that a Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

7.      CONDITIONS TO LEADING BIOSCIENCES' OBLIGATION TO SELL AND SENECA'S OBLIGATION TO ISSUE.

 

The obligation of Leading BioSciences hereunder to issue and sell the Preferred Shares at the Closing and the obligation of Seneca hereunder to issue the Warrants at the Warrant Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each of Leading BioSciences' and Seneca's sole benefit and may be waived by Leading BioSciences and/or Seneca at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:

 

(i)                 Such Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to Leading BioSciences.

 

(ii)               Such Buyer shall have delivered to Leading BioSciences the Purchase Price (less, in the case of the Lead Investor, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 5(h) and less, in the case of any electing Buyer as described in Section 1(e), any Outstanding Amount pursuant to such Buyer's, or such Buyer's affiliate, Note surrendered to Leading BioSciences pursuant to Section 1(e), for the Preferred Shares and the related Warrants being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by Leading BioSciences.

 

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(iii)             The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects)) as of the date when made and as of the Closing 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 (except for those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such specified date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(iv)             All conditions precedent to the closing of the merger (the "Merger") contained in the Merger Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived.

 

8.      CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.

 

The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Preferred Shares and the related Warrants at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer's sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing Leading BioSciences with prior written notice thereof:

 

(i)                          Leading BioSciences shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer (A) each of the Leading BioSciences Transaction Documents, and (B) the Preferred Shares (allocated in such amounts as such Buyer shall request), being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(ii)                        Seneca shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the Seneca Transaction Documents.

 

(iii)                      Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of Cooley LLP, Leading BioSciences' outside counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1.

 

(iv)                      Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of Silvestre Law Group, P.C., Seneca's outside counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2.

 

(v)                        Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer a copy of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions in escrow to be released upon the effectiveness of the Merger, which instructions shall have been delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Transfer Agent.

 

(vi)                      Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of Leading BioSciences and Seneca in such entity's jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction, as of a date within ten (10) calendar days prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(vii)                    Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing its qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of the jurisdiction in which it has its headquarters, as of a date within ten (10) calendar days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(viii)                  Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Leading BioSciences’ Certificate of Incorporation and the Seneca Certificate of Incorporation, respectively, as certified by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of its jurisdiction of formation within ten (10) calendar days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(ix)                      Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, executed by its Secretary and dated as of the Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) or Section 4(b), respectively, as adopted by Leading BioSciences' Board of Directors and Seneca's Board of Directors, respectively, in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) the Leading BioSciences’ Certificate of Incorporation or the Seneca Certificate of Incorporation, respectively, and (iii) the Leading BioSciences Bylaws and Seneca Bylaws, respectively, each as in effect at the Closing, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H.

 

(x)                        The representations and warranties of each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, "Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect" or "Seneca Material Adverse Effect", which shall be true and correct in all respects), as of the date when made and as of the Closing 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 (except for those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality, "Leading BioSciences Material Adverse Effect" or "Seneca Material Adverse Effect", which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such specified date) and each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing Date. Such Buyer shall have received certificates, executed by the Chief Executive Officer of each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I.

 

(xi)                   Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have delivered to each Buyer a lock-up agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit J-1 or Exhibit J-2 (collectively, the "Lock-Up Agreements"), executed by any Person that will be subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act with respect to Seneca immediately following the consummation of the Merger.

 

(xii)                    Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer a letter from its Transfer Agent certifying the number of shares of Seneca Common Stock outstanding as of a date within five (5) calendar days of the Closing Date.

 

(xiii)                  The proposed Merger between Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall occur immediately following the Closing and the Seneca Common Stock (I) shall be designated for quotation or listed on the Principal Market and (II) shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (A) in writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (B) by falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements or initial listing requirements of the Principal Market.

 

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(xiv)                  Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have obtained all member, stockholder, governmental, regulatory or other third party consents and approvals, including, without limitation, approval of the Principal Market, necessary for the completion of the Merger and the sale of the Securities, including, without limitation, in the case of Seneca, any and all stockholder approval required by the Principal Market with respect to the issuances of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares in full upon exercise of the Warrants without giving effect to any limitation on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein.

 

(xv)                    All conditions precedent to the closing of the Merger contained in the Merger Agreement, other than any conditions precedent relating to consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, shall have been satisfied or waived.

