Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.10

[SVP/EVP]

NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

This Change of Control and Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between [_______] (“Executive”) and Nuance Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), effective as of [DATE] (the “Effective Date”).
RECITALS

1.    The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication and objectivity of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat, or occurrence of a Change of Control.
2.    The Committee believes that it is imperative to provide Executive with severance benefits upon Executive’s termination of employment under certain circumstances to provide Executive with enhanced financial security, incentive and encouragement to remain with the Company.
3.    The Executive and the Company are party to an employment offer letter or agreement dated on or about [_______] (the “Employment Agreement”).
4.    Certain capitalized terms used in the Agreement are defined in Section 7 below.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Executive’s continued employment and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.    Term of Agreement.  This Agreement will have an initial term commencing on the Effective Date and ending September 30, 20__ (the “Initial Term”).  At the end of the Initial Term, this Agreement will renew automatically for additional one (1) year terms (each an “Additional Term”), unless either party provides the other party with written notice of non-renewal at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of automatic renewal. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, if a Change of Control occurs when there are fewer than twelve (12) months remaining during the Initial Term or an Additional Term, the term of this Agreement will extend automatically through the date that is twelve (12) months following the effective date of the Change of Control.  If Executive becomes entitled to benefits under Section 3 during the term of this Agreement, the Agreement will not terminate until all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.  For avoidance of doubt, Executive will not be entitled to severance benefits under Section 3 due solely to notice of non-renewal or termination of the Agreement due to non-renewal.  
2.    At-Will Employment.  The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law, except as otherwise specifically provided under the terms of a written employment agreement between the Company and Executive.  
3.    Severance Benefits.
(a)    Termination Other than During Change of Control Period. If Executive’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries is terminated other than for Cause, and such termination occurs outside the Change of Control Period, then, subject to Section 4, Executive will receive from the Company:
(i)    Severance.  A lump sum severance payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the termination date.
(ii)    Continued Employee Benefits.  Continuation coverage under the terms of the Company medical benefit plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) for Executive and/or Executive’s eligible dependants, subject to Executive timely electing COBRA coverage.  For one year from the date of Executive’s termination the Company will pay directly on Executive’s behalf the COBRA premiums (at the coverage levels in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination).
(b)    Termination Following a Change of Control.  If during the Change of Control Period (i) Executive’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries is terminated other than for Cause, or (ii) Executive resigns for Good Reason, then, subject to Section 4, Executive will receive from the Company:

(i)    Severance.  A lump sum severance payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the termination date (or, if greater, as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control).
(ii)    Target Bonus.  A lump sum severance payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the greater of (1) Executive’s target bonus for the year in which Executive’s termination occurs, or (2) Executive’s target bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control. 
(iii)    Continued Employee Benefits.  Continuation coverage under the terms of the Company medical benefit plan pursuant to COBRA for Executive and/or Executive’s eligible dependants, subject to Executive timely electing COBRA coverage.  For one year from the date of Executive’s termination the Company will pay directly on Executive’s behalf the COBRA premiums (at the coverage levels in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination).  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing benefit without potentially violating, or being subject to an excise tax under, applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company will in lieu thereof provide to Executive a taxable lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the product of (x) twelve (12), multiplied by (y) the monthly COBRA premium that Executive otherwise would be required to pay to continue the group health coverage for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents, as applicable, as in effect on the date of Executive’s termination of employment (which amount will be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payment will be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage.  For the avoidance of doubt, the taxable payment in lieu of COBRA reimbursements may be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to continuation coverage under COBRA, and will be subject to all applicable tax withholdings.
(iv)    Vesting of Equity Awards.  One hundred percent (100%) of Executive’s outstanding and unvested time-vesting equity awards (excluding any awards vesting based on performance) covering shares of the Company’s common stock will become vested in full.
(c)    Vesting of Performance Shares.  Upon a Change of Control, a number of Executive’s outstanding performance-based restricted stock units granted under the Company’s 2000 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) that are subject to performance goals for the year in which the Change of Control occurs will become eligible for time-based vesting assuming the performance goals had been achieved at 100% of targeted performance (the “Eligible Shares”).  Following the Change of Control, the original time-based vesting schedule for the Eligible Shares will cease to apply and the Eligible Shares will instead vest on the last day of the performance period in which the Change of Control occurs, subject to Executive’s remaining a Service Provider (as defined in the Plan) through such date, or, if earlier, upon Executive’s termination by the Company or its successor other than for Cause or upon Executive’s resignation for Good Reason.  Such performance-based restricted stock units will otherwise remain subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable award agreement.
(d)    Voluntary Resignation; Termination for Cause. If Executive’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates in a voluntary resignation (other than for Good Reason during the Change of Control Period), or if the Executive is terminated for Cause, then Executive shall not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits except as otherwise provided by applicable law or those (if any) as may be available under the Company’s severance and benefit plans and policies in effect at the time of such termination.
(e)    Accrued Amounts.  Without regard to the reason for, or the timing of, Executive’s termination of employment, the Company shall pay Executive: (i) any unpaid base salary due for periods prior to the date of termination, (ii) accrued and unused vacation, as required under the applicable Company policy; and (iii) all expenses incurred by Executive in connection with the business of the Company prior to the date of termination in accordance with the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy.  These payments shall be made promptly upon termination and within the period of time mandated by law.
(f)    Exclusive Remedy.  In the event of termination of Executive’s employment as set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 3 are intended to be and are exclusive and in lieu of any other rights or remedies to which Executive or the Company may otherwise be entitled, whether at law, tort or contract, in equity, or under this Agreement (other than the payment of accrued but unpaid wages, as required by law, or any unreimbursed reimbursable expenses).  During the term of this Agreement, Executive will be entitled to no benefits, compensation or other payments or rights upon termination of employment, including under the Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Company, other than those benefits expressly set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
(g)    Transfer between Company and any Subsidiary.  For purposes of this Section 3, if Executive’s employment relationship with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company ceases, Executive will not, solely by virtue thereof, be determined to have been terminated without Cause for purposes of this Agreement if Executive continues to remain employed by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company immediately thereafter (e.g., upon transfer of Executive’s employment from the Company to a Company subsidiary).

