Document:

f8k050614ex10iv_stratexoil.htm

Exhibit 10.4

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of May 5, 2014 (the "Effective Date") between Stratex Oil & Gas Holdings, Inc., a Colorado corporation having its principal place of business at 30 Echo Lake Road, Watertown, CT 06795 (the "Company"), and Alan Gaines, an individual residing in the State of California ("Executive").

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is essential and in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to retain the services of Executive and to ensure his continued dedication and efforts to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive and Executive desires to be employed by the Company in the capacity and for the term and compensation and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.          Title; Responsibilities; Reporting: The Company hereby employs the Executive and the Executive hereby accepts employment upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.  During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall diligently and faithfully: (a) serve the Company in the capacity of Chairman of the Board ; (b) report directly to the Board; (c) discharge and carry out all duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be assigned, and such directions as may from time to time be given, to Executive by the Board and (d) abide by and carry out the policies and programs of the Company in existence or as the same may be changed from time to time.

 

2.          Exclusivity: All services to be provided by Executive under this Agreement shall be performed by Executive personally. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall devote the majority of Executive's business time, attention and energies and all of his skills, learnings and best efforts to the business of Company. At all times during the term of this Agreement, the services required of Executive and the location at which he performs such services shall not require that he reside outside of the State of California, except for travel in the ordinary course of business. Executive may (a) serve on corporate, civil or charitable boards or committees, (b) manage personal investments, and (c) deliver lectures and teach at educational institutions or events so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of Executive's duties hereunder. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of Executive's responsibilities to the Company.

 

  

  

  

 

3.          Term:  The initial term of this Agreement shall commence simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement by Executive and shall end on the fifth year anniversary of the Effective Date, unless sooner extended by agreement of the parties or earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The date on which this Agreement is scheduled to expire is referred to as the "End Date". Unless the Company or Executive gives written notice to the other party at least sixty (60) days prior to the End Date of its intention to terminate this Agreement or to renegotiate its terms, this Agreement shall renew and continue in effect for successive one-year periods, and each anniversary date from such original End Date shall thereafter be designated as the “End Date” for all purposes under this Agreement.  The term of this Agreement, whether as originally scheduled, extended by Agreement, or shortened pursuant to an earlier termination in accordance herewith is referred to as the “Term.”

 

4.          Base Salary:  Commencing as of the Effective Date, the Company shall pay to Executive an initial base salary at the rate of $350,000 per annum which shall be increased at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum.  Executive’s base salary may be reviewed and further adjusted from time to time by the Board in its discretion, subject to Executive’s rights under Section 15 of this Agreement.  The base salary shall be paid in equal monthly installments on the first day of each month and shall be subject to such deductions by the Company as are required to be made pursuant to law, government regulations or order. Executive understands and agrees that Executive is an exempt Executive as that term is applied for purposes of Federal or state wage and hour laws, and further understands that Executive shall not be entitled to any compensatory time off or other compensation for overtime.

 

5.          Performance Bonus: For each calendar year during the Term of this Agreement commencing January 1, 2015, Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual performance bonus ("Bonus"). The amount of the Bonus shall be targeted at one-hundred percent (100%) of the then applicable base salary (the "Targeted Bonus"), based upon quantitative and qualitative performance criteria to be approved by the Board (upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee) on or before November 30, 2014. The actual Bonus may be less than or more than the Targeted Bonus based upon the assessment by the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, of Executive's performance against such criteria. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Bonus awarded in any year exceed two-hundred percent (200%) of the then applicable base salary.  The Bonus will be paid to Executive within sixty (60) days after the Board’s determination that such Bonus has been earned, but in no event later than ninety (90) days following the end of the calendar year for which performance was measured.

 

6.          Fringe Benefits: During the Term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to major medical and full hospital insurance, provided that Executive is insurable at "standard rates".  Executive shall also be entitled to such disability, life insurance, and other similar benefits as may be made available to other senior officers of the Company under such group benefit plans and/or programs as may be maintained by the Company from time to time, subject to any eligibility, co-payment and waiting period requirements under or applicable to any such benefit plans and/or programs. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to amend, modify or terminate any such benefit plan or program at any time and for any reason or for no reason. Executive's entitlement to such benefits shall end upon the termination of his employment with the Company, however caused, except as provided (a) by applicable law or (b) by the express terms of any such group benefit plan or program maintained by the Company.

 

  

2

  

 

7.          Vacation, Etc.: During the Term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to six (6) weeks paid vacation each twelve (12) months, to be taken at such time or times as shall be consistent with the proper performance by Executive of his duties. No unused vacation, holidays, sick leave or personal days may be carried forward from year to year.

 

8.          Expense Reimbursement; Travel Policy: The Company shall provide Executive with such reasonable business lodging and travel expense reimbursements as are consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time as they pertain to senior officers of the Company. All reimbursements by the Company provided for in this Agreement are conditioned upon Executive's submission to the Company of reasonably satisfactory documentation and an itemized account for such expenses within a reasonable period after they are incurred. Expense reports and requests for reimbursement which are submitted later than two months after the expense is incurred will not be reimbursed without the approval of the Company's Chief Financial Officer.

 

9.          Other Employee Benefit Plans: During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee, Executive or key-employee benefit or incentive compensation plans maintained or established by the Company for the purpose of providing compensation and/or benefits to employees, Executives or key employees, generally, including without limitation, all pension, retirement, profit sharing, savings, stock option, deferred compensation and/or restricted stock grants. Unless otherwise provided herein, the compensation and benefits hereunder, and Executive's participation in such plans, practices and programs shall be on the same basis and terms as applicable to the other eligible participants in the particular plan, practice or program. No additional compensation provided under any such plans shall be deemed to modify or otherwise affect the terms of this Agreement or any of Executive's entitlements hereunder.

 

10.        Death of Executive: In the event of Executive's death during the Term of this Agreement, the Company's obligations and agreements under this Agreement shall automatically terminate as of the date of such death, and in full satisfaction thereof, the Company shall pay to Executive's estate any base salary earned and unpaid through the date of such death and any business expenses or other fringe benefits otherwise due to Executive. Executive's estate shall also be entitled to payment for (i) any Bonus earned in the year preceding such termination but not yet paid and (ii) accrued but unused vacation days during the year such termination occurs. Such event shall not be deemed a "Termination Without Cause" as defined in Section 16 below. All other obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall automatically cease, and Executive's estate shall not be entitled to any other salary, payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive under this Agreement, except as otherwise required by law.

 

11.        Disability of Executive: If Executive shall, during the term of this Agreement, suffer a "Disability," (as defined, from time to time, in a disability plan that the Company may maintain for the benefit of its senior officers (a "Disability Plan") or, whenever no such Disability Plan exists, as defined in accordance with the meanings on Exhibit A hereto), then the Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by written notice of such Disability to Executive whereupon the Company's obligations and agreements under this Agreement shall automatically terminate as of the date of such notice, and in full satisfaction thereof, the Company shall pay to Executive any base salary earned and unpaid through the date of such notice (less any payments received by Executive under a Disability Plan) and any business expenses or other fringe benefits otherwise due to Executive. Executive shall also be entitled to payment for (i) any Bonus earned in the year preceding such termination but not yet paid and (ii) accrued but unused vacation days during the year such termination occurs. No such termination shall be deemed a "Termination Without Cause". All other obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall automatically cease, and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary, payments or benefits otherwise payable under this Agreement, except as otherwise required by law.

 

  

3

  

 

12.        Resignation Notice; Termination: Executive agrees to give sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Company of any decision by Executive to resign during the Term of this Agreement (such notice hereinafter referred to as a "Resignation Notice"), provided, however, that in the case of Executive's resignation for "Good Reason" as defined in Section 15 below, only fourteen (14) days' prior written notice shall be required. Executive acknowledges and understands that these notice periods are for the exclusive benefit of the Company, and do not confer any employment obligation on the Company. If the Company receives any such Resignation Notice, the Company may elect, in its sole discretion and for any reason or for no reason, to terminate Executive's employment, either immediately or at any point during the period indicated in such notice.

 

13.        Post-Resignation Actions: If Executive decides to resign from Executive's employment with the Company, Executive agrees to make no public announcement and no statement to persons or entities doing business with the Company concerning Executive's departure prior to Executive's termination date without the written consent of the Company, and to continue faithfully performing and discharging Executive's duties and responsibilities for the Company from the date of such Resignation Notice until such termination date.

 

14.        Post-Resignation Obligations: Except as provided below with respect to resignations for "Good Reason," no resignation under Section 12 hereof (or termination by the Company following a Resignation Notice) shall be deemed to be or treated as if it was a "Termination Without Cause" as defined below. Executive agrees and understands that, in the event of any such resignation (or termination by the Company following a Resignation Notice), Executive shall be entitled to receive Executive's then applicable base salary through the date of termination of Executive's employment and any business expenses otherwise due to Executive. Executive shall also be entitled to payment for any Bonus earned in the year preceding such resignation but not yet paid and, in the event of a "Resignation for Good Reason", accrued but unused vacation days during the year such resignation occurs. All other obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall automatically cease, and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary, payments or benefits otherwise payable under this Agreement, except as otherwise required by law. The parties further agree and understand that, in the event of any such resignation (or termination by the Company following a Resignation Notice), Executive's obligations and agreements under Sections 20 through 23 hereof shall continue in full force and effect in the manner and on the terms set forth herein

 

  

4

  

 