 

(xvi)                  The Form S-4 shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the 1933 Act, and shall not be subject to any stop order or proceeding (or threatened proceeding by the SEC) seeking a stop order with respect to the Form S-4 that has not been withdrawn.

 

(xvii)                The Securities Escrow Agreement shall have been executed and delivered to such Buyer by the other parties thereto.

 

(xviii)              Leading BioSciences shall have issued the Additional Preferred Shares and the applicable Initial Preferred Shares in escrow in the name of the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of the Securities Escrow Agreement.

 

(xix)                  Such Buyer shall have received Leading BioSciences' wire instructions on Leading BioSciences' letterhead duly executed by an authorized executive officer of Leading BioSciences.

 

(xx)                    Each Buyer shall have delivered to Leading BioSciences a leak-out agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K (collectively, the "Leak-Out Agreements"), executed by each Buyer.

 

(xxi)                  Seneca shall have a number of shares of Seneca Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount available in its authorized capital and reserved for issuances under the Transaction Documents.

 

(xxii)                Leading BioSciences shall have delivered written notice to the Escrow Agent, with a copy of such notice to the Lead Investor, that the Closing is occurring on the Closing Date.

 

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(xxiii)              Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.

 

9.      TERMINATION. In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer by seven (7) months following the execution of this Agreement due to Leading BioSciences', Seneca's or such Buyer's failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Sections 7 and 8 above (and the nonbreaching party's failure to waive such unsatisfied condition(s)), the Buyer, if such Buyer is the nonbreaching party, or Leading BioSciences, if Leading BioSciences is the nonbreaching party, shall have the option to terminate this Agreement with respect to such Buyer, if such Buyer is the breaching party, or with respect to Leading BioSciences and Seneca, if Leading BioSciences or Seneca are the breaching party, at the close of business on such date by delivering a written notice to that effect to each other party to this Agreement and without liability of any party to any other party; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, Leading BioSciences shall remain obligated to reimburse the Lead Investor or its designee(s), as applicable, for the expenses described in Section 5(h) above.

 

10.  MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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. 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 WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. In addition to, but not in limitation of, any other rights of a Buyer hereunder, if (a) this Agreement is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection of any indemnification or other obligation hereunder then outstanding or enforcement or any such obligation is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or a Buyer otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Agreement or to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of Leading BioSciences or Seneca or other proceedings affecting Leading BioSciences' or Seneca's creditors' rights and involving a claim under this Agreement, then Leading BioSciences or Seneca, as applicable, shall pay the costs incurred by such Buyer for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and disbursements.

 

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(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 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 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 is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

(e)   Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between Leading BioSciences, Seneca, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf, on the one hand, and the Buyers, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf, on the other hand, with respect to the matters discussed herein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein and therein 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, none of Leading BioSciences, Seneca nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by Leading BioSciences, Seneca and the Required Holders, and any amendment to this Agreement made in conformity with the provisions of this Section 10(e) shall be binding on all Buyers and holders of Securities, Leading BioSciences and Seneca. No provisions hereto may be waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the Buyers or holders of the applicable Securities then outstanding. 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 the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents, holders of Preferred Shares or holders of the Warrants, as the case may be. Neither Leading BioSciences nor Seneca has, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca confirms that, except as set forth in this Agreement, no Buyer has made any commitment or promise or has any other obligation to provide any financing to Leading BioSciences or Seneca or otherwise. As used herein, "Required Holders" means (I) prior to the Closing Date, the Buyers entitled to purchase at the Closing a majority of the aggregate amount of Securities issued and issuable hereunder and under the Warrants (without regard to any restriction or limitation on the exercise of the Warrants or the delivery of the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares contained therein or herein) and shall include the Lead Investor and (II) on or after the Closing Date, holders of at least a majority of the aggregate amount of Securities issued and issuable hereunder and under the Warrants (without regard to any restriction or limitation on the exercise of the Warrants or the delivery of the Exchange Shares issued in exchange of Preferred Shares contained therein or herein) as of the applicable time of determination and shall include the Lead Investor so long as the Lead Investor or any of its Affiliates holds any Securities.

 

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(f)               Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon delivery, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party) or by electronic mail; (iii) upon delivery, when sent by electronic mail (provided that the sending party does not receive an automated rejection notice); or (iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

 

If to Leading BioSciences or to Seneca from and after the Closing Date:

 

Leading Biosciences, Inc. 

