Exhibit 10.1


 


EXECUTION COPY


 


THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT

OF 1933 AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE

DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THAT ACT

OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.


 


NEPHROS, INC.


 


Senior Secured Note

Due February 28, 2015


 


	$1,750,000	No. R-2014-A-1	August 29, 2014


 


Nephros, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to the order of LAMBDA
INVESTORS LLC (the “Lender”) or its registered assigns, the principal sum of ONE MILLION SEVEN
HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($1,750,000) on or before February 28, 2015, and to pay interest (computed on the
basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) from the date hereof on the unpaid principal amount hereof at the rate
of 12% per annum (but in no event in excess of the maximum non-usurious rate of interest permitted under applicable law), payable
at the time the principal amount hereof shall have become due and payable, whether at maturity or by acceleration or otherwise,
and thereafter at the rate of 16% per annum on any overdue principal amount and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) on
any overdue interest until paid (but in no event in excess of the maximum non-usurious rate of interest permitted under applicable
law).


 


All payments of principal
and interest on this Note shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be
legal tender for payment of public and private debts.


 


If any payment on this
Note is due on a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be due on the next succeeding Business Day. For purposes of this Note,
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday or day on which
banks are authorized or required to be closed in New York.


 


1.          Definitions.
As used herein, the term “Note” shall mean this Senior Secured Note Due February 28, 2015 and
any Senior Secured Note or Notes subsequently issued upon exchange or transfer hereof, and shall include all amendments, supplements
and other modifications thereto. The term “Security Documents” shall mean (a) the Security Agreement
by and between the Company and the Lender that was executed and delivered on the date of the original issuance of this Note, including
all amendments, supplements and other modifications thereto, (b) the Intellectual Property Security Agreement by and between the
Company and the Lender that was executed and delivered on the date of the original issuance of this Note, including all amendments,
supplements and other modifications thereto, and (c) all other documents, agreements and instruments now or hereafter executed
and delivered by the Company or any other person or entity (each, a “Person”) as security for
the payment or performance of the Note, including all amendments, supplements and other modifications thereto.


 




    	 



    	 



    

 


2.          Transfer,
Etc. of Note. The holder of this Note may transfer this Note or sell participations herein without the consent of the Company.
The holder shall provide the Company with written notice of any transfer of this Note, which notice shall include the name and
address of the transferee, and such other identification and other verification as the Company may reasonably request, whereupon
the Company shall register the transferee as the owner and holder of this Note for all purposes.


 


3.          Loss,
Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Note. In the case of any loss, theft or destruction of this Note, upon receipt of an affidavit
of loss from the holder thereof, or, in the case of mutilation of this Note, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the
Company will make and deliver, in lieu of this Note, a substitute Note of like tenor and unpaid principal amount and dated as of
the date hereof.


 


4.          Persons
Deemed Owners; Holders. The Company may deem and treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner and holder
of this Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on this Note and for all other purposes whatsoever,
whether or not this Note shall be overdue. The terms “Noteholder” or “holder,”
as used herein, shall be deemed to mean the person in whose name the Note is registered as aforesaid at such time.


 


5.           Prepayments.


 


(a)          Optional
Prepayment. Upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c), the Company may, at its option, prepay this Note, without premium
or penalty, as a whole at any time or in part from time to time in principal amounts which shall be integral multiples of $1,000,
together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of such prepayment.


 


(b)          Mandatory
Prepayments.


 


(i)          
If on any date the Company or any subsidiary shall receive any Cash Proceeds (X) from the Rights Offering (as defined in Section
7(n), below), (Y) from any other issuance of debt or equity securities of the Company or any subsidiary (other than cashless exercises
of warrants or options), or (Z) from any issuance or incurrence of any other Indebtedness (excluding any Indebtedness incurred
in accordance with Section 7(j)), an amount equal to 100% of the Cash Proceeds therefrom shall be applied on the date of such receipt,
issuance or incurrence toward the prepayment of this Note and any other amounts payable under the Loan Documents (as defined below)
until all such amounts have been paid in full. The provisions of this paragraph do not constitute a consent to the incurrence of
any Indebtedness not permitted by Section 7(j).