15.        Resignation for Good Reason: If Executive resigns for "Good Reason" (as defined below), then such a resignation (a "Resignation for Good Reason") shall be treated hereunder as if it were a "Termination Without Cause" as defined in Section 16 below. "Good Reason" means any of the following failures or conditions which shall remain uncured twenty (20) days after written notice of such failure or condition is received by the Company from Executive: (i) the failure of the Company to continue Executive in the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company (or such other senior Executive position as may be offered by the Company and which Executive in his sole discretion may accept); (ii) material diminution by the Company of Executive's responsibilities, duties, or authority in comparison with the responsibilities, duties and authority held during the six month period immediately preceding such diminution, or assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent with Executive's position as a senior Executive officer of the Company (or such other senior Executive position as may be offered by the Company and which Executive in his sole discretion may accept); (iii) failure by the Company to pay and provide to Executive the compensation and benefits provided for in this Agreement to which Executive is entitled; or (iv) the requirement that Executive relocate his residence outside of the State of California.

 

16.        Termination Without Cause: Executive's employment under this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Company, without cause, upon fourteen (14) days' written notice to Executive (such termination referred to throughout this Agreement as a "Termination Without Cause"). In the event of any such Termination Without Cause, (a) Executive shall be entitled to receive Executive's then applicable base salary through the date of termination of Executive's employment and any business expenses or fringe benefits otherwise due to Executive and (b) in addition, the Company agrees to pay to Executive, as severance pay and in lieu of any further compensation for any subsequent period, an amount equal to the two and ninety-nine one- hundredths times (2.99X) the sum of the (A) Executive's then applicable base salary and (B) the Targeted Bonus (the "Severance Payment"), which Severance Payment shall be payable in six (6) equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of each month following the date of termination. Executive shall also be entitled to payment for (i) any Bonus earned in the year preceding such termination but not yet paid and (ii) accrued but unused vacation days during the year such termination occurs. All other obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall automatically cease, and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary, payments or benefits otherwise payable under this Agreement, except as otherwise required by law or pursuant to any Company benefit plan.

 

17.        Termination following Change of Control: If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company within twelve (12) months after a Change of Control (as defined herein) for reasons other than For Cause pursuant to Section 18 below or by reason of Disability or Executive's death, (a) Executive shall be entitled to receive Executive's then applicable base salary through the date of termination of Executive's employment and any business expenses or fringe benefits otherwise due to Executive and (b) in addition, the Company agrees to pay to Executive, the Severance Payment, which Severance Payment shall be payable in six (6) equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of each month following the date of termination. Executive shall also be entitled to payment for (i) any bonus earned in the year preceding such termination but not yet paid and (ii) accrued but unused vacation days during the year such termination occurs. All other obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall automatically cease, and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary, payments or benefits otherwise payable under this Agreement, except as otherwise required by law or pursuant to any Company benefit plan.

 

  

5

  

 

18.       Termination For Cause: The Company, upon a vote of the Company's Board of Directors (excluding Executive) shall be entitled to immediately terminate Executive's services in any of the following circumstances, each of which shall constitute "cause" for such termination:

 

(a)            the breach by Executive, in any material respect, of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the refusal or other failure by Executive to perform any of Executive's duties hereunder other than a failure to perform resulting from death or physical or mental disability) and failure by Executive to cure such breach within ten (10) days of written notice thereof from the Company;

 

(b)            the commission by Executive of any act of dishonesty, fraud, intentional material misrepresentation or moral turpitude in connection with his employment, including, but not limited to, misappropriation or embezzlement of any funds of the Company or any of its affiliates;

 

(c)            the commission by Executive of any (1) willful misconduct or gross negligence, or (2) intentional act having the effect of injuring the reputation, business or business relationships of the Company or any of its affiliates, and which intentional act would not reasonably be deemed to be in the best interests of the Company;

 

(d)            the entering by Executive of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, or the conviction of Executive for, a crime (other than a routine traffic offense) which carries a potential penalty of imprisonment for more than ninety (90) days and/or a fine in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000);

 

(e)            Executive's abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs or controlled substances to a degree which interferes with his performance on behalf of the Company;

 

(f)             Executive's deliberate disregard of any lawful material rule or policy of the Company or order of the Company's Board of Directors and failure to cure the same within ten (10) days of written notice thereof from the Company; or

 

(g)            excessive absenteeism of Executive other than for reasons of illness, after written notice from the Company with respect thereto.

 

If Executive is terminated for any of the causes referred to in the above sub-paragraphs (a) through (g), all obligations of the Company under this Agreement (except for obligations specifically referred to as continuing) shall automatically cease, and Executive shall only be entitled to receive Executive's then applicable base salary through the date of termination and any business expenses or fringe benefits otherwise due to Executive and any Bonus earned in the year preceding such termination but not yet paid. All other obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall automatically cease, and Executive shall not be entitled to any other salary, payments or benefits otherwise payable under this Agreement, except as otherwise required by law. The parties further agree and understand that, in the event of any such termination, Executive's obligations and agreements under Sections 20 through 23 hereof shall continue in full force and effect in the manner and on the terms set forth herein.

 

  

6

  

 

19.        Payment Upon Expiration of Term: In the event that this Agreement expires by the arrival of an End Date without a prior termination or resignation, the Company agrees to pay to Executive his base salary and pro rata Bonus earned and unpaid through the date of such expiration and any business expenses or fringe benefits otherwise due to Executive. Executive shall also be entitled to payment for any Bonus earned in the year preceding the expiration of the Agreement but not yet paid and accrued but unused vacation days during the year such expiration occurs. All other payments, benefits or arrangements provided by the Company shall cease immediately, except as otherwise required by law or the terms of any plan maintained by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties further agree and understand that, in the event of any such expiration, Executive's obligations and agreements under Sections 20 through 23 hereof shall continue in full force and effect in the manner and on the terms set forth herein.

 

20.        Noncompetition:

 

(a)           Executive expressly acknowledges that, in order to protect the Company, and persons and entities that do business with the Company, it is an essential condition of his employment that Executive agrees that during the Term of this Agreement and (unless this Agreement is terminated as a result of a Termination Without Cause or a Resignation For Good Reason):

 

 (i)            for a period of one (1) year thereafter, Executive will not directly or indirectly, for his own account or on behalf of any other person or as an employee, consultant, manager, agent, broker, stockholder, director or officer of a corporation, investor, owner, lender, partner, joint venturer, or otherwise engage in any business which is then directly engaged in the exploration, drilling or production of natural gas or oil, within any five (5) mile radius from any property in which the Company has an ownership, leasehold or participation interest at the date of such termination;

 

 (ii)           for a period of one (1) year thereafter (i) solicit, entice or induce any Customer (as defined below) of the Company to cease or limit its business with the Company (except if and to the extent directed to do so by the Board of Directors of the Company), or to become a customer, supplier, vendor or client of any other person (including, without limitation, Executive, individually) or entity engaged in any activity or business competitive with the Company if as a consequence thereof such party shall reduce the business it does with the Company or (ii) interfere with the relationship between the Company and any Customer, and Executive shall not cause, assist or facilitate any person or entity in taking any such prohibited actions;

 

 (iii)          for a period of one (1) year thereafter, solicit, attempt to solicit or entice away from the Company's employment, any employee of the Company, or disrupt or interfere with, or attempt to disrupt or interfere with, the Company's relationship with any such person, and Executive shall not cause, assist or facilitate any person or entity in taking any such prohibited action;

 

  

7

  

 

 (iv)          disparage the Company or any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees or agents or take any actions that are harmful to the Company's goodwill with its customers, employees or the public; and

 

 (v)           engage in any act or practice the purpose of which is to evade the provisions of this covenant not to compete or to commit any act which adversely affects the business of the Company.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, a "Customer" of the Company shall mean any person or entity, who or which is, or was at any time within the prior one year period, a purchaser of goods or services from the Company, a landlord, sublandlord, licensor, licensee or supplier of (or prospective purchaser, landlord, sublandlord, licensor, licensee or supplier, provided the Company was in active discussions with such party prior to the termination of this Agreement), to or from the Company, as the case may be.

 

(b)           It is understood by Executive that the covenants contained in this Section 20 are essential elements of this Agreement and that, but for the agreement of Executive to comply with such covenants, the Company would not have agreed to enter into this Agreement and would not pay Executive the agreed compensation for his services. Executive acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 20 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company and that enforcement of the provisions of this Section 20 shall not result in an unreasonable deprivation of the right of Executive to earn a living. The existence of any claim or cause of action of Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants. The covenants of Executive in this Section 20 shall be construed as agreements independent of any provision in this Agreement. In the event a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the provisions of this Section 20 are excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope or activity, it is expressly agreed that Section 20 shall be construed so that the remaining provisions shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and any such overbroad provisions shall be deemed, without further action on the part of any person, to be modified, amended and/or limited, but only to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable in such jurisdiction.

 

21.        Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information.

 

 (a)           Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive's services for the Company shall bring Executive into contact with sensitive or secret information relating to the Company, its successors, subsidiaries, assigns, officers. Executives, associated entities and/or agents including, but not limited to (i) information concerning the objectives, plans, commitments, contracts, leases, operations, Executives, methods, market investigations, surveys, research, records, and costs and prices of the Company and/or the Company's subsidiaries or associated entities, (ii) information concerning the identities, objectives, plans, preferences, needs, requests, specifications, commitments, contracts, operations, methods and records of the Company's and/or its subsidiaries' or associated entities' lenders, prospective lenders, investors, owners and/or prospective owners, and (iii) any and all information, trade secrets or ideas that give the Company or its subsidiaries or associated entities the opportunity to obtain an advantage over such competitors of the Company or of such subsidiaries or associated entities that do not know or use such information, trade secrets or ideas (the "Confidential Information").

 

  

8

  

 

 (b)           Executive further understands and acknowledges that Confidential Information includes not only recorded or written information, but information that Executive can recall or reconstruct from Executive's memory.

 

 (c)           Executive agrees that he will, at all times, faithfully hold all such Confidential Information in the strictest of confidence and will, at all times, use his best efforts and highest diligence to keep such Confidential Information secret, to guard against its disclosure, and never, directly or indirectly, to disclose or divulge any such Confidential Information to any person, company, firm or other entity, or to use the same, except that (i) Executive may use Confidential Information as necessary to perform his duties of employment with the Company, (ii) Executive may disclose Confidential Information to those within the Company who have a need to know it in the performance of their duties for the Company, (iii) Executive may disclose Confidential Information to parties outside the Company when, as and if he is expressly directed to do so by Executive's supervisors within the Company, and (iv) Executive may disclose Confidential Information as expressly directed by judicial process, provided that Executive has promptly, and prior to making such disclosure, provided a copy of such judicial process to the Company and the Company does not intervene to oppose such disclosure. Executive shall use his best efforts to afford the Company sufficient time to intervene to oppose any such disclosure, including, if necessary, seeking reasonable extensions of Executive's time to make such disclosure.

 (d)           Executive shall continue to abide by all of his obligations under this Agreement respecting Confidential Information not only during his employment with the Company, but also for all time after any termination, resignation or expiration of his employment with the Company, however caused.

 

 (e)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, after any termination or resignation of Executive from his employment with the Company, Confidential Information shall not include, and Executive shall not be restricted from divulging or using, any information which Executive can demonstrate (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Executive, (ii) was available to Executive on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to Executive by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or associated entities, or (iii) becomes available to Executive on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or associated entities, provided, however, that such source was not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or associated entities, or was not otherwise prohibited from transmitting such information to Executive.

 

  

9

  

 

(f)            Executive agrees that upon any termination, resignation or expiration of his employment with the Company, however caused, Executive shall deliver to the Company all writings, documents, recordings, computer discs or other media of recordation or storage in his possession, custody or control containing any Confidential Information (including, without limitation, all duplicates and copies), shall relinquish access to any computer maintained by or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or associated entities, and shall purge all such Confidential Information (in whatever form, including electronic data) from any electronic media or storage devices, including computers, in Executive's possession, custody or control. To insure compliance with this Agreement, at the time of such termination, resignation or expiration. Executive shall provide the Company with a sworn statement, duly notarized, that Executive has performed each and every agreement and obligation contained or referred to in this Section.

 

22.       Company Property: All inventions, improvements, systems, designs, ideas, business plans, sales techniques, approaches, surveys, prospect books, publications, memoranda, customer lists, files, notes, records, videotapes or any other business documentation or products (including, without limitation, Confidential Information) that Executive makes or conceives (either individually or jointly with others) or that are made available to Executive during his employment with the Company and until any termination, resignation or expiration of such employment for any reason, relating to and connected with his employment, or that Executive utilizes in carrying out his duties or responsibilities to the Company (the "Property"), shall be the Company's exclusive property, and Executive assigns to the Company all of his rights, if any, in and to all such Property.

23.       Trade Names, Trademarks and Copyright: During his employment with the Company, and continuing for all time after any termination, resignation or expiration of such employment for any reason, Executive agrees that he shall never have or claim any right, title or interest in any trade name, trademark or copyright (statutory or common law) belonging to or used by the Company, its subsidiaries, successors, assigns or associated entities, and shall never have or claim any right, title or interest in any material or matter of any sort, prepared for or used in connection with advertising, solicitation, circulation, editorial content or promotion of the business of the Company, its subsidiaries, successors, assigns or associated entities, whether produced, prepared or published in whole or in part by Executive. Executive recognizes that the Company and/or its subsidiaries or associated entities now have and shall hereafter have and retain sole and exclusive rights in and to any and all such trade names, trademarks, copyrights, material and matter.

 

24.       Injunctive Relief: Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Property and the Confidential Information are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character which gives them a peculiar value, and that a breach by Executive of any of the restrictive covenants contained in paragraphs 20 through 23 herein will cause the Company irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy available at law. Executive further expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any remedies available at law, to injunctive or other equitable relief to require specific performance, or to prevent a breach, of any provision of this Agreement by Executive without any requirement or showing that the Company has suffered any damages from such breach.

 

  

10

  

 

25.       Further Instruments: Each of the Company and Executive shall execute, acknowledge, deliver and procure the execution, acknowledgment and delivery to the other of any and all further instruments which the other may reasonably deem necessary or expedient to carry out or effectuate the purposes or intent of this Agreement.

 

26.       Representations. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive has the capacity and right to negotiate and enter into this Agreement, and Executive's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not breach, interfere with or conflict with any other contractual agreement, covenant not to compete, option, right of first refusal or other existing business relationship or any judgment or order, in each case, to which Executive is a party or otherwise subject.

 

27.       Successors and Assigns: This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company without the prior consent of Executive, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. For purposes of this Agreement a transfer of this Agreement in connection with a merger, sale of a majority of the outstanding shares or consolidation of the Company or a sale of substantially all of the Company assets shall not constitute an assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors, heirs, executors and personal representatives of Executive. This Agreement contemplates the rendition of personal services by Executive and is not assignable by Executive

28.       Savings Clause: If any term or provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each term and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company's rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement or by law shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative.

 

29.        Governing Law and Construction: Any and all differences and disputes of whatever nature arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including, without limitation, the negotiation, execution, performance or termination of this Agreement) shall be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut applicable to contracts made, negotiated and to be performed entirely in such State without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws. With respect to all such differences and disputes, the parties agree and consent to be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Connecticut and consent to the exclusive venue of Connecticut.

 

30.       Notices: All notices to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given by hand, by overnight courier services which obtain acknowledgment of receipt or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the party receiving such notice (each of the foregoing being referred to as "Written Notice"), or by facsimile transmission, such transmission being effective as of the date thereof if followed within ten (10) business days by Written Notice, as follows:

 

 (a)           if to the Company, to the Company's address set forth above;

 

  

11

  

 

 (b)           if to Executive, to Executive's address on file with the Company; or

 

 (c)           to either party at such other addresses as shall have been specified in a notice similarly given.

 

31.        Freedom to Execute Agreement: The Company and Executive each represent, warrant and agree that they are free to enter into this Agreement, and that they are not subject to any obligations or disability which would prevent them from or interfere with their fully keeping and performing all of the covenants and conditions to be kept or performed under such agreements. The Company and Executive further represent, warrant and agree that they have not made and will not make any grant or assignment which conflicts with or impairs the complete enjoyment of the rights and privileges granted to the Company and Executive under this Agreement. Executive has had the opportunity to consult with his personal attorney and to negotiate this Agreement at "arms-length".

 

32.        Entire Agreement: This Agreement and the agreements annexed as appendices hereto are intended together to constitute the entire agreement between the Company and Executive relating to the subject matters of such agreements, and all prior negotiations and understandings of the parties have been merged in such agreements. No modification of any such agreements shall be valid unless in writing and executed by the parties hereto. This Agreement supersedes in its entirety the Prior Agreement, which effective as of the Commencement Date is void and of no further force and effect.

 

33.        Waiver of Breach: The waiver of a breach or default of or under any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any other such breach or default of any kind or nature.

 

34.        Approvals: This Agreement has been approved by the necessary vote of the Company's Board of Directors of the Company.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

  

12

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	“Executive”	 	 	“Company”	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	ALAN GAINES	 	 	STRATEX OIL & GAS HOLDINGS, INC.	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
/s/ Alan Gaines

	 	 	By:	
/s/ Stephen P. Funk

	 
	ALAN GAINES  	 	 	 	
Stephen P. Funk Chief Executive Officer

	 

 

  

13

  

 

Exhibit A

 

For the purposes of this Employment Agreement, whenever the term "Disability" is not defined in a Disability Plan that the Company may maintain for the benefit of its senior officers, that term shall mean that, for a period of "120 continuous days", Executive is "limited" form performing the "material and substantial duties" of his "regular occupation" due to his "sickness" or "injury."

 

For purposes of this definition:

 

"120 continuous days" shall mean 120 days of sickness or injury which meets all of the other criteria for a Disability as defined herein, with no lapse of greater than 30 days (consecutively or in the aggregate);

 

"limited" from performing a duty or function means that Executive is unable to perform such duty or function;

 

"material and substantial duties" means duties that are normally required for the performance of Executive's "regular occupation" and cannot be reasonably omitted or modified;

 

"regular occupation" means all of the functions that Executive was routinely performing prior to the onset of the condition or conditions that resulted in the Company's decision to terminate Executive's employment for reasons related to Disability;

 

"sickness" means any illness or disease that renders Executive incapable of performing material and substantial duties of his employment under the Employment Agreement; and

 

"injury" means a bodily injury that is the direct result of an accident and not related to any other cause.

 

 

14fs12014a4ex4i_chinacomm.htm

Exhibit 4.1

 

Form of Representative’s Warrant Agreement

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE WARRANT EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (DEFINED BELOW) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) AXIOM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. OR AN UNDERWRITER OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF AXIOM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER.

THIS PURCHASE WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO [●], 20[__]. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, [●], 20[__].

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

For the Purchase of [●] Shares of Common Stock

of

CHINA COMMERCIAL CREDIT, INC.

1.           Purchase Warrant. THIS CERTIFIES THAT, pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement by and between China Commercial Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Axiom Capital Management, Inc. (“Axiom”) dated [●], 2014 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), [●] (“Holder”), as registered owner of this Purchase Warrant, is entitled, at any time or from time to time from [●], 20[__] (the “Exercise Date”), the date that is 180 days after the Effective Date, and at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, [●], 20[__] (the “Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to [●] shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Purchase Warrant. This Purchase Warrant is initially exercisable at $[●] per Share (120% of the price of the Shares sold in the Offering); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Warrant, including the exercise price per Share and the number of Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context. Any terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

  

  

  

 

2.           Exercise.

 

2.1           Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto as Exhibit A must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company or by check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.

 

2.2           Cashless Exercise. In lieu of exercising this Purchase Warrant by payment of cash or check payable to the order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 above, Holder may elect to receive the number of Shares equal to the value of this Purchase Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Purchase Warrant to the Company, together with the exercise form attached hereto, in which event the Company shall issue to Holder, Shares in accordance with the following formula:

 

	

X

	=	

Y(A-B)

	 	 
	

A

	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
Where,

	
X

	
=

	
The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;

	  	
Y

	
=

	
The number of Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised;

	  	
A

	
=

	
The fair market value of one Share; and

	  	
B

	
=

	
The Exercise Price.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.2, the fair market value of a Share is defined as follows:

 

(i)           if the Company’s common stock is traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the closing price on such exchange prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant; or

 

(ii)           if the Company’s common stock is actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the closing bid price prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant; if there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

2.3           Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Warrant shall bear a legend as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”):

 

“The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), or applicable state law. Neither the securities nor any interest therein may be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state law which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is available.”

 

  

- 2 -

  

 

3.           Transfer.

 

3.1           General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Warrant agrees by his, her or its acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Warrant for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date of the Registration Statement to anyone other than: (i) Axiom or an underwriter or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of Axiom or of any such underwriter or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(g)(1), or (b) cause this Purchase Warrant or the securities issuable hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this Purchase Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(g)(2). On and after that date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed and completed, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) Business Days transfer this Purchase Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant or Purchase Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

 

3.2           Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, (ii) the Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and includes a current prospectus or (iii) a registration statement, pursuant to which the Holder has exercised its registration rights pursuant to Section 4.1 herein, relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been filed and declared effective by the Commission and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.

 

4.           Registration Rights.

 

4.1           “Piggy-Back” Registration.

 

4.1.1           Grant of Right. Unless all of the Shares underlying the Purchase Warrants (collectively, the “Registrable Securities”) are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus, the Holder shall have the right, for a period of five (5) years commencing one hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date, to include the remaining Registrable Securities as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145 promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or any equivalent form); provided, however, that if, solely in connection with any primary underwritten public offering for the account of the Company, the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall, in its reasonable discretion, impose a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the registration statement because, in such underwriter(s)’ judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such registration statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which the Holder requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall reasonably permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Holders seeking to include Registrable Securities in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included by such Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities.

 

  

- 3 -

  

 

4.1.2           Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.1.1 hereof, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than thirty (30) days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been sold by the Holder. The holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the “piggy-back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten (10) days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. Except as otherwise provided in this Purchase Warrant, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holder may request registration under this Section 4.1.2.

 

4.2           General Terms.

 

4.2.1           Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters contained in Section 5.1 of the Underwriting Agreement. The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify the Company, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors or assigns, in writing, for specific inclusion in such registration statement to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in Section 5.2 of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to indemnify the Company.

 

4.2.2           Exercise of Purchase Warrants. Nothing contained in this Purchase Warrant shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Purchase Warrants prior to or after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.

 

  

- 4 -

  

 

4.2.3           Documents Delivered to Holders. If the registration statement includes an underwritten public offering, the Company shall furnish to each underwriter of any such offering, a signed counterpart, addressed to such underwriter, of: (i) an opinion of counsel to the Company, dated as of the date on which the Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriter for sale pursuant to such registration, and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter dated the effective date of such registration statement and the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement signed by the independent registered public accounting firm which has issued a report on the Company’s financial statements included in such registration statement, in each case covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of such accountants’ letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities. The Company shall also deliver promptly to each Holder participating in the offering requesting the correspondence and memoranda described below and to the managing underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect to the registration statement and permit each Holder and underwriter to do such investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times as any such Holder shall reasonably request.

 

4.2.4           Underwriting Agreement. The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter(s), if any, selected by any Holders whose Registrable Securities are being registered pursuant to this Section 4, which managing underwriter shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. Such agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, each Holder and such managing underwriters, and shall contain such representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and such other terms as are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing underwriter. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement relating to an underwritten sale of their Registrable Securities and may, at their option, require that any or all the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company to or for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holders. Such Holders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders, their Shares and their intended methods of distribution.

 

4.2.5           Documents to be Delivered by Holder(s). Each of the Holder(s) participating in any of the foregoing offerings shall furnish to the Company a completed and executed questionnaire provided by the Company requesting information customarily sought of selling security holders.

 

  

- 5 -

  

 

4.2.6           Damages. Should the registration or the effectiveness thereof required by Section 4.2 hereof be delayed by the Company or the Company otherwise fails to comply with such provisions, the Holder(s) shall, in addition to any other legal or other relief available to the Holder(s), be entitled to obtain specific performance or other equitable (including injunctive) relief against the threatened breach of such provisions or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without the necessity of posting bond or other security.

 

5.           New Purchase Warrants to be Issued.

 

5.1           Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Warrant for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor to this Purchase Warrant in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised or assigned.

 

5.2           Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Warrant and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Warrant executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.

 

6.           Adjustments.

 

6.1           Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Shares. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares underlying this Purchase Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:

 

6.1.1           Share Dividends; Split Ups. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is increased by a stock dividend payable in Shares or by a split up of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.

 

6.1.2           Aggregation of Shares. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased.

 

  

- 6 -

  

 

6.1.3           Replacement of Shares upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or Section 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or Section 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 6.1.1, Section 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

 

6.1.4           Changes in Form of Purchase Warrant. This form of Purchase Warrant need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 6.1, and Purchase Warrants issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Shares as are stated in the Purchase Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the date hereof or the computation thereof.

 

6.2           Substitute Purchase Warrant. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Shares), the corporation formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Warrant providing that the holder of each Purchase Warrant then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Warrant) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided for in this Section 6. The above provision of this Section 6 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share reconstructions or amalgamations.

 

  

- 7 -

  

 

6.3           Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Shares upon the exercise of the Purchase Warrant, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the nearest whole number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights.

 

7.           Reservation and Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant, such number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, in accordance with the terms hereby, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant and payment of the exercise price therefor, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. As long as this Purchase Warrant shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Shares issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all national securities exchanges (or, if applicable, on the OTC Bulletin Board or any successor trading market) on which the Shares issued to the public in the Offering may then be listed and/or quoted.

 

8.           Certain Notice Requirements.

 

8.1           Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a shareholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Warrants and their exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books (the “Notice Date”) for the determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.

 

8.2           Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.

 

  

- 8 -

  

 

8.3           Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

8.4           Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made (1) when hand delivered, (2) when mailed by express mail or private courier service or (3) when the event requiring notice is disclosed in all material respects and filed in a current report on Form 8-K or in a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A prior to the Notice Date: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Warrant, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:

 

If to the Holder:

 

Axiom Capital Management, Inc.

780 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attn: [           ]

Fax No.:

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

 

Reed Smith LLP

599 Lexington Ave, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: William N. Haddad, Esq.

Fax No.:  (212) 521-5450

If to the Company:

 

China Commercial Credit, Inc.

No. 1688, Yunli Road, Tongli

Wujiang, Jiangsu Province

People’s Republic of China

Attention: Huichun Qin, Chief Executive Officer

Fax No: 86(512)63960011

 

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

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

150 East 42nd Street, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Fax No: (212) 370-7889

 

  

- 9 -

  

 

9.           Miscellaneous.

 

9.1           Amendments. The Company and Axiom may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Warrant without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and Axiom may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and Axiom deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.

 

9.2           Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Warrant.

 

9.3.           Entire Agreement. This Purchase Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

9.4           Binding Effect. This Purchase Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Warrant or any provisions herein contained.

 

9.5           Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Purchase Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8  hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.

 

  

- 10 -

  

 

9.6           Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Warrant or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Warrant. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

9.7           Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Warrant, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Warrant by Holder, if the Company and Axiom enter into an agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Warrants will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

  

- 11 -

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Warrant to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the ____ day of _______, 2014.

CHINA COMMERCIAL CREDIT, INC.

 

By:                                                               

Name:

Title:

 

  

- 12 -

  

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form to be used to exercise Purchase Warrant:

 

Date: __________, 20___

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Purchase Warrant for ______ Shares of China Commercial Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and hereby makes payment of $____ (at the rate of $____ per Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised.

 

or

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase ___ Shares under the Purchase Warrant for ______ Shares, as determined in accordance with the following formula:

 

	 	 X	 =	

Y(A-B)

	 
	 	A	 
	
Where,

	
X

	
=

	
The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;

	  	
Y

	
=

	
The number of Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised;

	  	
A

	
=

	
The fair market value of one Share which is equal to $_____; and

	  	
B

	
=

	
The Exercise Price which is equal to $______ per share

 

The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been converted.

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed

 

  

- 13 -

  

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

 

Name:

(Print in Block Letters)

Address:

NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.

 

  

- 14 -

  

EXHIBIT B

 

Form to be used to assign Purchase Warrant: ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Warrant):

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                                                      does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchase shares of China Commercial Credit, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by the Purchase Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.

 

Dated:           , 20__

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed

 

NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.

 

 

 

- 15 -

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00230-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00230-of-00352.parquet"}]]