5800 Armada Drive, Suite 210 

Carlsbad, CA 92008 

Attention: JD Finley
Email: jd.finley@leadingbiosciences.com

 

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

 

Cooley LLP 

4401 Eastgate Mall 

San Diego, California 92121-190 

Telephone: 858-550-6088 

Attention: Karen Deschaine, Esq. 

E-mail: kdeschaine@cooley.com

 

If to Seneca prior to the Closing Date:

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc. 

c/o Silvestre Law Group, P.C. 

2629 Townsgate Rd., Suite 215 

Westlake Village CA 91362 

Attention: David Mazzo 

Email: dmazzo@cladrius.com

 

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With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

 

Silvestre Law Group, P.C. 

2629 Townsgate Road #215 

Westlake Village, CA 91361 

Attention: Raul Silvestre 

Email: rsilvestre@silvestrelaw.com

 

If to the Escrow Agent:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon
Corporate Trust Administration
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
Attention: Escrow Unit

 

If to the Transfer Agent:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 

6201 15th Avenue 

Brooklyn, NY 11219 

Attention: Tiffany Hill 

Telephone: (415) 366-8087 

Email: thill@astfinancial.com

 

If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number and e-mail address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers,

 

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:

 

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 756-2000
Facsimile: (212) 593-5955
Attention: Eleazer N. Klein, Esq.
E-mail: eleazer.klein@srz.com

 

or to such other address, facsimile number and/or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) calendar 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 or e-mail containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

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(g)              Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any purchasers of the Preferred Shares or the Warrants. Neither Leading BioSciences nor Seneca shall assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Required Holders, including by way of a Fundamental Transaction (unless Seneca is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Warrants and other than the Merger in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement). A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder without the consent of Leading BioSciences or Seneca, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights.

 

(h)              Third Party Beneficiaries. The Financial Advisor shall be a third party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of the Buyers in Section 2, the representations and warranties of Leading BioSciences in Section 3 and the representations and warranties of Seneca in Section 4. 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, except that each Indemnitee (as defined below) shall have the right to enforce the obligations of Leading BioSciences and Seneca with respect to Section 10(k) and as otherwise set forth in this Section 10(h).

 

(i)                Survival. Unless this Agreement is terminated under Section 9, the representations and warranties of Leading BioSciences, Seneca and the Buyers contained in Sections 2, 3 and 4, and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 5, 6 and 10 shall survive the Closing. Each Buyer, and each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca, shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.

 

(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 any 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)   Indemnification. (i) In consideration of each Buyer's execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of Leading BioSciences' other obligations under the Transaction Documents, Leading BioSciences shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each other holder of the Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons' 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 Leading BioSciences in the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document of Leading BioSciences contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of Leading BioSciences contained in the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document of Leading BioSciences contemplated hereby or thereby or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of Leading BioSciences or Seneca) and arising out of or resulting from (i) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, (iii) any disclosure made by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(j), or (iv) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities as an investor in Leading BioSciences pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by Leading BioSciences may be unenforceable for any reason, Leading BioSciences shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities that is permissible under applicable law. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the mechanics and procedures with respect to the rights and obligations under this Section 10(k)(i) shall be the same as those set forth in Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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(ii) In consideration of each Buyer's execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of Seneca's other obligations under the Transaction Documents, Seneca shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitees from and against any and all 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 Seneca 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 Seneca 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 by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of Leading BioSciences or Seneca) and arising out of or resulting from (i) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, (iii) any disclosure made by such Buyer pursuant to Section 5(j), or (iv) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities as an investor in Seneca pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by Seneca may be unenforceable for any reason, Seneca shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities that is permissible under applicable law. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the mechanics and procedures with respect to the rights and obligations under this Section 10(k)(ii) shall be the same as those set forth in Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(l)     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.

 

(m)        Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of the Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which such holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca recognizes that in the event that it fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Buyers. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to seek temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security.

 

(n)   Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and either Leading BioSciences or Seneca does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to Leading BioSciences or Seneca, as applicable, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.

 

(o)   Payment Set Aside. To the extent that Leading BioSciences or Seneca makes a payment or payments to the Buyers hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to Leading BioSciences or Seneca, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

  65  

 

(p)   Independent Nature of Buyers' Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Buyer under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as, and each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca acknowledges that the Buyers do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group, and neither Leading BioSciences nor Seneca shall assert any such claim with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca acknowledges that the Buyers are not acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each of Leading BioSciences and Seneca acknowledges and each Buyer confirms that it has independently participated in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Buyer shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  66  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer, Leading BioSciences and Seneca have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

LEADING BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

 

By: /s/ Thomas M. Hallam                           

Name: Thomas M. Hallam, Ph.D.