4.    Conditions to Receipt of Severance
(a)    Release of Claims Agreement.  The receipt of any severance payments or benefits in Section 3 pursuant to this Agreement is subject to Executive signing and not revoking a separation agreement and release of claims in substantially the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A (the “Release”), which must become effective and irrevocable no later than the sixtieth (60th) day following Executive’s termination of employment (the “Release Deadline”).  If the Release does not become effective and irrevocable by the Release Deadline, Executive will forfeit any right to severance payments or benefits under this Agreement.  Any severance payments or benefits otherwise payable to Executive between the termination date and the Release Deadline will be paid on or within fifteen (15) days following the Release Deadline, or, if later, such time as required by Section 5(a), except that acceleration of vesting of equity awards not subject to Section 409A will become effective on the date the Release becomes effective. In no event will severance payments or benefits be paid or provided until the Release actually becomes effective and irrevocable.
(b)    Proprietary Information and Non-Competition Agreement.  Executive’s receipt of any severance payments or benefits under Section 3 will be subject to Executive continuing to comply with the terms of any agreements between Executive and the Company concerning inventions, confidentiality and restrictive covenants including, as applicable, post-closing restrictions (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). 
5.    Section 409A.
(a)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Deferred Payments will be paid or otherwise provided until Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  Similarly, no severance payable to Executive, if any, pursuant to this Agreement that otherwise would be exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A 1(b)(9) will be payable until Executive has a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  In addition, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of Executive’s separation from service (other than due to death), then the Deferred Payments, if any, that are payable within the first six (6) months following Executive’s separation from service, will become payable on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Executive’s separation from service. All subsequent Deferred Payments, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive dies following Executive’s separation from service, but before the six (6) month anniversary of the separation from service, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Executive’s death and all other Deferred Payments will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.  Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment under Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.
(b)    Any amount paid under this Agreement that satisfies the requirements of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of this Agreement.
(c)    Any amount paid under this Agreement that qualifies as a payment made as a result of an involuntary separation from service pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations that does not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined below) will not constitute Deferred Payments for purposes of this Agreement. 
(d)    The foregoing provisions are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to so comply.  Specifically, the payments hereunder are intended to be exempt from the Requirements of Section 409A under the “short-term” deferral rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations.  The Company and Executive agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition before actual payment to Executive under Section 409A.  In no event will the Company reimburse Executive for any taxes that may be imposed on Executive as a result of Section 409A.
6.    Limitation on Payments.  In the event that the severance and other benefits provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to Executive (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then Executive’s benefits under this Agreement shall be either
(a)    delivered in full, or
(b)    delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax,

whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  If a reduction in severance and other benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that benefits are delivered to a lesser extent, reduction will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments, (2) cancellation of equity awards granted within the twelve-month period prior to a “change of control” (as determined under Code Section 280G) that are deemed to have been granted contingent upon the change of control (as determined under Code Section 280G), (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards and (4) reduction of continued employee benefits.  In the event that accelerated vesting of equity awards is to be cancelled, such vesting acceleration will be cancelled in the reverse chronological order of the award grant dates.  
Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent public accountants (the “Accountants”), whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Executive and the Company for all purposes.  For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Section 280G and 4999 of the Code.  The Company and Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section.  The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section.
7.    Definition of Terms.  The following terms referred to in this Agreement will have the following meanings:
(a)    Cause.  “Cause” will mean (i) any act of dishonesty or fraud taken by Executive in connection with his or her responsibilities as an employee; (ii) Executive’s breach of the fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty owed to the Company, or breach of the duty to protect the Company’s confidential and proprietary information, (iii) Executive’s conviction or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty, misappropriation of funds or any other act of moral turpitude, (iv) Executive’s gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duties, (v) Executive’s breach of this Agreement or written policies of the Company; (vi) Executive’s engagement in conduct or activities that result or will potentially result in negative publicity or public disrespect, contempt or ridicule of the Company; (vii) Executive’s failure to abide by the lawful directives of the Company, (viii) Executive’s failure to satisfactorily perform the primary duties of Executive’s position after receiving written notice of the issue and the Executive’s performance has not improved to a satisfactory level within a ninety (90) day period of time following such notice; or (ix) Executive’s death or absence from work due to a disability for a period in excess of ninety (90) days in any twelve month period that qualifies for benefits under the Company’s long-term disability program.
(b)    Change of Control.  “Change of Control” will mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i)    any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding voting securities; 
(ii)    the consummation by the Company of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation that has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or 
(iii)    the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (it being understood that the sale or spinoff of one or more divisions of the Company shall not constitute the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets). 
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change of Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
(c)     Change of Control Period.  “Change of Control Period” means the period beginning on a Change of Control and ending on the one-year anniversary of the Change of Control.
(d)    Code.  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e)    Deferred Payments.  “Deferred Payments” means any severance pay or benefits to be paid or provided to Executive, if any, pursuant to this Agreement that, in each case, when considered together, and any other severance payments or separation benefits that, in each case, when considered together, are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A.

(f)    Exchange Act.  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(g)    Good Reason.  “Good Reason” means Executive’s termination of employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of any cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following, without Executive’s express written consent: (i) a material reduction in Executive’s duties, authority or responsibilities; provided, however, that the following will not constitute “Good Reason”: (1) Executive’s continued employment following the Change of Control with substantially the same responsibility with respect to the Company’s business and operations (for example, Executive will not experience a “Good Reason” condition if Executive has substantially the same responsibilities with respect to the business of the Company as Executive had immediately prior to the Change of Control whether Executive’s title is revised to reflect Executive’s placement within the overall corporate hierarchy and whether Executive provides services to a subsidiary, affiliate, business unit or otherwise), (2) changes to duties, authority or responsibilities following and related to a “going-private” transaction with significant management equity participation, or (3) changes to duties, authority or responsibilities that results solely from the Company’s ceasing to be a stand-alone public corporation; (ii) a material reduction by the Company in the annual base compensation of the Executive as in effect immediately prior to such reduction, other than a uniform reduction applicable to all executives generally (provided that one or more reductions in base compensation totaling ten percent (10%) or less will not constitute a material reduction for purposes of this clause (ii)); (iii) the relocation of the Executive to a facility or a location more than fifty (50) miles from the Executive’s then present location; or (iv) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption of this agreement by any successors contemplated in Section 8 below.  In order for an event to qualify as Good Reason, Executive must not terminate employment with the Company without first providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and the Company shall have failed to cure during a period of thirty (30) days following the date of such notice.
(h)    Section 409A.  “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the final Treasury Regulations and any official Internal Revenue Service guidance promulgated thereunder.
(i)    Section 409A Limit.  “Section 409A Limit” means two (2) times the lesser of: (i) Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Executive’s taxable year preceding the Executive’s taxable year of Executive’s termination of employment as determined under, and with such adjustments as are set forth in, Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any Internal Revenue Service guidance issued with respect thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated.
8.    Successors.
(a)    The Company’s Successors.  Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets will assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.  For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” will include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section 8(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b)    Executive’s Successors.  The terms of this Agreement and all rights of Executive hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
9.    Notice.
(a)    General.  Notices and all other communications contemplated by this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or when delivered by private courier service such as UPS or Federal Express that has tracking capability.  In the case of Executive, mailed notices will be addressed to him or her at the home address which he or she most recently communicated to the Company in writing.  In the case of the Company, mailed notices will be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices will be directed to the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of the Company.
(b)    Notice of Termination.  Any termination by the Company for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason will be communicated by a notice of termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement.  Such notice will indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, will set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so indicated, and will specify the termination date (which will be not more than thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice or any shorter period required herein).  

10.    Resignation.  Upon the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive will be deemed to have resigned from all officer and/or director positions held at the Company and its affiliates voluntarily, without any further required action by Executive, as of the end of Executive’s employment and Executive, at the Board’s request, will execute any documents reasonably necessary to reflect Executive’s resignation.
11.    Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a)    No Duty to Mitigate.  Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement (whether by seeking new employment or in any other manner), nor shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings that Executive may receive from any other source.
(b)    Waiver.  No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.
(c)    Headings.  All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.
(d)    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, along with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto and supersedes in their entirety all prior representations, understandings, undertakings or agreements (whether oral or written and whether expressed or implied) of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, during the term of this Agreement.  For avoidance of doubt, this Agreement is intended to supersede all severance or termination payment or benefit provisions of the Employment Agreement during the term of this Agreement, but the Employment Agreement will continue in full force and effect independent of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.  To the extent its terms otherwise apply, the Employment Agreement will survive following termination of this Agreement due to non-renewal of this Agreement, but in no event will Executive receive severance under the Employment Agreement for a termination of employment that occurs while this Agreement is in effect.  No waiver, alteration, or modification of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be binding unless in writing and signed by duly authorized representatives of the parties hereto and which specifically mention this Agreement.
(e)    Choice of Law.  [FOR MA RESIDENTS:] [This Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Company and the Executive each consent to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.] [FOR CA RESIDENTS:]  [This Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of California, and the Company and the Executive each consent to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the State of California.].  
(f)    Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which will remain in full force and effect.
(g)    Withholding.  All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable income, employment and other taxes.
(h)    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year set forth below.

COMPANY                            NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:                                                                                                   
Title:                                                                                                       
Date:                                                                                                       

EXECUTIVE                                                                                                             

Date:                                                                                                       
 

EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SEPARATION & RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Separation & Release Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made by and between Nuance Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and _______________ (“Executive”).  The Company and Executive are sometimes referred to collectively as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”
WHEREAS, Executive has agreed to enter this Agreement whereby Executive will release any and all claims Executive may have against the Company and other released parties upon certain events specified in the Change of Control and Severance Agreement by and between Company and Executive (the “Severance Agreement”).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises made herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1.    Termination.  Executive’s employment from the Company terminated on ________________ (the “Termination Date”).
2.    Confidential Information.  Subject to Section 13, Executive shall continue to maintain the confidentiality of all confidential and proprietary information of the Company and shall continue to comply with the terms and conditions of the Proprietary Information, Inventions and Non-Competition Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) between Executive and the Company.  Executive agrees that the above reaffirmation and agreement with the Confidentiality Agreement shall constitute a new and separately enforceable agreement to abide by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, entered and effective as of the Effective Date.  Executive specifically acknowledges and agrees that any violation of the restrictive covenants in the Confidentiality Agreement shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. Executive shall return all the Company property and confidential and proprietary information in Executive’s possession to the Company on the Effective Date of this Agreement.  
3.    Payment of Salary and Receipt of All Benefits.  Executive acknowledges and represents that, other than the severance and benefits to be paid as set forth in the Severance Agreement, the Company has paid or provided all salary, wages, bonuses, accrued vacation, premiums, leaves, relocation costs, interest, fees, reimbursable expenses, commissions, stock, stock options, vesting, and any and all other benefits and compensation due to Executive.
4.    Non-Solicitation.  In exchange for the severance pay and other consideration under the Severance Agreement to which Executive would not otherwise be entitled, Executive agrees that for a period of one (1) year after the Termination Date, Executive will not, without the express written consent of the Company, in its sole discretion, [(a) solicit any business that is competitive with the Company’s business from any client or customer of the Company or (b) either in Executive’s individual capacity or on behalf of or through any other entity, either directly or indirectly, hire, engage, recruit or participate in any way in the hiring, engagement or recruitment of, or participate in any effort to hire or solicit, any current or future employees of the Company or any subsidiary thereof.]  [Delete bracketed text for employees in California and substitute the following: “directly or indirectly solicit any of the employees of the Company or any subsidiary thereof to leave their employment with the Company or any subsidiary thereof.”]
5.    Non-disparagement.  In exchange for the severance pay and other consideration under the Severance Agreement to which Executive would not otherwise be entitled, Executive agrees not to disparage the Company, the Company’s officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents, in any manner likely to be harmful to them or the Company’s business, business reputation or personal reputation. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent either Executive or the Company employees who are aware of the existence of this Agreement from responding accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal process, nor prevent Executive from engaging in Protected Activities (as defined below).  
6.    [Non-Compete.  In exchange for the severance pay and other consideration under the Severance Agreement to which Executive would not otherwise be entitled, Executive agrees that for a period of one (1) year after the Termination Date, Executive will not, without the express written consent of the Company, in its sole discretion, enter, engage in, participate in, or assist, either as an individual on your own or as a partner, joint venturer, employee, agent, consultant, officer, trustee, director, owner, part-owner, shareholder, or in any other capacity, in the United States of America, directly or indirectly, any other business organization whose activities or products are competitive with the activities or products of the Company then existing or under development. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Executive from working for an employer that is engaged in activities or offers products that are competitive with the activities and products of the Company so long as Executive does not work for or with the department, division, or group in that employer’s organization that is engaging in such activities or developing such products.  Executive recognizes that these restrictions on competition are reasonable because of the Company’s investment in goodwill, its customer lists, and other proprietary information and Executive’s knowledge of the Company’s business and business plans. If any period of time or geographical area should be judged unreasonable in any judicial proceeding, then the period of time or geographical area shall be reduced to such extent as may be deemed required so as to be reasonable and enforceable. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude Executive from making passive investments of 

not more than two percent (2%) of a class of securities of any business enterprise registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.][Delete paragraph for employees located in California.]
7.    Release of Claims.  Executive agrees that the consideration to be paid in accordance with the terms of the Severance Agreement represents settlement in full of all outstanding obligations owed to Executive by the Company.  Executive, on behalf of himself, and his respective heirs, family members, executors and assigns, hereby fully and forever releases the Company and its past, present and future officers, agents, directors, employees, investors, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, parents, predecessor and successor corporations, and assigns, from, and agrees not to sue or otherwise institute or cause to be instituted any legal or administrative proceedings concerning any claim, duty, obligation or cause of action relating to any matters of any kind, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Executive may possess arising from any omissions, acts or facts that have occurred up until and including the Effective Date of this Agreement including, without limitation,
(a)    any and all claims relating to or arising from Executive’s employment relationship with the Company and the termination of that relationship; 
(b)    any and all claims relating to, or arising from, Executive’s right to purchase, or actual purchase of shares of stock of the Company, including, without limitation, any claims for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty under applicable state corporate law, and securities fraud under any state or federal law; 
(c)    any and all claims for wrongful discharge of employment; termination in violation of public policy; discrimination; breach of contract, both express and implied; breach of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both express and implied; promissory estoppel; negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligent or intentional misrepresentation; negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage; unfair business practices; defamation; libel; slander; negligence; personal injury; assault; battery; invasion of privacy; false imprisonment; and conversion;
(d)    any and all claims for violation of any federal, state or municipal statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the California Family Rights Act; the California Labor Code, the California Workers’ Compensation Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Massachusetts Law Prohibiting Unlawful Discrimination, as amended, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 1 et seq., Massachusetts Discriminatory Wage Rates Penalized Law (Massachusetts Equal Pay Law), as amended, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 105A et seq., Massachusetts Right to be Free from Sexual Harassment Law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 1C, Massachusetts Discrimination Against Certain Persons on Account of Age Law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 24A et seq., Massachusetts Equal Rights Law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 102 et seq., Massachusetts Violation of Constitutional Rights Law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 12, § 11I, Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 52D; and the Massachusetts Wage Act,  Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 148, et seq.;
(e)    any and all claims for violation of the federal, or any state, constitution; 
(f)    any and all claims arising out of any other laws and regulations relating to employment or employment discrimination; and
(g)    any and all claims for attorneys’ fees and costs.
Executive agrees that the release set forth in this section shall be and remain in effect in all respects as a complete general release as to the matters released.  This release does not extend to any severance obligations due Executive under the Severance Agreement and does not release claims that cannot be released as a matter of law.  Nothing in this Agreement waives Executive’s rights to indemnification or any payments under any insurance policy, if any, provided by any act or agreement of the Company, state or federal law or policy of insurance.
8.    Acknowledgment of Waiver of Claims under ADEA.  Executive acknowledges that Executive is waiving and releasing any rights he or she may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”) and that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary.  Executive and the Company agree that this waiver and release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise under the ADEA after the Effective Date of this Agreement.  Executive acknowledges that the consideration given for this waiver and release Agreement is in addition to anything of value to which Executive was already entitled.  Executive further acknowledges that Executive has been advised by this writing that (a) Executive should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement; (b) Executive has at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement; (c) Executive has seven (7) days following the execution of this Agreement by the parties to revoke the Agreement; (d) this Agreement shall not be effective until the revocation period has expired; and (e) nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Executive from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties or costs for doing so, unless specifically 

authorized by federal law.  Any revocation should be in writing and delivered to the General Counsel at the Company by close of business on the seventh day from the date that Executive signs this Agreement.  In the event Executive signs this Agreement and returns it to the Company in less than the 21-day period identified above, Executive hereby acknowledges that he/she has freely and voluntarily chosen to waive the time period allotted for considering this Agreement.  The parties agree that changes, whether material or immaterial, do not restart the running of the 21-day period.
9.    California Civil Code Section 1542.  Executive acknowledges that Executive has been advised to consult with legal counsel and is familiar with the provisions of California Civil Code Section 1542, a statute that otherwise prohibits the release of unknown claims, which provides as follows:
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.
Executive, being aware of said code section, agrees to expressly waive any rights Executive may have thereunder, as well as under any other statute or common law principles of similar effect. 
10.    No Pending or Future Lawsuits.  Executive represents that he or she has no lawsuits, claims, or actions pending in her name, or on behalf of any other person or entity, against the Company or any other person or entity referred to herein.  Executive also represents that Executive does not intend to bring any claims on his/her own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity against the Company or any other person or entity referred to herein.
11.    No Cooperation.  Subject to Section 13, Executive agrees that he or she will not counsel or assist any attorneys or their clients in the presentation or prosecution of any disputes, differences, grievances, claims, charges, or complaints by any third party against the Company and/or any officer, director, employee, agent, representative, shareholder or attorney of the Company, unless under a subpoena or other court order to do so or as related directly to the ADEA waiver in this Agreement.  
12.    No Admission of Liability.  Executive understands and acknowledges that this Agreement constitutes a compromise and settlement of disputed claims.  No action taken by the Company, either previously or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to be (a) an admission of the truth or falsity of any claims heretofore made or (b) an acknowledgment or admission by the Company of any fault or liability whatsoever to the Executive or to any third party.
13.    Protected Activity.  Executive understands that nothing in this Agreement or in the Confidentiality Agreement shall in any way limit or prohibit Executive from engaging for a lawful purpose in any Protected Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Activity” shall mean filing a charge, complaint or report with, or otherwise communicating with, cooperating with or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any federal, state or local government agency or commission, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (“Government Agencies”). Executive understands that in connection with such Protected Activity, Executive is permitted to disclose documents or other information as permitted by law, and without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company. Executive agrees to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company Proprietary Information under this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement to any parties other than the relevant Government Agencies. Executive further understands that Protected Activity does not include the disclosure of any Company attorney-client privileged communications
14.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    Costs.  The Parties shall each bear their own costs, expert fees, attorneys’ fees and other fees incurred in connection with this Agreement.
(b)    Authority.  Executive represents and warrants that Executive has the capacity to act on his or her own behalf and on behalf of all who might claim through Executive to bind them to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(c)    No Representations.  Executive represents that Executive has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney, and has carefully read and understands the scope and effect of the provisions of this Agreement.  Neither Party has relied upon any representations or statements made by the other Party hereto which are not specifically set forth in this Agreement.
(d)    Severability.  In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision.
(e)    Attorneys’ Fees.  Except with regard to a legal action challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of the waiver herein under the ADEA, in the event that either Party brings an action to enforce or effect its 

rights under this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its costs and expenses, including the costs of mediation, arbitration, litigation, court fees, and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such an action.
(f)    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, along with the Severance Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, represents the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Executive concerning Executive’s separation from the Company.
(g)    No Oral Modification.  This Agreement may only be amended in writing signed by Executive and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(h)    Governing Law.  [FOR MA RESIDENTS:] [This Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Company and the Executive each consent to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.] [FOR CA RESIDENTS:]  [This Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of California, and the Company and the Executive each consent to personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the State of California.]  
(i)    Effective Date.  This Agreement is effective eight (8) days after it has been signed by both Executive, so long as it has been signed by the Parties and has not been revoked by either Party before that date (the “Effective Date”).
(j)    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original and shall constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the undersigned.
(k)    Voluntary Execution of Agreement.  Executive understands and agrees that Executive is executing this Agreement voluntarily and without any duress or undue influence on the part or behalf of the Company or any third party, with the full intent of releasing all of Executive’s claims against the Company and other persons referenced herein.  Executive acknowledge that:
(i)    Executive has read this Agreement;
(ii)    Executive has been represented in the preparation, negotiation, and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of Executive’s own choice or has voluntarily declined to seek such counsel;
(iii)    Executive understand the terms and consequences of this Agreement and of the releases it contains; and 
(iv)    Executive is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.
Signature Page Follows
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Separation & Release Agreement on the respective dates set forth below.

COMPANY:                            NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

By:                                                                                                   
Title:                                                                                                       
Date:                                                                                                       

EXECUTIVE:                                                                                                             

Date:Exhibit 4.1

 

BIOPHARMX CORPORATION

 

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

	
Warrant No.: [·]
    	
Number of Warrant   Shares:
    

Date of Issuance: November [·], 2016 (“Issuance Date”)

Expiration Date: Seven (7) year anniversary of the Exercisability Date (“Expiration Date”)

 

BioPharmX Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, [·], the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon surrender of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”), at any time or times on or after the Exercisability Date, but not after 5:30 p.m., New York Time, on the Expiration Date, [·] fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below) (the “Warrant Shares”). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 16.

 

1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

 

(a) Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(d)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Exercisability Date, in whole or in part (but not as to fractional shares), by delivery of a written notice (which may be by facsimile or email), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant and payment to the Company of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the “Aggregate Exercise Price”) in cash or wire transfer of immediately available funds (a “Cash Exercise”). The Holder shall not be required to surrender this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder; provided, that in the event of an exercise of this Warrant for all Warrant Shares then issuable hereunder, this Warrant is surrendered to the Company by the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice.  Within one (1) Trading Day following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the Aggregate Exercise Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 1(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise.  No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise form be required.  On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice, the Company shall transmit by email or facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Notice to the Holder and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Company’s transfer agent, for the Common Stock and Warrants (the “Transfer Agent”). The Company shall deliver any objection to the Exercise Notice on or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice. In the event of any discrepancy or dispute, the records of the Company shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error. On or before the earlier of (i) the third (3rd) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) following the date on which the Holder has delivered to the Company a duly completed and executed Exercise Notice (the “Share Delivery Date”), so long as, in the case of a Cash Exercise, the Aggregate Exercise Price is delivered prior to the Share Delivery Date, the Company shall, upon the request of the Holder, credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit Withdrawal At Custodian system, or if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (the “FAST Program”) or if the certificates are required to bear a legend regarding restriction on transferability, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice, so long as the Aggregate Exercise Price is delivered prior to the Share Delivery Date, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this

 

 

Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to an Exercise Notice by the Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the fifth Trading Day after such liquidated damages begin to accrue) for each Trading Day after such Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise.  The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST Program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable.  As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.

 

If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. The Company shall pay any and all taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable based on the income of the Holder or in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other than that of the Holder or an affiliate thereof. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise hereof.

 

In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Shares or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise pursuant to an exercise on or before the Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall within three (3) Trading Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such Warrant Shares or credit such Holder’s balance account with DTC) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Warrant Shares or credit such Holder’s balance account with DTC and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (B) the Weighted Average Price of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise.

 

(b) Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, “Exercise Price” means $[·] per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

(c) Cashless Exercise. The Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”):

 

	
Net Number = 
    	
(A x B) - (A x   C)
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
B
    	
 
    
	
 
    
	
For   purposes of the foregoing formula:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
A=
    	
the total number of   shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.
    
				

 

 

	
B=
    	
the Weighted Average   Price of the shares of Common Stock (as reported by Bloomberg) on the date   immediately preceding the date of the Exercise Notice.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
C=
    	
the Exercise Price then   in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.
    

 

If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of the Warrants being exercised, and the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant.  The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 1(c).

 

(d) Limitations on Exercises. (1) [The Company shall not effect the exercise of this Warrant, and the Holder shall not have the right to exercise this Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such Holder (together with such Holder’s affiliates and any other Persons acting as a group together) would beneficially own in excess of 19.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. For purposes of this Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Proxy Statement, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, where such request indicates that it is being made pursuant to this Warrant, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including the Warrants, by the Holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The limitations set forth in this Section 1(d) shall not apply to exercises of this Warrant that occur prior to and expressly in connection with the Company’s consummation of a Fundamental Transaction.]

 

(2) [The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 1 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below).  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other  Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 1(d), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules

 

 

required to be filed in accordance therewith.   To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 1(d) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination.   In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  For purposes of this Section 1(d), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.  The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant.  The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 1(d), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 1(d) shall continue to apply.  Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company.  The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 1(d) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.]1

 

(e) No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share that the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price.

 

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

 

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

 

(b) Other Events. If any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of Section 2(a) but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features to the holders of the Company’s equity

 

1  Holder to elect, prior to the Issuance Date, which form of Section 1(d) Limitations on Exercises (option (1) or option (2)) will be applicable to such Holder’s warrant.

 

 

securities), then the Company’s Board of Directors will make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares so as to protect the rights of the Holder; provided, that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(b) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2.

 

(c) Par Value. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant, in no event shall the Exercise Price be reduced below the par value of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

3. RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case:

 

(a) any Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive the Distribution shall be reduced, effective as of the close of business on such record date, to a price determined by multiplying such Exercise Price by a fraction of which (i) the numerator shall be the Weighted Average Price of the shares of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding such record date minus the value of the Distribution (as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors) applicable to one share of Common Stock, and (ii) the denominator shall be the Weighted Average Price of the shares of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding such record date; and

 

(b) the number of Warrant Shares shall be increased to a number of shares equal to the number of shares of Common Stock obtainable immediately prior to the close of business on the record date fixed for the determination of holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to receive the Distribution multiplied by the reciprocal of the fraction set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph (a).

 

4. PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

(a) Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time prior to the Expiration Date, the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all of the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

 

(b) Fundamental Transactions. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction), such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights), if any, that the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock, the Company shall make appropriate provision to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of this Warrant

 

 

within 90 days after the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction but, in any event, prior to the Expiration Date, in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property) purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction had the Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction.

 

(c) Fundamental Transactions Before Stockholder Approval. In the event the Company proposes to consummate a Fundamental Transaction before the Exercisability Date, upon the consummation of any such Fundamental Transaction, this Warrant shall terminate and thereafter represent the right to receive payment in connection with such Fundamental Transaction in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the product of (i) the aggregate number of Warrant Shares (without regard to the provisions of Section 1(d)) multiplied by (ii) the per share price payable to the shares of capital stock underlying the Warrant in the Fundamental Transaction and (b) the Aggregate Exercise Price of all Warrant Shares.

 

5. RESERVATION OF WARRANT SHARES.

 

(a) The Company covenants that it will at all times after the Exercisability Date reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, the number of shares of Common Stock which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive or any other contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions in Section 2). Such reservation shall comply without regard to the provisions of Section 1(d). The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock so issuable and deliverable shall be, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms hereof, duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company will take all such actions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that such shares of Common Stock may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Stock may be listed.

 

(b) Following the Issuance Date, the Company covenants and agrees that it will use reasonable best efforts to obtain approval by the Company’s stockholders, at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Issuance Date, of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation increasing the aggregate number of authorized shares of Common Stock such that the Company shall have sufficient authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, without regard to the provisions of Section 1(d) (the “Proposal”).  The Company covenants and agrees that its Board of Directors shall unanimously recommend the that that Proposal be approved by the Company’s stockholders at all meetings in which such Proposal is considered.  If the Company’s stockholders do not approve such Proposal at the first meeting in which it is voted on by stockholders, the Company covenants and agrees that it will submit the Proposal for approval of the Company’s stockholders at least annually until such approval is obtained.

 

6. WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

7. REGISTRATION AND REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

 

(a) Registration of Warrant. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon the records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from

 

 

time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary. The Company shall also register any transfer, exchange, reissuance or cancellation of any portion of this Warrant in the Warrant Register.

 

(b) Transfer of Warrant. This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company, except as may otherwise be required by applicable securities laws. Subject to applicable securities laws, if this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, together with all applicable transfer taxes, whereupon the Company will, or will cause its Transfer Agent to, forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred. The acceptance of the new Warrant by the transferee thereof shall be deemed the acceptance by such transferee of all of the rights and obligations in respect of the new Warrant that the Holder has in respect of this Warrant.

 

(c) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form (which shall not include the posting of any bond) and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(e)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

 

(d) Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, together with all applicable transfer taxes, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(e)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, that the Company or its Transfer Agent, as directed by the Company, shall not be required to issue Warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock hereunder.

 

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

 

8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

(a)      Registration.  With respect to this Warrant, on or before the date that is five (5) business days after the Exercisability Date (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement for the public resale by the Holder of the Registrable Stock resulting from exercise of this Warrant, on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, in respect of which the Company may use a Form S-3 registration statement (or any successor short form registration statement available for such resale that permits incorporation by reference at least to the same extent as such form) (“Form S-3”) or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on such form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Stock (the “Registration Statement”) and shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective within thirty (30) days of the Exercisability Date (or, in the event the SEC reviews and has written comments to the Registration Statement, ninety (90) days of the Exercisability Date) (the “Effectiveness Deadline”).  The Company shall thereafter use its commercially

 

 

reasonable efforts to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) such time as all of the Registrable Stock covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holders or (ii) the date that all Registrable Stock covered by such Registration Statement may be sold by non-affiliates without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144 as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and reasonably acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent (the “Effectiveness Period”)

 

(b)      Penalty.  The Company further agrees that in the event that (A) the Registration Statement has not been filed with the SEC by the Filing Deadline, (B) the Registration Statement has not become effective by the Effectiveness Deadline or (C) during the Effective Period, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement), to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Stock included in such Registration Statement (any such event a “Registration Default”): (i) the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount, in cash, equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock equal to one and one half percent (1.5%) of the aggregate number of shares of Registrable Stock issued to the Holder pursuant to exercise of this Warrant and (y) the Weighted Average Price; and (ii) for each full 30-day period (a “Penalty Period”) during which the Registration Default remains uncured (which initial 30-day period shall commence on the first Trading Day after the date of such Registration Default), the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount, in cash, equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock equal to one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate number of shares of Registrable Stock issued to the Holder pursuant to exercise of this Warrant and (y) the Weighted Average Price; provided, however, that if Holder fails to provide the Company with any material information that is reasonably required to be provided in such Registration Statement with respect to such Holder, then the commencement of the Penalty Period described above for the Holder shall be extended until two Trading Days following the date of receipt by the Company of such required information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing shall preclude the Holder from pursuing or obtaining any available remedies at law, specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this Section 8(b) or otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

 

9. NOTICES. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with the information set forth in the Warrant Register. The Company shall give written notice to the Holder (i) reasonably promptly following any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least ten (10) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation; provided, that in each case, such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

 

10. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder.

 

11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder, shall give rise to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Warrant Shares or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

12. GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York.

 

 

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

 

14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via email or facsimile within two (2) Trading Days of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder. If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within five (5) Trading Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within two (2) Trading Days submit via email or facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Trading Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. The expenses of the investment bank and accountant will be borne by the Company unless the investment bank or accountant determines that the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares by the Holder was incorrect by more than 25%, in which case the expenses of the investment bank and accountant will be borne by the Holder.

 

15. REMEDIES, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder may cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to seek an injunction restraining any breach. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else herein to the contrary, if the Company is for any reason unable to issue and deliver Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall have no obligation to pay to the Holder any cash or other consideration or otherwise “net cash settle” this Warrant.

 

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

 

(a) “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

 

(b) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any share capital into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Common Stock.

 

(c) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

(d) “Eligible Market” means the NYSE MKT LLC, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market, or the OTC Bulletin Board®.

 

(e) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(f) “Exercisability Date” means the later of (i) the first Trading Day following the one (1) year anniversary of the Issuance Date and (ii) the first Trading Day following the date of the Company’s first meeting of shareholders after the date hereof at which the Company obtains the shareholder approval necessary to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase its aggregate authorized Common Stock as described in Section 5(b) above; provided, however, that treatment of this Warrant in the event of a Fundamental Transaction prior to the Exercisability Date is addressed in Section 4(c) above.

 

(g) “Fundamental Transaction” means that (A) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Person, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company to another Person, or (iii) allow another Person providing to make a

 

 

purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (iv) consummate a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination), or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock or (B) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock.

 

(h) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(i) “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

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

 

(k) “Principal Market” means (i) the NYSE MKT LLC, or (ii) if the NYSE MKT LLC is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

(l) “Registrable Stock” shall mean (a) the Common Stock issued or issuable to Holder upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms herein; and (b) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, option or other convertible security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for, or in replacement of, such Common Stock.  For purposes of this Warrant, any Registrable Stock shall cease to be Registrable Stock when (a) a Registration Statement covering such Registrable Stock has been declared effective and such Registrable Stock has been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, or (b) such Registrable Stock is sold by a person in a transaction that is exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) or a transaction in which the Holder’s rights under this Warrant are not assigned.

 

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

 

(n) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

(o) “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market.

 

(p) “Weighted Average Price” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink OTC Markets Inc. If the Weighted Average Price cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 14 with the term “Weighted Average Price” being

 

 

substituted for the term “Exercise Price.” All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any share dividend, share split or other similar transaction during such period.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

	
 
    	
BIOPHARMX   CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

 

TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

BIOPHARMX CORPORATION

 

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase              of the shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of BioPharmX Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

1. Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as (check one):

 

o Cash Exercise under Section 1(a).

 

o Cashless Exercise under Section 1(c).

 

2. Cash Exercise. If the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise, the Holder shall pay the sum of $           to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

3. Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to the holder            Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

4. Representations and Warranties. By its delivery of this Exercise Notice, the undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that in giving effect to the exercise evidenced hereby the Holder will not beneficially own in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock (determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) permitted to be owned under Section 1(d) of this Warrant to which this notice relates.

 

	
DATED:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
(Signature must conform   in all respects
    
	
 
    	
to name of the Holder   as specified on
    
	
 
    	
the face of the   Warrant)
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Registered Holder
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address:
    

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice.

 

	
 
    	
BIOPHARMX   CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:

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