 


(ii)         If
on any date the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall receive Cash Proceeds from any Disposition of assets outside of the ordinary
course of business, then on the date of receipt by the Company or such subsidiary of such Cash Proceeds, an amount equal to the
amount of such Cash Proceeds shall be applied on the date of such receipt towards the prepayment of this Note and any other amounts
payable under the Loan Documents until all such amounts have been paid in full. The provisions of this paragraph do not constitute
a consent to the consummation of any Disposition not permitted by Section 7(i).


 




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(iii)        In
connection with any mandatory prepayment pursuant to this Section 5(b), the Company shall give notice as provided in Section 5(c).


 


For purposes of this
Note:


 


“Cash Proceeds”
means, with respect to the Rights Offering, any other issuance of debt or equity securities of the Company or any subsidiary, any
other issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary, or any Disposition, the cash proceeds received
by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with such transaction (including any cash received in respect of non-cash proceeds,
but only as and when received).


 


“Disposition”
means the sale, assignment, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any
property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without
recourse, of any intellectual property or any rights and claims associated therewith. “Dispose of”
has a corresponding meaning.


 


(c)          Notice
of Prepayment. The Company shall give written notice of any prepayment of this Note or any portion hereof pursuant to Section
5(a) or Section 5(b) not less than five (5) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Such notice
of prepayment and all other notices to be given to the holder of this Note shall be given by registered or certified mail to the
Person in whose name this Note is registered at its address designated on the register maintained by the Company on the date of
mailing such notice of prepayment or other notice. Upon notice of prepayment being given as aforesaid, the Company covenants and
agrees that it will prepay, on the date therein fixed for prepayment, this Note or the portion hereof, as the case may be, so called
for prepayment.


 


(d)          Allocation
of All Payments. Payments hereunder shall be applied first to unpaid fees and expenses, next to accrued and unpaid interest,
and thereafter to the unpaid principal of this Note.


 


(e)          Interest
After Date Fixed for Prepayment. If this Note or a portion hereof is called for prepayment as herein provided, whether optional
or mandatory, this Note or such portion shall cease to bear interest on and after the date fixed for such prepayment unless, upon
presentation for such purpose, the Company shall fail to pay this Note or such portion, as the case may be, in which event this
Note or such portion, as the case may be, and, so far as may be lawful, any overdue installment of interest, shall bear interest
on and after the date fixed for such prepayment and until paid at the rate per annum provided herein for overdue amounts.


 


(f)          Surrender
of Note; Notation Thereon. Upon any prepayment of a portion of the principal amount of this Note, the holder hereof, at its
option, may require the Company to execute and deliver at the expense of the Company (other than for transfer taxes, if any), upon
surrender of this Note, a substitute Note registered in the name of such Person as may be designated by such holder for the principal
amount of this Note then remaining unpaid, dated as of the date hereof, or may present this Note to the Company for notation hereon
of the payment of the portion of the principal amount of this Note so prepaid.


 




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6.           Representations
and Warranties. The Company hereby represents and warrants that:


 


(a)          Organization,
Qualifications and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which it is required to be so licensed or qualified with respect to the operations of its business, except
where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations
or condition (financial or other) of the Company and its business. The Company has all requisite power and authority to own, operate
and lease its assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to execute and deliver this Note and the Security
Documents, and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder.


 


(b)          Authorization
of Agreements, Etc. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Note and Security Documents, and the performance by the
Company of its respective obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action.


 


(c)          Validity.
This Note and the Security 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, subject, as to enforcement
of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws from time to time in effect affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles.


 


(d)          Non-Contravention.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Note and the Security Documents will not: (i) violate any provision
of any law, any order of any court or other agency of government or permits currently in effect to which the Company is subject;
(ii) result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the provisions of any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other
agreement, lease or instrument to which the Company is subject or by which it or any of its assets is bound; or (iii) result in,
or require, the creation or imposition of any lien, security interest, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever
(each, a “Lien”) with respect to any of the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
except as created pursuant to the Security Documents.


 


(e)          Governmental
Approvals. No registration or filing with, or consent or approval of, or other action by, any Federal, state or other governmental
agency or instrumentality is or will be necessary for the valid execution, delivery and performance of the Security Documents or
the issuance, sale and delivery of this Note, except as contemplated by the Security Documents.


 




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7.           Covenants
Relating to the Note. The Company covenants and agrees that so long as the Note shall be outstanding:


 


(a)          Maintenance
of Office. The Company will maintain an office or agency in such place in the United States of America as the Company may designate
in writing to the registered holder of this Note, where this Note may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange
as herein provided, where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of this Note may be served and where this Note
may be presented for payment. Until the Company otherwise notifies the holder hereof, said office shall be the principal office
of the Company located at 41 Grand Avenue, River Edge, New Jersey 07661.


 


(b)          Payment
of Taxes. The Company will promptly pay and discharge or cause to be paid and discharged, before the same shall become in default,
all material taxes and assessments imposed upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries or upon the income and profits of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, or upon any property, real, personal or mixed, belonging to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or upon any part thereof by the United States or any State thereof, as well as all material claims for labor, materials and supplies
which, if unpaid, would become a Lien upon such property or any part thereof; provided, however, that neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall be required to pay and discharge or to cause to be paid and discharged any such tax,
assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as both (i) the Company has established adequate reserves for such tax, assessment, charge,
levy or claim and (ii) the Company or a subsidiary shall be contesting the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings.


 


(c)          Corporate
Existence. The Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary and lawful to preserve and keep in full force and effect
(i) its corporate existence and the existence of each of its subsidiaries and (ii) the material rights and franchises of the Company
and each of its subsidiaries under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or, in the case of subsidiaries organized
and existing outside the United States, under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction; provided, however, that, subject
to Section 7(i) below, nothing in this paragraph (c) shall prevent the abandonment or termination of any rights or franchises of
the Company, or the liquidation or dissolution of, or a Disposition (whether through merger, consolidation, sale or otherwise)
of all or any substantial part of the property and assets of, any subsidiary or the abandonment or termination of the existence,
rights and franchises of any subsidiary if such abandonment, termination, liquidation, dissolution or Disposition is, in the good
faith business judgment of the Company, in the best interests of the Company and not materially disadvantageous to the holder of
this Note.


 


(d)          Maintenance
of Property. The Company will at all times maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, in good repair, working order
and condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted) all significant properties of the Company and its subsidiaries used in the conduct
of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and will from time to time make or cause to be made all needful and proper
repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereto necessary so that the business of the Company and its subsidiaries
may be conducted at all times in the ordinary course consistent with past practice.


 




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(e)          Insurance.
The Company will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, (i) keep adequately insured, by financially sound and reputable
insurers, all property of a character usually insured by corporations engaged in the same or a similar business similarly situated
against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by such corporations and (ii) carry, with financially sound
and reputable insurers, such other insurance (including without limitation liability insurance) in such amounts as are available
at reasonable expense and to the extent believed advisable in good faith business judgment of the Company.


 


(f)          Keeping
of Books. The Company will at all times keep, and cause each of its subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account
in which proper entries will be made of its transactions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied.


 


(g)          Transactions
with Affiliates. Except for transactions with Lender and its affiliates, the Company shall not enter into, and shall not permit
any of its subsidiaries to enter into, any transaction with any of its or any subsidiary’s officers, directors, employees
or any person related by blood or marriage to any such person or any entity in which any such person owns any beneficial interest,
except for normal employment arrangements, benefit programs and employee incentive option programs on reasonable and customary
terms.


 


(h)          Notice
of Certain Events. The Company shall, immediately after it becomes aware of the occurrence of (i) any Event of Default (as
hereinafter defined) or any event which, upon notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an Event of Default, or (ii) any
action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or by or before any governmental instrumentality or agency which could reasonably
be expected to materially impair the right of the Company to carry on its business substantially as then conducted, or could reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the properties, assets, financial condition, operating results or business of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, give notice to the holder of this Note, specifying the nature of such event.


 


(i)          Consolidation,
Merger and Sale. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, consolidate or merge with or into,
or sell or otherwise Dispose of all or any material portion of its property or the property of the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole in one or more related transactions to, any other Person or Persons.


 


(j)          Limitation
on Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) incur or
permit to remain outstanding any indebtedness for money borrowed (“Indebtedness”), except (A)
the Note, (B) Indebtedness existing on the date of original issuance of this Note (or, if applicable, the earliest predecessor
Note) and described in the Company’s public SEC filings prior to such date, and (C) such Indebtedness as may be mutually
agreed upon by the Company and the holder of the Note, or (ii) issue any capital stock (“Disqualified Stock”)
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which by its terms, or upon the happening of any event, matures, or is mandatorily redeemable,
whether pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,
on or prior to February 28, 2015. The term “Indebtedness” shall not include trade or other payables of or extensions
of credit to the Company to or by the Company’s vendors in the ordinary course of business.


 




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(k)          Restricted
Payments. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to: (i) declare or pay any dividends on, or make
any other distribution or payment on account of, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
shares of any class of stock of the Company or any option, warrant or other security, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or
make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash, property or in obligations of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for (Y) distributions of shares of the same class of stock pro rata to all holders of
shares of a class of stock and (Z) dividends, distributions or payments by any subsidiary to the Company or to any wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) make any payments of principal of, or retire, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness
other than the Note (such declarations, payments, purchases, redemptions, retirements, acquisitions or distributions being herein
called “Restricted Payments”).


 


(l)          Limitation
on Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume
or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any Liens on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or on any income or profits therefrom
or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except for (i) liens for current taxes not yet due, (ii) landlord’s
liens, (iii) purchase money liens, (iv) workman’s, materialman’s, warehouseman’s and similar liens arising by
law or statute, and (v) liens in favor of the Noteholder pursuant to the Security Documents.


 


(m)          Inspection
of Property. The Company shall permit the holder hereof to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and any subsidiaries
and their books and records and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such entities with the principal officers
of the Company and such subsidiaries and their independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as such
holders may reasonably request.


 


(n)          Rights
Offering. The Company shall undertake an SEC registered rights offering to raise $3 million from its existing common stock
shareholders and warrantholders (the “Rights Offering”) on the following terms:


 


(i)          All
existing shareholders and warrantholders of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Rights Offering pro rata based
upon their pro rata equity interest in the Company, calculated on an as-converted to common stock, fully-diluted basis (but excluding
options).


 


(ii)         The
Rights Offering shall be for the right to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 new shares of common stock at a price of $0.60/share.


 


(iii)       The
Noteholder will participate for their full pro rata share of the Rights Offering.


 


(iv)        The
term of all the Company’s existing warrants held by the Lender (the “Lender Warrants”) will
be amended to expire on the five year anniversary of the closing of the Rights Offering.


 




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(v)         The
Noteholder and any other shareholder or warrantholder of the Company will have the right to oversubscribe for any unsubscribed
shares in the Rights Offering. Any party that seeks to subscribe for such shares shall provide the Company with a binding commitment
not later than the date of the closing of the Rights Offering. If there are not enough unsubscribed shares to meet the amounts
requested by such parties, the unsubscribed shares shall be allocated among them pro rata based on the amounts requested (the “Oversubscription
Process”). The closing on the Oversubscription Process shall occur not more than ten (10) business days following
the closing of the Rights Offering.


 


(vi)        To
the extent that after the closing of the Rights Offering and the Oversubscription Process there still remain unsubscribed shares,
the Noteholder shall purchase any or all such remaining unsubscribed shares.


 


(vii)       The
Company shall have obtained shareholder approval, or provided evidence to Lender, which Lender determines in its discretion is
sufficient, that such shareholder approval is not required, for the authorized shares of common stock required in connection with
the Rights Offering and for the transactions contemplated thereby.


 


(viii)      The
Company shall have obtained board of directors and SEC approval of a registration statement for the issuance of shares of common
stock in connection with the Rights Offering.


 


(ix)         The
Lender’s exercise of its basic subscription privilege in full in the Rights Offering shall be subject to the Company’s
satisfaction of its obligations under this clause (n) (other than under subclause (xii) which obligations arise after the closing
of the Rights Offering).


 


(x)          The
Company shall have received all other required approvals and consents.


 


(xi)         The
definitive agreements relating to the Rights Offering shall include customary representations and warranties by the Company and
customary covenants satisfactory to the Noteholders.


 


(xii)        The
Company shall file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 or another appropriate form in accordance herewith and with
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except if the Company is then eligible to use Form S-3, such registration statement shall
be on Form S-3) covering the resale by the Noteholders of the common stock issued in connection with the Rights Offering (the “Registration
Statement”) and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing date, or within one-hundred and eighty (180) calendar days after
the filing date in the event the Registration Statement is reviewed by the SEC. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective until such time as all the securities have been sold thereunder
or the securities may be sold without restriction under applicable securities laws, subject to normal and customary blackout periods.
The registration rights specified in this clause (xi) shall be embodied in a registration rights agreement in customary form between
the Company and the Noteholders.


 




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(o)          Fees
& Expenses. Without limitation of the last sentence of Section 10, the Company shall pay the Lender in respect of the legal
fees and other expenses of the Lender in connection with the issuance of this Note and the Rights Offering, a payment of $75,000.
Such amounts shall be due and payable in full, in cash, upon the consummation of the Rights Offering or, if earlier, upon the maturity
of any principal of this Note (whether at stated maturity, at a date fixed for optional or mandatory prepayment, upon acceleration
pursuant to Section 9 or otherwise), and, if then unpaid, shall thereafter constitute additional principal amounts under this Note,
bearing interest at the rate provided herein for overdue principal amounts.


 


8.          Modification
by Holders; Waiver. The Company may, with the written consent of the holder of this Note, modify the terms and provisions of
this Note or the rights of the holder of this Note or the obligations of the Company hereunder, and the observance by the Company
of any term or provision of this Note may be waived with the written consent of the holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment,
modification, or waiver of any provision of this Note will be valid unless the same is in a writing expressly stating that the
intent of such writing is to amend, modify or waive a right under this Note.


 


Any such modification
or waiver shall apply and shall be binding upon each future holder of this Note and upon the Company, whether or not such Note
shall have been marked to indicate such modification or waiver, but any substitute Note issued thereafter shall bear a notation
referring to any such modification or waiver.


 


9.          Events
of Default. If any one or more of the following events, herein called “Events of Default,”
shall occur (for any reason whatsoever, and whether such occurrence shall, on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to or in compliance with any judgment,
decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or other governmental
authority) and such Event of Default shall be continuing:


 


(i)          default
shall be made in the payment of the principal of this Note when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity
or at a date fixed for prepayment or repurchase (including default of any optional or mandatory prepayment in accordance with the
requirements of Section 5) or by acceleration or otherwise; or


 


(ii)         default
shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest on this Note according to its terms when and as the same shall become
due and payable; or


 


(iii)        default
shall be made in the prompt observance or performance of any covenant, condition or agreement on the part of the Company contained
herein in Section 7, and such default shall continue for ten (10) days after written notice thereof; or


 




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(iv)        default
shall be made in the prompt observance or performance of any other covenant, condition or agreement on the part of the Company
to be observed or performed pursuant to the terms hereof, and such default shall continue for ten (10) days after written notice
thereof, specifying such default and requesting that the same be remedied; or


 


(v)         any
representation or warranty made by or on behalf of the Company herein or in any Security Document shall prove to have been false
or incorrect in any material respect on the date on or as of which made; or


 


(vi)        default
shall be made in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in any fee letter related to the Note, any Security Document
or any other document, instrument or agreement (collectively, the “Loan Documents”) delivered
by the Company or any subsidiary in order to grant or perfect Liens on any assets thereof as security for all or any of the obligations
of the Company under the Loan Documents, or to govern or evidence any such obligations, and such default shall continue for ten
(10) days after written notice thereof; or


 


(vii)       the
entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
in any involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other applicable federal
or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator
(or similar official) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any substantial part of any of their property or ordering the
winding-up or liquidation of any of their affairs and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a
period of ninety (90) consecutive days; or


 


(viii)      the
commencement by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted
or hereafter amended, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, or the consent by
any of them to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or
other similar official) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any substantial part of any of their property, or the making
by any of them of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries
on a regular or continuing basis to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries in furtherance of or which might reasonably be expected to result in any of the foregoing; or


 




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(ix)         a
default or an event of default as defined in any instrument evidencing or under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has
outstanding at the time any Indebtedness in excess of $100,000 in aggregate principal amount shall occur, and as a result thereof
the maturity of any such Indebtedness shall have been, or at the option of the holder thereof could be, accelerated so that the
same shall have become or could be declared to be due and payable prior to the date on which the same would otherwise have become
due and payable; or


 


(x)          final
judgment (not reimbursed by insurance policies of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) for the payment of money in excess of
$100,000 shall be rendered against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of
thirty (30) days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed; or


 


(xi)         any
Loan Document shall, at any time, cease to be in full force and effect (other than by reason of a release thereunder in accordance
with the terms hereof or thereof, the satisfaction in full of the obligations thereunder or any other termination of such Loan
Document in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof) in any material respect, shall be declared null and void, or the validity
or enforceability thereof shall be contested in writing by the Company or any subsidiary, or the holder of this Note shall not
have or shall cease to have a valid security interest in any collateral purported to be covered thereby, perfected and with the
priority contemplated by the Loan Documents;


 


then any holder may, at its option, by
a notice in writing to the Company declare the Note to be, and the Note shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable
together with interest accrued thereon, without diligence, presentment, demand, protest, notice of acceleration, notice of intent
to accelerate or further notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Company to the extent permitted by law; provided,
however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under paragraphs (vii) or (viii) above, the Note shall automatically
become due and payable, together with interest accrued thereon, without any further action of the holder.


 


At any time after any
declaration of acceleration has been made as provided in this Section 9, the holder of the Note may, by notice to the Company,
rescind such declaration and its consequences with respect to the Note, provided, however, that no such rescission
shall extend to or affect any subsequent default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.


 


10.         Suits
for Enforcement. In case any one or more of the Events of Default shall happen and be continuing (subject to any applicable
cure period expressly set forth herein), the holder of this Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity,
action at law and/or by other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained
in this Note or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Note, or may proceed to enforce the payment of this Note or
to enforce any other legal or equitable right of the holder of this Note.


 


In case of any default
under this Note, the Company will pay to the holder hereof collection costs and attorneys’ fees, to the extent actually incurred.


 




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11.         Remedies
Cumulative. No remedy herein conferred upon the holder of this Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each
and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing
at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise.


 


12.         Remedies
Not Waived. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of this Note nor any delay on the part of the holder hereof
in exercising any rights hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the holder of this Note.


 


13.         Successors
and Assigns. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Note contained by or on behalf of the Company
shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.


 


14.         Notices.
All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under this Note shall be in writing (which shall
include notice by facsimile transmission) and shall be deemed to have been duly made and received when personally served, or when
delivered by Federal Express or a similar overnight courier service, expenses prepaid, or by facsimile communications equipment,
addressed as set forth below:


 


If to the Lender:


 


Lambda Investors LLC


c/o Wexford Capital LP


Wexford Plaza


411 West Putnam Avenue


Greenwich, CT 06830


Attn: Arthur Amron


Tel: (203) 862-7012


Fax: (203) 862-7312


 


If to the Company:


 


Nephros, Inc.


Attn: John C. Houghton, President
and Chief Executive Officer


41 Grand Ave.


River Edge, NJ 07661


Tel: (201) 343-5202


Fax: (201) 343-5207


 


Any party may alter
the address to which communications are to be sent by giving the other parties written notice of such change of address in conformity
with the provisions providing for the giving of notice.


 




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15.         GOVERNING
LAW. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING THE CONFLICTS
OF LAWS RULES THEREOF.


 


16.         Submission
To Jurisdiction; Waivers; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND WITH ADVICE OF
COUNSEL:


 


(a)          submits
for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Note and the other Loan Documents to which it is
a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts
of the State of Delaware, the courts of the United States of America for the District of Delaware, and appellate courts from any
thereof;


 


(b)          consents
that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to
the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court
and agrees not to plead or claim the same;


 


(c)          agrees
that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail
(or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Company at its address set forth in Section 7(a) or at such
other address of which the holder shall have been notified pursuant thereto;


 


(d)          agrees
that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law; and


 


(e)          WAIVES
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS NOTE OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM RELATED
TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING.


 


17.         Limitation
on Interest. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Company, the Lender and each other holder shall conform strictly
to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby or by any other Loan Document would be usurious
as to any holder under laws applicable to it, then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note or any
other Loan Document or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for this Note, it is agreed as follows: (i)
the aggregate of all consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any holder that is contracted for, taken,
reserved, charged or received by the holder under this Note or any other Loan Document or agreements or otherwise in connection
with this Note shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, any excess shall be canceled
automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by the holder on the principal amount of the Note (or, to the extent that
the principal amount of the Note shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by the holder to the Company); and
(ii) in the event that the maturity of this Note is accelerated by reason of any Event of Default under this Note or otherwise,
or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable
to the holder may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest, if any, provided
for in this Note or otherwise shall be canceled automatically by the holder as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and,
if theretofore paid, shall be credited by the holder on the principal amount of the Note (or, to the extent that the principal
amount of the Note shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by the holder to the Company). All sums paid or agreed
to be paid to the holder for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable
to the holder, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of the Note until payment in full so that
the rate or amount of interest on account of the Note does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law.


 




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18.         Entire
Agreement. This Note, together with the Security Agreement and the Intellectual Property Security Agreement referred to in
Section 1 hereof (collectively, the “Closing Date Documents”), constitute the final agreement
between the Company and the Lender. The Closing Date Documents are the complete and exclusive expression of the parties’
agreement on the matters contained in the Closing Date Documents. All prior and contemporaneous negotiations, writings and agreements
between the parties and their counsel on the matters contained in the Closing Date Documents are expressly merged into and superseded
by the Closing Date Documents. The provisions of the Closing Date Documents may not be explained, supplemented, interpreted or
qualified through evidence of trade usage, a prior course of dealings or correspondence between the parties or their counsel, and
no such trade usage, prior course of dealings or correspondence shall give rise to any implied covenants or other implied terms.
In entering into the Closing Date Documents, neither party has relied upon any statement, representation, warranty, or agreement
of the other party or any of its agents or attorneys except for those expressly contained in the Closing Date Documents.


 


19.         Headings.
The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Note are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Note.


 


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left
Blank]


 




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nephros,
Inc. has caused this Note to be signed in its corporate name by one of its officers thereunto duly authorized and to be dated as
of the day and year first above written.


 


	 	NEPHROS, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ John C. Houghton
	 	Name:	John C. Houghton
	 	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer


 


Signature Page


Nephros, Inc. - Promissory Note