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer, Leading BioSciences and Seneca have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

SENECA BIOPHARMA, INC.

 

 

By:   /s/ Kenneth Carter                             

Name: Kenneth Carter, PhD

Title: Executive Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer, Leading BioSciences and Seneca have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

BUYERS:

 

ALTIUM GROWTH FUND, LP

 

 

By:   /s/ Mark Gottlieb                         

Name: Mark Gottlieb

Title: Signatory

 

 

Maximum Percentage with respect to the delivery for the Exchange Shares to be issued in exchange of the Initial Preferred Shares:

¨ 4.99%

ý 9.99%

 

Maximum Percentage with respect to the delivery for the Exchange Shares to be issued in exchange of the Additional Preferred Shares:

¨ 4.99%

ý 9.99%

 

Maximum Percentage to be included in the Warrants:

ý 4.99%

¨ 9.99%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

 

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Buyer

Address, Facsimile Number
and E-mail

Number of Initial Preferred Shares

Number of Additional Preferred Shares

Purchase Price

Legal Representative's Address, Facsimile Number and E-mail

           
Altium Growth Fund, LP

c/o Altium Capital Management, LP 

551 5th Avenue, 19th Floor (Suite 1920) 

New York, NY 10176 

Attention: Joshua Thomas 

Telephone: 212-259-8404 

E-mail: jthomas@altiumcap.com

 

A number of shares equal to the aggregate Purchase Price in column (5) divided by $0.4816 (Buyer’s Allocation Number) (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reorganizations, reclassification, combinations, reverse stock splits or other similar events occurring after the date hereof and including any securities, cash, rights or other property distributed with respect to the Leading BioSciences Common Stock or Leading BioSciences Preferred Stock) A number of shares equal to the product of (i) 300% of the Buyers' Allocation Number $20,000,000 + the outstanding principal and accrued interest on the Notes as of the date immediately prior to the Closing Date

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Eleazer Klein, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 593-5955
Telephone: (212) 756-2376
E-mail: eleazer.klein@srz.com

 

           
           
           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

LEAK-OUT AGREEMENT

 

_________ __, 202_

 

This agreement (the "Leak-Out Agreement") is being delivered to you in connection with an understanding by and between Seneca Biopharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation to be renamed "Palisade Bio, Inc." (the "Company"), and the person or persons named on the signature pages hereto (collectively, the "Holder"). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement (defined below).

 

Reference is hereby made to (i) the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), dated December 16, 2020, by and among the Company, Leading BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Leading BioSciences Private Company"), the Holder and the other investors listed on the signature pages attached thereto (such other investors, the "Other Holders") in connection with the offering, pursuant to which (x) Leading BioSciences Private Company has agreed to issue to the Holder shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share of Leading BioSciences Private Company (the "Leading BioSciences Private Preferred Shares") and (y) the Company has agreed to issue Warrants (together with the Leading BioSciences Private Preferred Shares, the "Securities") which will be exercisable to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") and (ii) that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger among the Company, Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc., and Leading BioSciences Private Company, dated as of December 16, 2020 pursuant to which Townsgate Acquisition Sub 1, Inc. will merge with and into Leading BioSciences Private Company, with Leading BioSciences Private Company surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

This Leak-Out Agreement shall only become effective from the date that the Holder executes this Agreement and the Company or its agent has notified the Holder in writing that each Other Holder executes an agreement (collectively, the "Other Leak-Out Agreements") regarding such Other Holder's trading with terms that are no less restrictive than the terms contained herein.

 

The Holder agrees solely with the Company that from the Closing Date and ending on the Final Reset Date (such period, the "Restricted Period"), neither the Holder, nor any affiliate of the Holder which (x) had or has knowledge of the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, (y) has or shares discretion relating to the Holder's investments or trading or information concerning the Holder's investments, including in respect of the Securities, or (z) is subject to such Holder's review or input concerning such affiliate's investments or trading, collectively, shall sell, dispose or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, (including, without limitation, any sales, short sales, swaps or any derivative transactions that would be equivalent to any sales or short positions) on any Trading Day during the Restricted Period (any such date, a "Date of Determination"), any securities issued and issuable pursuant to any of the Transaction Documents (collectively, the "Restricted Securities"), in an amount representing more than 20% of the trading volume of Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg, LP on each applicable Date of Determination; provided, however, that, subject to the immediately following proviso, such percentage shall be reduced to 12% of the trading volume of Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg, LP on each applicable Date of Determination during the ten (10) Trading Day period ending on each Reset Date (each such period, a "Restricted Pricing Period"); provided, further, such percentage during a Restricted Pricing Period shall be restored to 20% of the trading volume of Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg, LP on each applicable Date of Determination in the event the trading volume of Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg, LP on such applicable Date of Determination equals or exceeds 200% of the arithmetic average of the trading volume of Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg, LP on the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding such Date of Determination. For the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Securities shall not include any securities of the Company acquired other than pursuant to the Transaction Documents.

 

1

 

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during the Restricted Period, the Holder may, directly or indirectly, sell or transfer all, but not less than all, of any Restricted Securities to any Person (an "Assignee") in a transaction which does not need to be reported on the consolidated tape on the Principal Market, without complying with (or otherwise limited by) the restrictions set forth in this Leak-Out Agreement; provided, that as a condition to any such sale or transfer an authorized signatory of the Company and such Assignee duly execute and deliver a leak-out agreement in the form of this Leak-Out Agreement.

 

Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Leak-Out Agreement must be in writing and shall be given in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

This Leak-Out Agreement together with the Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior negotiations, letters and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof and are fully binding on the parties hereto.

 

This Leak-Out Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Leak-Out Agreement may be executed and accepted by facsimile or PDF signature and any such signature shall be of the same force and effect as an original signature.

 

The terms of this Leak-Out Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

This Leak-Out Agreement may not be amended or modified except in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Leak-Out Agreement shall be governed by Section 10(a) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

Each party hereto acknowledges that, in view of the uniqueness of the transactions contemplated by this Leak-Out Agreement, the other party or parties hereto may not have an adequate remedy at law for money damages in the event that this Leak-Out Agreement has not been performed in accordance with its terms, and therefore agrees that such other party or parties shall be entitled to seek specific enforcement of the terms hereof in addition to any other remedy it may seek, at law or in equity.

 

2

 

 

The obligations of the Holder under this Leak-Out Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any Other Holder, and the Holder shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any Other Holder under any such Other Leak-Out Agreement. Nothing contained herein, in this Leak-Out Agreement or in any other agreement, and no action taken by the Holder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holder and Other Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holder and the Other Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Leak-Out Agreement or any Other Leak-Out Agreement and the Company acknowledges that the Holder and the Other Holders are not acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Leak-Out Agreement or any Other Leak-Out Agreement. The Company and the Holder confirm that the Holder has independently participated in the negotiation of the transactions contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. The Holder shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Leak-Out Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and covenants and agrees from and after the date hereof that none of the terms offered to any Other Holder with respect to any restrictions on the sale of shares of Common Stock substantially in the form of this Leak-Out Agreement (or any amendment, modification, waiver or release thereof) (each a "Leak-Out Document"), is or will be more favorable to such Other Holder than those of the Holder and this Leak-Out Agreement (other than the reimbursement of legal fees). If, and whenever on or after the date hereof, the Company enters into a Leak-Out Document with terms that are materially different from this Leak-Out Agreement, then (i) the Company shall provide notice thereof to the Holder promptly following the occurrence thereof and (ii) the terms and conditions of this Leak-Out Agreement shall be, without any further action by the Holder or the Company, automatically amended and modified in an economically and legally equivalent manner such that the Holder shall receive the benefit of the more favorable terms and/or conditions (as the case may be) set forth in such Leak-Out Document, provided that upon written notice to the Company at any time the Holder may elect not to accept the benefit of any such amended or modified term or condition, in which event the term or condition contained in this Leak-Out Agreement shall apply to the Holder as it was in effect immediately prior to such amendment or modification as if such amendment or modification never occurred with respect to the Holder. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply similarly and equally to each Leak-Out Document.

 

[The remainder of the page is intentionally left blank]

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

The parties hereto have executed this Leak-Out Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

  Sincerely,
   
  SENECA BIOPHARMA, INC.
   
   
  By: _____________________
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

Agreed to and Accepted:

 

"HOLDER"

 

__________________

 

 

By: ____________________

Name:

Title: