Document:

Form 8-K (06-19-15) Exhibit 10.5 Alternate Form of Award Agreement for PSUs

Exhibit 10.5

H&R BLOCK, INC.
2013 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS
JUNE 2015 AWARD AGREEMENT
This Award Agreement is entered into by and between H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“H&R Block”), and [Participant Name] (“Participant”).
WHEREAS, H&R Block provides certain incentive awards (“Awards”) to key employees of subsidiaries of H&R Block under the H&R Block, Inc. 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, Participant has been selected by the Board, the Compensation Committee, or the Chief Executive Officer of H&R Block to receive an Award under the Plan; and
WHEREAS, receipt of this Award is conditioned upon Participant’s execution of this Award Agreement within 180 days of [Grant Date], wherein Participant agrees to abide by certain terms and conditions authorized by the Compensation Committee of the Board.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the parties’ promises and agreements set forth in this Award Agreement, the sufficiency of which the parties hereby acknowledge,
IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1.    Performance Share Units.
1.1    Grant of Performance Share Units.  As of [Grant Date] (the “Grant Date”), H&R Block hereby awards Participant [Number of PSUs Granted] Performance Share Units (“PSUs”).
1.2    Vesting Conditions.  Except as provided in Section 1.5 and Section 1.6 of this Award Agreement, Participant shall become vested in the PSUs (a) to the extent set forth in Section 1.4, only if (b) Participant remains continuously employed by Company from the Grant Date through the third anniversary of the Grant Date, such that Participant's Termination of Employment before the third anniversary of the Grant Date shall result in forfeiture of all rights in the PSUs and Participant shall not be entitled to a distribution of any shares of Common Stock related to such forfeited PSUs. The number of PSUs determined under Section 1.4 shall be certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 1.7, based on Company's satisfaction of the Performance Criteria during the Performance Period (or other applicable period), and paid in accordance with Section 1.6 or 1.8, as applicable.
1.3    No Shareholder Privileges; Dividend Equivalents. 
(a)    Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through him or her shall be, or have any of the rights or privileges of, a shareholder of H&R Block (including the right to vote shares or to receive dividends) with respect to any of the Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Award Agreement, unless and until such shares of Common Stock shall have been duly issued and delivered to Participant as a result of the vesting of PSUs.
(b)    Notwithstanding Section 1.3(a), dividend equivalents will accrue and vest proportionally as the PSUs vest, and will be paid as additional whole shares of Common Stock (unless the Committee in its discretion determines to pay the value of the accrued dividend equivalents in cash), net of withholding, upon the date shares of Common Stock are delivered for vested PSUs pursuant to Section 1.6 or Section 1.8.  Dividend equivalents will apply to all cash 

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dividends (excluding dividends for which an adjustment to the Award was or will be made pursuant to Section 4.3) and will be deemed reinvested in shares of Common Stock based on the Closing Price of the Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date applicable to such dividend. Future dividend equivalents will apply to the shares of Common Stock relating to the reinvested dividend equivalents for each dividend record date that occurs before actual delivery of the shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee retains discretion at any time, upon notice to Participant, to revise whether, and in what manner, dividend equivalents will be deemed reinvested with respect to any future dividends.
1.4    Payment Formula.  The number of PSUs that may vest (the “Earned Percentage”) shall be determined after the end of the Performance Period in accordance with this Section, except as otherwise provided in Section 1.5 and Section 1.6.  The Earned Percentage is the “EBITDA Percentage,” multiplied by the “Relative TSR Factor” multiplied by the PSUs granted pursuant to Section 1.1.  The EBITDA Percentage is based on achievement of the Performance Criteria with respect to Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations as determined under the following table:
	
							
	 
	 
	3 Year Cumulative

	 
	 
	Threshold
	 
	Target
	 
	Maximum

	EBITDA Percentage
	 
	0.0%
	 
	100.0%
	 
	200.0%

	Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations ($ millions)
	 
	[$XXXX]

	 
	[$XXXX]

	 
	[$XXXX]

For Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations below Threshold Performance, the EBITDA Percentage shall be zero percent (0%).  For Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations between Threshold and Target, the EBITDA Percentage shall be interpolated between zero percent (0%) and one hundred percent (100%).  For levels of Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations between Target and Maximum, the EBITDA Percentage shall be interpolated between one hundred percent (100%) and two hundred percent (200%).  For Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations in excess of Maximum, the EBITDA Percentage shall be two hundred percent (200%).
The Relative TSR Factor will be 75% if Relative TSR is at or below the 20th percentile.  The Relative TSR Factor will be 125% if the Relative TSR is at or above the 80th percentile.  Relative TSR between the 20th and 80th percentiles results in a Relative TSR Factor between 75% and 125%, based on straight line interpolation between the 20th and 80th percentiles.
1.5    Potential Vesting.  Notwithstanding Section 1.2, if any of the events described in subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 1.5 occur at least one year after the Grant Date and before the third anniversary of the Grant Date, Participant shall be entitled to either pro-rata or full vesting of the Earned Percentage of PSUs determined pursuant to Section 1.4 (or Section 1.6 if applicable), as set forth below.  The pro-rata portion of the Earned Percentage, if applicable, shall equal a percentage based upon the number of whole months of service completed between the Grant Date and Participant’s Last Day of Employment divided by thirty-six (36).  
(a)    Involuntary Termination of Employment without Cause.  If, at least one year after the Grant Date, Participant ceases to be an employee of Company on account of an involuntary 

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Termination of Employment without Cause that is not a Qualifying CIC Separation, and no Comparable Position is offered, Participant shall be entitled to pro-rata vesting of the Earned Percentage of PSUs that are determined pursuant to Section 1.4 after the end of the Performance Period.  
 (b)    Retirement.  Participant’s Retirement from the Company does not result in forfeiture of rights in the PSUs or accelerated vesting of the PSUs; rather, the Participant shall become vested in the Earned Percentage of PSUs on the third anniversary of the Grant Date as determined pursuant to Section 1.4 after the end of the Performance Period.  
(c)    Death or Disability.  If Participant terminates employment due to death or Disability at least one year after the Grant Date, Participant shall be entitled to 100% vesting of the Earned Percentage of PSUs that are determined pursuant to Section 1.4 after the end of the Performance Period.
1.6    Change in Control.  
(a)    Other provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding, if a Change in Control occurs before the third anniversary of the Grant Date, the Committee shall determine what equitable adjustments, if any, shall be made to this Award pursuant to the Committee’s authority and obligations set forth in Sections 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 of this Award Agreement. Such adjustments may include adjustment to the payment formula determined under Section 1.4 and the performance period (or other measuring period used in determining Total Shareholder Return) over which the payment formula (whether or not revised) will be applied. After a Change in Control, the number of PSUs that may vest pursuant to the payment formula under Section 1.4 (including any revisions that may be made pursuant to this Section 1.6) shall be deemed the Earned Percentage for purposes of this Agreement.
(b)     Potential Vesting after Change in Control. Except as provided below in (i), (ii) and (iii) or in Section 1.5, the Earned Percentage of PSUs will vest only if Participant remains continuously employed by Company from the Grant Date through the third anniversary of the Grant Date as set forth in Section 1.2(b). 
(i) If Participant's Termination of Employment occurs after the Change in Control due to Retirement, Disability or Death, Participant shall be entitled to 100% vesting of the Earned Percentage of PSUs as determined by the Committee. 
(ii) If Participant's Termination of Employment occurs due to Qualifying CIC Separation, Participant shall be entitled to 100% vesting of the Earned Percentage of PSUs as determined by the Committee.
(iii) If Participant’s Termination of Employment occurs before the Change in Control under a circumstance described in Section 1.5, the pro-rata vesting rules of Section 1.5 shall continue to apply to the Earned Percentage of PSUs. 
(c)    Settlement Date after Change in Control.  If the Committee takes any action under Section 1.6(a) that, on its own or in connection with any other event, results in vesting of any Earned Percentage of PSUs earlier than otherwise provided in this Award Agreement (e.g., the PSUs become subject to Code Section 409A), such vested PSUs, plus any shares attributable to vested dividend equivalents, shall be settled upon the earliest to occur of (i) Participant's date of death, (ii) the third anniversary of the Grant Date as set forth in Section 1.2(b) or (iii) six months following Participant's 

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Termination of Employment; provided, however, if any of the events set forth in (i), (ii) or (iii) occur before the date such early vesting occurs, the settlement date shall be the later of (x) within 60 days of the early vesting date, or (y) the earlier of the date that is six months following Participant's Termination of Employment and the third anniversary of the Grant Date as set forth in Section 1.2(b).  All other payments shall occur as set forth in Section 1.8.
1.7    Certification of a Performance Award.  The Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the Performance Criteria have been satisfied before making any payment to Participant with respect to the vested Earned Percentage of PSUs.  
1.8    Settlement of PSUs.  
(a)    Except as provided in Section 1.6, the vested Earned Percentage of PSUs, plus any shares attributable to vested dividend equivalents, shall be settled and paid out in shares of Common Stock as soon as administratively practicable (while remaining compliant with Section 4.15) following the later of the third anniversary of the Grant Date and the date on which the performance results, including Relative TSR, are determinable and certified by the Committee pursuant to Section 1.7, but in no event later than the payment deadline set forth in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(d).  
(b)    Company shall transfer shares of Common Stock equal to the number of the vested Earned Percentage of PSUs, plus any shares attributable to vested dividend equivalents, less any shares withheld for tax withholding purposes pursuant to Section 4.8, into a brokerage account established for Participant at a financial institution the Committee shall select at its discretion (the “Financial Institution”) or delivered to Participant in certificate form, such method to be selected by the Committee in its discretion. Any fractional share shall be rounded up to the next whole share. Participant agrees to complete, before the settlement date, any documentation for the Company or the Financial Institution which is necessary to effect the transfer of shares of Common Stock to the Financial Institution.
2.    Covenants.
2.1    Consideration for Award under the Plan.  Participant acknowledges that Participant’s agreement to this Section 2 is a key consideration for the Award made under this Award Agreement.  Participant hereby agrees to abide by the covenants set forth in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7.
2.2    Covenant Against Competition.  During the period of Participant’s employment and for two (2) years after his or her Last Day of Employment, Participant acknowledges and agrees he or she will not, directly or indirectly, establish or engage in any business or organization, or own or control any interest in, be employed by, or act as an officer, director, consultant, advisor, or lender to, any of the following located in those geographic markets where Participant has had direct and substantial involvement in Company’s operations in such geographic markets: (a) any entity that engages in any business competitive with the business activities of Company including, without limitation, its assisted and digital (including software) tax services businesses (“Prohibited Companies”); (b) any financial institution or business where any of Participant’s duties or activities would relate to or assist in providing services or products to one or more of the Prohibited Companies for use in connection with products, services or assistance being provided to customers; or (c) any financial institution or business whose primary purpose is to provide services or products to one or more of the Prohibited Companies for use in connection with products, services or assistance being 

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provided to customers.  Without limiting clause (c), any financial institution or business whose profits or revenues from the provision of services or products to the Prohibited Companies exceeds 25% of total profits or revenues, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be covered by clause (c).  For Participants whose primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in Puerto Rico or Arizona, the restrictions in this Section 2.2 shall be limited to one (1) year following Participant’s Last Day of Employment.  The restrictions in this Section 2.2 shall not apply if Participant’s primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in California or North Dakota; provided, however, to the extent permitted under such states’ laws, Company nevertheless retains all rights and remedies set forth in Sections 2.8 and 2.9 in lieu of enforcing the restrictive covenant set forth in this Section 2.2.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant has a standalone employment agreement with Company and such employment agreement includes covenants against competition or non-solicitation of customers, the scope, but not the duration, of such covenants shall apply solely for purposes of Sections 2.2 and 2.4, but shall have no other effect on this Award Agreement.  All other covenants contained in this Section 2 shall apply to Participant notwithstanding any covenants or other terms contained in any other agreement.
2.3    Covenant Against Solicitation of Employees. Participant acknowledges and agrees that, during the period of Participant’s employment and for two (2) years after his or her Last Day of Employment, Participant will not directly or indirectly: (a) recruit, solicit, or otherwise induce any employee of Company to leave the employment of Company or to become an employee of or otherwise be associated with Participant or any company or business with which Participant is or may become associated; or (b) hire any employee of Company as an employee or otherwise in any company or business with which Participant is or may become associated.  The restrictions in this Section 2.3 shall not apply if Participant’s primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in Wisconsin; provided, however, to the extent permitted under such state’s laws, Company nevertheless retains all rights and remedies set forth in Sections 2.8 and 2.9 in lieu of enforcing the restrictive covenant set forth in this Section 2.3. 
2.4    Covenant Against Solicitation of Customers. During the period of Participant’s employment and for two (2) years after his or her Last Day of Employment, Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or enter into any arrangement with any person or entity which is, at the time of the solicitation, a customer of Company for purposes of engaging in any business transaction of the nature performed by Company, or contemplated to be performed by Company, provided that this Section 2.4 will only apply to customers for whom Participant personally provided services while employed by Company or customers about whom or which Participant acquired material information while employed by Company.  For Participants whose primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in Puerto Rico or Arizona, the restrictions in this Section 2.4 shall be limited to one (1) year following Participant’s Last Day of Employment.  The restrictions in this Section 2.4 shall not apply if Participant’s primary place of employment as of the Last Day of Employment is in California or North Dakota; provided, however, to the extent permitted under such state’s laws, Company nevertheless retains all rights and remedies set forth in Sections 2.8 and 2.9 in lieu of enforcing the restrictive covenant set forth in this Section 2.4.
2.5     Covenant Against Disclosure of Confidential Information. Participant acknowledges and agrees: (a) that “Confidential Business Information” includes, but is not limited to, Company’s client lists and information, employee lists and information, developments, systems, designs, 

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software, databases, know-how, marketing plans, product information, business and financial information and plans, strategies, forecasts, new products and services, financial statements, budgets, projections, prices, and acquisition and disposition plans, regardless of whether any court determines that such information constitutes a trade secret as defined by applicable law; and (b) that (i) Company has spent many years developing its business and clients, and is engaged in a continuous program of developing its business and clients, (ii) Company’s methods of operation are unique within the industry, (iii) Participant’s position creates a relationship of confidence and trust between Participant and Company with respect to Company’s Confidential Business Information, and (iv) Participant’s disclosure of Confidential Business Information could substantially injure Company’s present and planned business.
Therefore, Participant agrees that at all times during employment and for a period of two (2) years after Participant’s Last Day of Employment with Company, Participant shall keep in strictest confidence and trust all Confidential Business Information.  During this period, Participant shall not use or disclose any Confidential Business Information without the written consent of Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing duties as an employee of Company or as may be required by law.  
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Confidential Business Information satisfies the legal definition of “trade secret,” and for so long as such information remains a trade secret, Participant shall keep in strictest confidence such trade secret and not use or disclose any such trade secret without the written consent of Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing duties as an employee of Company or as may be required by law. Participant acknowledges that trade secrets include, but are not limited to, Company’s client lists and all information identifying its clients, and all information pertaining to Company’s business development, marketing plans, product information, business and financial information and plans, and strategies.
2.6    Covenant Regarding Company Property. Participant acknowledges and agrees that as between Participant and Company, all Confidential Business Information is the sole and exclusive property of Company and/or Company’s nominee(s) or assign(s). Participant hereby assigns and agrees to assign to Company any rights Participant may have or may acquire in such Confidential Business Information. 
In the event that Participant conceives or develops, in whole or in part, any inventions, discoveries, ideas, concepts, strategies, plans, processes, systems, products, services, know-how, technology, software, website content, writings, expressions, designs, artwork, graphics, names, logos or other proprietary developments while employed by Company that (a) directly or indirectly relate in any way to or arise out of Participant’s job responsibilities or the performance of the duties or assigned tasks of Participant with Company; or (b) directly or indirectly relate or pertain in any way to the existing or reasonably anticipated business, products, services, or other activities of Company; or (c) were otherwise conceived or developed, in whole or in part, using Company time or materials or based upon Confidential Business Information (collectively, the “Developments”), all right, title, and interest in and to the Developments including, without limitation, all patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and other proprietary rights therein shall become the sole and exclusive property of Company and/or Company’s nominee(s) or assign(s).

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Participant acknowledges that any Developments subject to copyright protection shall be considered “works-for-hire” on behalf of Company as such term is defined under the copyright laws of the United States.  All right, title and interest in such Developments or components thereof shall automatically vest in Company and Company shall be the author and exclusive owner thereof including, without limitation, all copyrights (and renewals and extensions thereof), merchandising and allied, ancillary and subsidiary rights therein.  To the extent that any of the Developments, or any portion thereof, may not qualify as a work-for-hire or for copyright protection, Participant hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to assign in the future all right, title, and interest in and to the Developments to Company or Company’s nominee(s) or assign(s), including, without limitation, all patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and any and all other proprietary rights therein.  
Participant will keep and maintain adequate and current written records of the conception and development of Developments in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, reports or other documents relating thereto, which records shall be and shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Company and shall be available to Company at all times.
Participant further agrees to execute and deliver all documents and do all acts that Company shall deem necessary or desirable to secure to Company or its nominee(s) or assignee(s) the entire right, title and interest in and to the Confidential Business Information and Developments, at Company’s expense.  Participant further agrees to cooperate with Company as reasonably necessary to maintain or enforce Company’s rights in the Confidential Business Information and Developments.
In the event Participant’s employment terminates, Participant shall promptly deliver to Company the originals and all copies of all Confidential Business Information, Developments and other materials and property of any nature belonging to Company and obtained during the course of, or as a result of, Participant’s employment with Company. In addition, upon such termination, Participant shall not remove from the premises of Company any of its documents or property.
2.7    Non-Disparagement. Participant agrees, that after his or her Last Day of Employment, Participant will not disparage Company or any of its directors, officers, executives, employees, agents or other Company representatives (“Related Parties”), or make or solicit any comments to the media or others that may be considered derogatory or detrimental to the good business name or reputation of Company or Related Parties. This clause has no application to any communications with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state or local agency responsible for investigation and enforcement of discrimination laws.
2.8    Forfeiture of Rights.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Participant violates any provisions of this Section 2, Participant shall forfeit all rights to payments or benefits under the Plan.  All unsettled PSUs shall terminate, be forfeited and be incapable of vesting. 
2.9    Remedies.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Participant violates any provisions of this Section 2, whether before, on or after any settlement of an Award under the Plan, then Participant shall promptly pay to Company an amount equal to the aggregate Amount of Gain Realized by Participant on all Common Stock received pursuant to this Award Agreement after the date occurring one (1) year before Participant’s Last Day of Employment; provided, however, to the extent the violation occurs before the settlement of the PSUs, all rights to payments or benefits under the Plan and all PSUs shall terminate, be forfeited and be incapable of vesting in 

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accordance with Section 2.8.  Participant shall pay Company within three (3) business days after the date of any written demand by Company to Participant.
2.10    Remedies Payable.  Participant shall pay the amounts described in Section 2.9 in cash or as otherwise determined by Company.
2.11    Remedies without Prejudice.  The remedies provided in this Section 2 shall be without prejudice to the rights of Company to recover any losses resulting from the applicable conduct of Participant, and shall be in addition to any other remedies Company may have, at law or in equity, resulting from such conduct.
2.12    Survival.  Participant’s obligations in this Section 2 shall survive and continue beyond settlement of all Awards under the Plan and any termination or expiration of this Award Agreement for any reason.
2.13    Tolling.  The restricted period for each of the covenants in this Award Agreement shall be tolled during (a) any period(s) of violation that occur during the original restricted period; and (b) any period(s) of time required by litigation to enforce the covenant (other than any periods during which Participant is enjoined from engaging in the prohibited activity and is in compliance with such order of enjoinment) provided that the litigation is filed within one year following the end of the two-year period immediately following the cessation of employment.
3.    Non-Transferability of Award.  This Award (including all rights, privileges and benefits conferred under such Award) shall not be transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of this Award, or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, contrary to the provisions hereof, or upon any attempted sale under any execution, attachment, or similar process upon the rights and privileges hereby granted, then and in any such event this Award and the rights and privileges hereby granted shall immediately become null and void. 
4.    Miscellaneous. 
4.1    No Employment Contract.  This Award Agreement does not confer on Participant any right to continued employment for any period of time, and is not an employment contract.
4.2    Clawback.  If a restatement of H&R Block’s financial results occurs and (a) the vesting or the Amount of Gain Realized with respect to any portion of this Award, or (b) the vesting or issuance of performance-based Shares pursuant to any other award granted under the Plan or any other company-sponsored equity compensation plan, or (c) any other cash compensation received by Participant pursuant to a Company-sponsored incentive plan, would not have occurred, been paid or would have been reduced if the results represented by the restatement were known as of the time of the original issuance of the financial results, Participant may be required to reimburse Company for the Amount of Gain Realized related to this Award. The Committee has sole discretion to make all determinations that may be made pursuant to this section, including the amount of reimbursement.
4.3    Adjustment of PSUs.  If any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend or distribution (whether in cash, shares or other property, other than a regular cash dividend), stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off or similar transaction or other change in corporate structure affects the Common Stock or the value thereof, the Committee shall make such adjustments 

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and other substitutions to this Award Agreement as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Award Agreement, in a manner the Committee deems equitable or appropriate, taking into consideration the accounting and tax consequences, including such adjustments in the aggregate number, class and kind of securities that may be delivered under the Plan, and in the number, class, kind and option or exercise price of securities subject to the Award Agreement (including, if the Committee deems appropriate, the substitution of awards denominated in the shares of another company).
4.4    Adjustment of Performance Criteria.  
(a)    In the event of the occurrence during the Performance Period (or other applicable period) of any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, acquisition, divestiture, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, combination, liquidation, dissolution, sale of assets associated with the sale of a line of business or other material operation, other similar corporate transaction or event, any material changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles, any event or transaction that is either of an unusual nature or of a type that indicates infrequency of occurrence (under generally accepted accounting principles (United States) (“GAAP”) as described in Financial Accounting Standards Boards Accounting Standards Subtopic 225-20 (or any successor provision) or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year),  or any other unusual or non-recurring event involving the Company, the Committee shall adjust the calculation of the Performance Criteria to exclude the effect of such occurrence(s).  Such adjustments shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.
(b)    For the avoidance of doubt, and without excluding any other events not specifically named in this Section 4.4(b), the following will be deemed to be events for which adjustments under Section 4.4(a) should be made:
(i)    The direct or indirect sale of any or all of the stock of, merger or liquidation of, sale or assumption of all or substantially all the assets or liabilities of, or any other transaction regarding, H&R Block Bank FSB;
(ii)    Severance and related charges associated with a fundamental corporate restructuring approved by the Board, the benefits of which are largely realized outside of the Performance Period;
(iii)    Loss on extinguishment of debt resulting from early payment of outstanding debt; and
(iv)    Asset impairments, reserves for uncertain tax positions, and reserves for loss contingencies, each as defined under GAAP.
4.5    Merger, Consolidation, Reorganization, Liquidation, etc. If H&R Block shall become a party to any corporate merger, consolidation, major acquisition of property for stock, reorganization, or liquidation, all Plan awards outstanding on the effective date of the consummation of the transaction shall be treated in the manner the Committee, in its discretion, deems equitable and appropriate after taking into consideration relevant facts, including the accounting and tax consequences. Such treatment need not treat all Awards (or all portions of an Award) in an identical manner. Such treatment may include, but is not limited to, the substitution of new Awards, or for 

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any Awards then outstanding, the assumption of any such Awards or the cancellation of such Awards for a payment to Participant in cash or other property in an amount equitably determined by the Committee (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such cancellation may be without any payment to Participant in the event the Committee determines that the intrinsic value of the Award is zero or negative).  Any such arrangements shall be binding upon Participant and any action taken under this Section 4.5 shall either preserve an Award’s status as exempt from Code Section 409A or comply with Code Section 409A.
4.6    Interpretation and Regulations.  The Committee shall have the full power and authority provided under Section 4.2 of the Plan and provided by delegation by the Board, subject to the terms of the Plan, and subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board. Such power and authority shall include, but not be limited to, the power and authority to: (a) interpret and administer the Plan, the Award Agreement, and any instrument or agreement entered into under or in connection with the Plan; (b) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or the Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent that the Committee shall deem desirable to carry it into effect; (c) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan and Award; (d) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and Award; (e) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances the Award shall be canceled or suspended; and (f) determine, for purposes of the Plan and this Award Agreement, (i) the date and circumstances that constitute a cessation or termination of employment, (ii) whether such cessation or termination is the result of Retirement, death, Disability, termination without Cause or any other reason, and (iii) what constitutes continuous employment with respect to vesting under this Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, leaves of absence approved by the Committee or transfers of employment among the subsidiaries of H&R Block shall not be considered an interruption of continuous employment under the Plan, unless otherwise required by Code Section 409A. 
4.7    Reservation of Rights.  If at any time Company determines that qualification or registration of the PSUs, or of any shares of Common Stock subject to the PSUs, under any federal, state or other applicable securities law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory authority, is necessary or desirable as a condition of executing an Award or providing a benefit under the Plan, then such action may not be taken, in whole or in part, unless and until such qualification, registration, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions Company deems unacceptable. 
4.8    Withholding of Taxes.  Company shall make the delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Award Agreement net of all federal, state, local or foreign taxes required to be paid or withheld as a result of the delivery of shares of Common Stock.  Unless otherwise determined pursuant to established procedures pursuant to the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock withheld shall be based on the Fair Market Value of such shares on the delivery date and the minimum required tax withholding rate for Participant (or such other rate that will not cause an adverse accounting consequence or cost to Company).
4.9    Reasonableness of Restrictions, Severability and Court Modification.  Participant and Company agree that the restrictions contained in this Award Agreement are reasonable, but, 

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should any provision of this Award Agreement be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable or unreasonable in scope, the validity, legality and enforceability of the other provisions of this Award Agreement will not be affected thereby, and the provision found invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable or unreasonable will be considered by Company and Participant to be amended as to scope of protection, time or geographic area (or any one of them, as the case may be) in whatever manner is considered reasonable by that court and, as so amended, will be enforced.
4.10    Waiver.  The failure of Company to enforce at any time any terms, covenants or conditions of this Award Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of such terms, covenants or conditions or of any other provision. Any waiver or modification of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Award Agreement shall only be effective if reduced to writing and signed by both Participant and an officer of H&R Block.
4.11    Plan Control.  The terms of this Award Agreement are governed by the terms of the Plan, as it exists on the Grant Date (except to the extent the Plan is amended from time to time and such amendment is intended to have retroactive effect). Except where the Plan expressly permits an award agreement to provide for different terms, if any provisions of this Award Agreement conflict with any provisions of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
4.12    Notices.  Any notice to be given to Company or election to be made under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be addressed to Company (Attention: Long Term Incentive Department) at One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, or at such other address or by such other means as Company may hereafter designate in writing to Participant. Any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at the last address of record with Company or at such other address as Participant may hereafter designate in writing to Company. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when deposited in the United States mail via regular or certified mail, addressed as aforesaid, postage prepaid.  
4.13    Choice of Law.  This Award Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri without reference to principles of conflicts of laws.
4.14    Choice of Forum and Jurisdiction.  Participant and Company agree that any proceedings to enforce the obligations and rights under this Award Agreement must be brought in the Missouri District Court located in Jackson County, Missouri, or in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri.  Participant agrees and submits to personal jurisdiction in either court.  Participant and Company further agree that this Choice of Forum and Jurisdiction is binding on all matters related to Awards under the Plan and may not be altered or amended by any other arrangement or agreement (including an employment agreement) without the express written consent of Participant and H&R Block.
4.15    Compliance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Award Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with Code Section 409A and regulations and other guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”).  For purposes of determining whether any payment made pursuant to this Award Agreement results in a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b), H&R Block shall maximize the exemptions described in such section, as applicable.  Any reference to a “termination of employment” or similar term or phrase shall be interpreted as a 

11

“separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.  If any deferred compensation payment is payable while Participant is a “specified employee” under Section 409A, and payment is due because of separation from service for any reason other than death, then payment of such amount shall be delayed for a period of six months and paid in a lump sum on the first payroll payment date following the earlier of the expiration of such six month period or Participant’s death.  To the extent any payments under this Award Agreement are made in installments, each installment shall be deemed a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A and the regulations issued thereunder.  Participant or his or her beneficiary, as applicable, shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on Participant or his or her beneficiary in connection with any payments to Participant or his or her beneficiary pursuant to this Award Agreement, including but not limited to any taxes, interest and penalties under Section 409A, and neither H&R Block nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Participant or his or her beneficiary harmless from any and all of such taxes and penalties.   
4.16    Attorneys Fees.  Participant and Company agree that in the event of litigation to enforce the terms and obligations under this Award Agreement, the party prevailing in any such cause of action will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable attorneys fees.
4.17    Relationship of the Parties.  Participant acknowledges that this Award Agreement is between H&R Block and Participant.  Participant further acknowledges that H&R Block is a holding company and that Participant is not an employee of H&R Block.
4.18    Headings.  The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not be considered in construing this Award Agreement.
4.19    Amendment.  No amendment, supplement, or waiver to this Award Agreement is valid or binding unless in writing and signed on behalf of H&R Block by an officer of H&R Block, and, if materially adverse to Participant, signed by Participant.
4.20    Execution of Agreement.  This Award Agreement shall not be enforceable by either party, and Participant shall have no rights with respect to the Awards made hereunder, unless and until it has been (a) signed by Participant within 180 days of the Grant Date, (b) signed on behalf of H&R Block by an officer of H&R Block, and (c) returned to H&R Block.
This Award Agreement may be signed by the parties via facsimile or electronic signature, as acceptable to Company, and may be signed by H&R Block via stamped signature. 
4.21    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. PARTICIPANT KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING, ACTION OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.
5.    Definitions.  Whenever a term is used in this Award Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below or as set forth in the Plan unless the context plainly requires a different meaning, and when a defined meaning is intended, the term is capitalized.
5.1    Amount of Gain Realized.  The Amount of Gain Realized shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that Participant receives pursuant to this Award Agreement multiplied by the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of delivery.
5.2    Board. Board means the Board of Directors of H&R Block.

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5.3    Cause.  Cause means those actions or omissions that constitute cause for termination under the written Company severance plan that applies to Participant.  If no severance plan applies to Participant or if the applicable severance plan does not define “Cause,” then Cause shall have the meaning found in the H&R Block Severance Plan, or any successor to that plan.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if Participant has a standalone employment agreement with Company and such employment agreement includes a definition for cause, the definition of cause in the employment agreement shall apply.
5.4    Change in Control.  Change in Control means the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

(a)    Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of H&R Block that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of H&R Block.  If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of H&R Block, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons shall not be considered to cause a Change in Control.  An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which H&R Block acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this Section 5.4(a).

(b)    Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (when combined with all other acquisitions of H&R Block stock acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of H&R Block possessing 35 percent or more of the total voting power of the stock of H&R Block.  If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control a corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi), the acquisition of additional control of the corporation by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation. An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which H&R Block acquires its stock in exchange for property will not be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this Section 5.4(b), but will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of Section 5.4(a).

(c)    A majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board before the date of such appointment or election.

(d)    Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (when combined with all other acquisitions of H&R Block assets acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from H&R Block that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of H&R Block immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of H&R Block, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, there is no Change in Control event under this Section 5.4(d) when 

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there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of H&R Block immediately after the transfer. A transfer of assets by H&R Block is not treated as a change in the ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to: (i) a shareholder of H&R Block (immediately before the asset transfer) solely in exchange for or with respect to its stock; (ii) an entity, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by H&R Block; (iii) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of H&R Block; or (iv) an entity, at least 50 percent of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in (iii) above.  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the direct or indirect sale of any or all of the stock of, merger or liquidation of, or sale or assumption of all or substantially all the assets or liabilities of, H&R Block Bank FSB, (i) will not be considered a Change in Control for purposes of this Award Agreement, and (ii) will not be included in any determination of the total gross fair market value of assets of H&R Block sold during any 12-month period under Section 5.4(d) above.

For purposes of this section, persons will be considered to be acting as a group in accordance with Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Code Section 409A.

5.5    Closing Price.  Closing Price shall mean the last reported market price for one share of Common Stock, regular way, on the New York Stock Exchange (or any successor exchange or stock market on which such last reported market price is reported) on the day in question.  If the exchange is closed on the day on which the Closing Price is to be determined or if there were no sales reported on such date, the Closing Price shall be computed as of the last date preceding such date on which the exchange was open and a sale was reported.
5.6    Code.  Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
5.7    Committee.  Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
5.8    Common Stock.  Common Stock means the common stock of H&R Block, without par value.
5.9    Company.  Company means H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri corporation, and includes its “subsidiary corporations” (as defined in Code Section 424(f)) and their respective divisions, departments and subsidiaries and the respective divisions, departments and subsidiaries of such subsidiaries.
5.10    Comparable Position. Comparable Position means a position where:
(a)    Participant’s primary work location would be within 50 miles of Participant’s current primary work location, and
(b)    Participant’s compensation rate (salary and target bonus) would be no more than 10% below Participant’s current compensation rate.
5.11    Disability. Disability or disabled means, determined in accordance with the following determination periods:  

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(a)    If Participant has coverage under a group long-term disability program maintained by Company, Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of at least three months under such program; or
(b)    If Participant does not have coverage under a group long-term disability program maintained by Company, Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity for a period of at least 9 months by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
For this purpose, Participant shall be deemed to have incurred a Disability on the last day of the applicable determination period above.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant has a standalone employment agreement with Company and such employment agreement includes a definition of disability, the definition in the employment agreement shall apply.
5.12    EBITDA.  EBITDA means earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. 
5.13    Fair Market Value.  Fair Market Value means the Closing Price for one share of Common Stock.
5.14    Fiscal Year.  Fiscal Year means the fiscal year ended April 30.
5.15    Good Reason Termination.  Good Reason Termination means a Termination of Employment initiated by Participant that is related to one or more conditions described in subsection (a), and that is subject to the timing, notice and remedy provisions of subsection (b):
(a)    Conditions for Good Reason Termination. The conditions that qualify for Good Reason Termination shall be those conditions provided in the definition of Good Reason Termination under the written Company severance plan that applies to Participant, unless Participant has a standalone employment agreement with Company and such employment agreement includes such definition (or a definition of “Good Reason”), in which case the definition in the employment agreement shall apply. For the avoidance of doubt, any such definition shall only apply with respect to determining the conditions that constitute “Good Reason.” The periods of time relating to the initial existence, notice, and remedy of any such condition are determined solely as described in subsection (b). If no severance plan or employment agreement applies to Participant or if neither includes a definition of “Good Reason” or “Good Reason Termination,” then the conditions that qualify for Good Reason Termination are:
(i)    A change in Participant’s primary work location that is more than 50 miles from Participant’s previous primary work location, or
(ii)    A diminution of Participant’s compensation rate (salary and target bonus) of more than 10%.
(b)    Timing, Notice and Remedy Requirements. Participant’s voluntary Termination of Employment qualifies as a Good Reason Termination only if such Termination of Employment occurs within 18 months after a Change in Control because of a qualifying condition described in subsection (a), and only if (i)     the initial existence of the condition occurs no more than 75 days 

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before the Change in Control, or occurs on or after the Change in Control; (ii)     Participant does not consent to the condition; and (iii) Company does not remedy the condition (as further described in this section).
Participant must provide notice no more than 30 days after the initial occurrence of the event; provided, however, if the event initially occurs within the 75 day period preceding a Change in Control, notice must be provided by the earlier of (i) 90 days of the date of the initial occurrence and (ii) 30 days after the date of the Change in Control.  During the 30 days following receipt of the notice, Company may remedy the event, occurrence or condition for which notice was given, in which case a Good Reason Termination will not occur as a result of the condition.
5.16    Last Day of Employment.  Last Day of Employment means the date of Participant’s Termination of Employment.
5.17    Maximum Performance.  Maximum Performance means the level of Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations for the Performance Period set by the Committee that results in a 200% factor in the Payment Formula set forth in Section 1.4.
5.18    Peer Companies.  Peer Companies are the companies in the S&P 500 as of the first day of the relevant period other than H&R Block.  If a Peer Company ceases to be a member of the S&P 500 during the relevant period, then such company will be excluded from the calculation.
5.19    Performance Criteria.  Performance Criteria means the Threshold Performance, Target Performance and Maximum Performance for Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations for the Performance Period and the Relative TSR Factor set forth in Section 1.4.
5.20    Performance Period.  Performance Period means the period commencing [May 1, 20XX] and ending [April 30, 20XX].
5.21    Performance Share Units or PSUs.  Performance Share Units or PSUs means the number of Performance Share Units granted under this Award Agreement pursuant to Section 1.1.
5.22    Qualifying CIC Separation.  Qualifying CIC Separation means (a) a Good Reason Termination or (b) Company’s involuntary Termination of Employment of Participant without Cause no more than 75 days before or 18 months after a Change in Control; provided, however, that Qualifying CIC Separation described under subsection (b) does not include the elimination of Participant’s position where Participant was offered a Comparable Position with Company or with a party (or a subsidiary or an affiliate of such a party) that acquires any asset from Company. 
5.23    Relative TSR.  Relative TSR means the percentile placement of H&R Block’s Total Shareholder Return relative to the Total Shareholder Returns of the Peer Companies.  Relative TSR will be determined by ranking H&R Block and the Peer Companies from highest to lowest according to their respective Total Shareholder Returns.  Based on this ranking, the percentile performance of H&R Block relative to the Peer Companies will be determined as follows:
	
		
	P = 1 –
	R – 1

	N

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“P” represents H&R Block's percentile performance which will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest whole percentile (with 5 being rounded up).  “N” represents the number of Peer Companies.  “R” represents H&R Block’s ranking among the Peer Companies.
5.24    Retirement.  Retirement means Participant’s voluntary Termination of Employment with Company at or after the date Participant attains age 60.
5.25    S&P 500.  S&P 500 means the 500 US companies listed by Standard and Poor’s in its S&P 500 Index as of the Award Date.
5.26    Target Performance.  Target Performance means the level of Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations for the Performance Period set by the Committee that results in a 100% factor in the Payment Formula set forth in Section 1.4.
5.27    Three Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations.  Three Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations means the cumulative earnings of the Company from continuing operations excluding interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization for each fiscal year in the Performance Period, subject to those adjustments described in Section 4.4.
5.28     Threshold Performance.  Threshold Performance means the level of Three-Year Cumulative EBITDA from Continuing Operations for the Performance Period set by the Committee that results in a 0% factor in the Payment Formula set forth in Section 1.4.  
5.29    Termination of Employment.  Termination of Employment, termination of employment and similar references mean a separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  If Participant is an employee, Participant will generally have a Termination of Employment if Participant voluntarily or involuntarily terminates employment with Company.  A termination of employment occurs if the facts and circumstances indicate that Participant and Company reasonably anticipate that no further services will be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services Participant will perform after such date (whether as an employee, director or other independent contractor) for Company will decrease to no more than 20 percent of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee, director or other independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or full period of services if Participant has been providing services for less than 36 months).  For purposes of this Section 5.29, “Company” includes any entity that would be aggregated with Company under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)(3).

5.30    Total Shareholder Return.  Total Shareholder Return for the purpose of calculating Relative TSR for the Performance Period (or other applicable measurement period provided in this Agreement, including Section 1.6) pursuant to Section 1.4 means the percentage for the applicable entity for the applicable period that is the quotient of: (i) the Ending Value, minus the Beginning Value, plus dividends (other than stock dividends) with respect to which the record date occurs during such period; divided by (ii) the Beginning Value.  For purposes of this definition, "Beginning Value" means the average Fair Market Value per share of the applicable entity's common stock for the 15 consecutive trading days ending on the Grant Date, and "Ending Value" means the average Fair Market Value per share of the applicable entity's common stock for the 15 consecutive trading days beginning on the date the applicable entity's Annual Report on Form 10-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ending on the last day of such Performance Period.  When calculating the Beginning Value for any entity, the Committee must adjust such 

17

Beginning Value to account for a stock split, reverse stock split or stock dividend occurring during such period. In such event, the Committee must adjust the Beginning Value by multiplying it by the ratio of the number of shares outstanding at the beginning of the applicable period to the number of shares outstanding at the end of the applicable period; provided, however, no such adjustment shall be duplicative of any adjustment made pursuant to Section 4.3 or 4.4.  

6.    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COVENANTS AND WAIVERS. 
6.1    Participant understands and acknowledges that this Award Agreement confers both rights and obligations upon Participant. 
6.2    Participant has reviewed this Award Agreement in its entirety and understands that by signing this Award Agreement, Participant agrees to all of its terms, including, but not limited to, the covenants set forth in Section 2 of this Award Agreement, the Choice of Forum and Jurisdiction, and the Waiver of Jury Trial set forth in Section 4 of this Award Agreement.
6.3    Participant acknowledges that Company has advised Participant to seek his or her own legal counsel before signing this Award Agreement and that Participant has consulted or has had the opportunity to consult with his or her personal attorney before executing this Award Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows.]

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In consideration of said Award and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree to the terms set forth above.
The parties hereto have executed this Award Agreement.
Participant Name:     [Participant Name] 
Date Signed:        [Acceptance Date]
H&R BLOCK, INC.
By:  

Aileen M. Wilkins
Chief People Officer

19ex10-1.htm

Exhibit 10.1

VERTEX ENERGY, INC.

AND

THE PURCHASERS NAMED HEREIN

____________________________________________________________

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

____________________________________________________________

June 19, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

VERTEX ENERGY, INC.

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Unit Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of June 19, 2015 by and between Vertex Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation with its principal office at 1331 Gemini Street, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77058 (the “Company”), and those purchasers listed on the attached Exhibit A, as such exhibit may be amended from time to time (each a “Purchaser”, and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

Recitals

 

A.           The Company has authorized the sale and issuance (the “Offering”) of $25,000,000 of units consisting of (i) one share of Amended and Restated Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”) and (ii) one warrant to purchase one-half of a share of common stock of the Company, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (each a “Warrant” and together with the Preferred Stock, a “Unit”).

 

B.           Pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to sell to the Purchasers listed on the attached Exhibit A, as such exhibit may be amended from time to time, and such Purchasers, severally and not jointly, desire to purchase from the Company that aggregate number of Units set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

Terms and Conditions

 

Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           Purchase of the Units.

 

1.1           Agreement to Sell and Purchase. At the Closing (as hereinafter defined), the Company will issue and sell to each of the Purchasers, and each Purchaser will, severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company, the number of Units set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A for an aggregate purchase price set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A (the “Purchase Price”).  The Warrants shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

1.2           Placement Agent Fee.  The Purchasers acknowledge that the Company intends to pay to Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, in its capacity as the placement agent for the Offering (the “Placement Agent”), a fee in respect of the sale of the Units to any Purchaser.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchasers from and against all fees, commissions, or other payments owing by the Company to the Placement Agent or any other persons from or acting on behalf of the Company hereunder.

 

1.3           Closing; Closing Date.  The completion of the sale and purchase of the Units (the “Closing”) shall be held at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) as soon as practicable following the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4 (the “Closing Date”), at the offices of The Loev Law Firm, PC, 6300 West Loop South, Suite 280, Bellaire, Texas 77401 or at such other time and place as the Company and Purchasers may agree.

 

1.4           Delivery of the Units.  At the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company will deliver to each Purchaser a stock certificate or certificates and Warrant or Warrants, in such denominations and registered in such names as such Purchaser may designate by notice to the Company, representing the Units, dated as of the Closing Date (each a “Certificate”), against payment of the purchase price therefor by cash in the form of wire transfer, unless other means of payment shall have been agreed upon by the Purchasers and the Company.

 

  

Page 1

  

2.           Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Purchaser:

 

2.1           Authorization.  All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement has been taken.  The Company has the requisite corporate power to enter into this Agreement and carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement.  At the Closing, the Company will have the requisite corporate power to issue and sell the Units, the Preferred Stock, the Warrants, the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Shares”) and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”, together with the Conversion Shares, the “Underlying Shares”, and together with the Units, the Preferred Stock and the Warrants, the “Securities”).  This Agreement and the Warrants have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

2.2           No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (which for all purposes herein shall include issuance and exercise of the Warrants and conversion of the Preferred Stock) will not (A) conflict with or result in a material breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (B) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s charter or by-laws or (C) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule, regulation or decree of any court or arbitrator or federal, state, local or foreign governmental agency or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets (each, a “Governmental Authority”) or the rules of the Principal Market.  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with any Governmental Authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company, other than such as have been made or obtained and that remain in full force and effect, and except for the filing of a Form D or any filings required to be made under state securities laws.

 

2.3           Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws.   The Company has made available to the Purchasers true, correct and complete copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof.

 

2.4           Organization, Good Standing and Qualification.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Company SEC Documents (as defined below), and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect upon the business, prospects, management, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”).

 

  

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2.5           SEC Filings; Financial Statements.  As used herein, the “Company SEC Documents” means all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed or furnished, as applicable, by the Company under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, since December 31, 2013, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein. As of their respective filing dates, the Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder, and none of the Company SEC Documents, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.  The consolidated financial statements contained in the Company SEC Documents:  (i) complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered, except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements and (in the case of unaudited statements) as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain footnotes and are subject to year-end audit adjustments; and (iii) fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations cash flows and the changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.  There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings and is not so disclosed.  Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, subsequent to March 31, 2015, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of equity compensation awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans or shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or upon the conversion of outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock, of the Company (other than issuances of equity compensation awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans) or any of its subsidiaries, or any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, management, properties, operations or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Change”) or any development which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change.

 

2.6           Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 750,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which (A) 28,181,761 shares were issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (B) 5,099,267 shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise or conversion, as the case may be, of outstanding options, warrants or other convertible securities as of the date of this Agreement; and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, 5,000,000 of which have been designated Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Stock”) and 2,000,000 of which have been designated Series B Preferred Stock (the “Series B Stock”).   As of the date of this Agreement, (x) 612,943 shares of Series A Stock are issued and outstanding, (y) no shares of Series B Stock are issued or outstanding, and (z) no shares of Series A Stock or Series B Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise or conversion, as the case may be, of outstanding options, warrants or other convertible securities.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Stock, are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state and foreign securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities that have not been waived in writing, and the holders thereof are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.  The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued, sold and delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Preferred Stock or the Warrants, as the case may be, will be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free from all taxes, liens, claims, encumbrances and charges with respect to the issue thereof and the holders thereof will not be subject to personal liability to the Company or its stockholders by reason of being such holders; provided, however, that the Securities may be subject to restrictions on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws or as otherwise set forth herein.  The issuance, sale and delivery of the Units and the Underlying Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Preferred Stock or the Warrant, as the case may be, will not be subject to preemptive rights of stockholders of the Company.  The Conversion Shares have been duly reserved for issuance pursuant to the terms set forth in the certificate of designation of the Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.  The Warrant Shares have been duly reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise described in the Company SEC Documents, the Company owns of record and beneficially, free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens, proxies, equities or other encumbrances, all of the issued and outstanding shares of such stock.  Except as described in the Company SEC Documents, there are no options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company or any subsidiaries of the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any subsidiaries of the Company (other than issuances of equity compensation awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans).  The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Company SEC Documents accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.  There are no anti-dilution or price adjustment provisions, co-sale rights, registration rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights contained in the terms governing any outstanding security of the Company that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents.

 

  

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2.7           Ownership of Other Entities. Other than the subsidiaries of the Company listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and Vertex Energy, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation, the Company, directly or indirectly, owns no capital stock or other equity or ownership or proprietary interest in any corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity.

 

2.8           Offering.  Assuming the accuracy of the representations of the Purchasers in Section 3.3 of this Agreement, on the Closing Date and solely as this Section 2.8 relates to the issue and sale of (i) the Warrant Shares on the date(s) of exercise of the Warrant, and (ii) the Conversion Shares on the date(s) of conversion of the Preferred Stock, the offer, issue and sale of the Units and issuance of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrant (assuming no change in applicable law prior to the date the Warrant Shares are issued) and the Conversion Shares upon conversion of Preferred Stock, are and will be exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and have been or will be registered or qualified (or are or will be exempt from registration and qualification) under the registration, permit or qualification requirements of all applicable state securities laws.  Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has directly or indirectly made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that would require registration under the Securities Act of the issuance of the Units to the Purchasers, the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants or the issuance of the Conversion Shares upon the conversion of Preferred Stock.  Other than the Company SEC Documents, the Company has not distributed and will not distribute prior to the Closing Date any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Units or Underlying Shares.  The Company has not taken any action to sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy any securities of the Company which would bring the offer, issuance or sale of the Units, the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants or the issuance of Conversion Shares upon the conversion of Preferred Stock within the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act, unless such offer, issuance or sale was or shall be within the exemptions of Section 4 of the Securities Act.  The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Principal Market.

 

  

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2.9           Litigation.  Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding (a) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or (b) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company, any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any property or assets owned or leased by the Company before or by any court or Governmental Authority, or any arbitrator, which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Securities.  There are no current or, to the knowledge of the Company, pending, legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings (x) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject or (y) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company, any employee plan sponsored by the Company or any property or assets owned or leased by the Company, that are required to be described in the Company SEC Documents by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or by the rules and regulations thereunder and that have not been so described.

 

2.10           Compliance.  The Company and its subsidiaries hold, and are operating in compliance in all material respects with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates and orders of any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory body required for the conduct of their business, and all such franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certifications and orders are valid and in full force and effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have received notice of any revocation or modification of any such franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, easement, consent, certification or order or has reason to believe that any such franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, easement, consent, certification or order will not be renewed in the ordinary course; and the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees.

 

2.11           Ownership of Assets. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Company SEC Documents as being owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects except such as are immaterial to the Company or described in the Company SEC Documents or the exhibits thereto.  The property held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries is held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

2.12           Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, have a valid license to or can acquire on reasonable terms, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business as now conducted or as described in the Company SEC Documents to be conducted.  Furthermore, (A) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation  by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (B) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (C) the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and any of its subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property licensed to the Company and any of its subsidiaries, has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (D) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of others, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (E) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in or has ever been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except as such violation would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  “Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, domain names, technology, know-how and other intellectual property.

 

  

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2.13           No Violations or Defaults. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter, by-laws or other organizational documents, or in breach of or otherwise in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default in the performance of any material obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note, indenture, loan agreement or any other material contract, lease or other instrument to which it is subject or by which any of them may be bound, or to which any of the material property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject.

 

2.14           Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed and are not in default in the payment of any material taxes which were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto, other than any which the Company or its subsidiaries is contesting in good faith.  There is no pending dispute with any taxing authority relating to any of such returns, and the Company has no knowledge of any liability for any tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of the Company for which there is not an adequate reserve reflected in the Company’s financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents.

 

2.15           Exchange Listing and Exchange Act Registration.  The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is included or approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Principal Market”) and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the Principal Market nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the Principal Market is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Company has complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Principal Market for maintenance of inclusion of the Common Stock thereon.

 

2.16           Internal Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and none of the Company, its board of directors and audit committee is aware of any “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (each as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in its internal control over financial reporting, or any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the end of the latest audited fiscal year, and except as otherwise disclosed in the SEC Documents, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The Company’s board of directors has, subject to the exceptions, cure periods and the phase in periods specified in the applicable stock exchange rules (“Exchange Rules”), validly appointed an audit committee to oversee internal accounting controls whose composition satisfies the applicable requirements of the Exchange Rules and the Company’s board of directors and/or the audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the Exchange Rules.

 

  

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2.17           No Brokers. Except for any fees payable to the Placement Agent, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on arrangements made by the Company.

 

2.18           Insurance.  The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance from insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; all policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its business, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

2.19           Investment Company Act.  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

2.20           Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

2.21           Disclosure Controls.  The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) which are designed to provide reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer.  The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Company SEC Documents.

 

2.22           Anti-Bribery and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.  Each of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and any of their respective officers, directors, supervisors, managers, agents, or employees, has not violated, its participation in the offering will not violate, and the Company has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with, each of the following laws:  (a) anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to any law, rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other law, rule or regulation of similar purposes and scope, (b) anti-money laundering laws, including but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 US. Code section 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the United States is a member and with which designation the United States representative to the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any Executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the  foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder or (c) laws and regulations imposing U.S. economic sanctions measures, including, but not limited to, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, the United Nations Participation Act and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act, all as amended, and any Executive Order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, including the regulations of the United States Treasury Department set forth under 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder.

 

  

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2.23           OFAC.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

2.24           Affiliate Transactions.  To the Company’s knowledge, no transaction has occurred between or among the Company and any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of the Company’s officers, directors or 5% stockholders or any affiliate or affiliates of any such officer, director or 5% stockholders that is required to be described that is not so described in the Company SEC Documents.  The Company has not, directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, or arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any of its directors or executive officers in violation of applicable laws, including Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

2.25           Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any Governmental Authority or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries anticipates incurring any material capital expenditures relating to compliance with Environmental Laws.

 

2.26           Compliance with Occupational Laws.  The Company and its subsidiaries (A) are in compliance, in all material respects, with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, treaties, statutes and codes promulgated by any and all Governmental Authorities (including pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act) relating to the protection of human health and safety in the workplace (“Occupational Laws”); (B) have received all material permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Occupational Laws to conduct its business as currently conducted; and (C) are in compliance, in all material respects, with all terms and conditions of such permit, license or approval.  No action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, writ, injunction or claim is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Occupational Laws, and the Company does not have knowledge of any facts, circumstances or developments relating to its operations or cost accounting practices that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for or give rise to such actions, suits, investigations or proceedings.

 

2.27           ERISA and Employee Benefits Matters.  (i) To the knowledge of the Company, no “prohibited transaction” as defined under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and not exempt under ERISA Section 408 and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.  At no time has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, sponsored, participated in, contributed to or has or had any liability or obligation in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA, or Section 412 of the Code or any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or any multiple employer plan for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or could incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA.  No Employee Benefit Plan provides or promises, or at any time provided or promised, retiree health, life insurance, or other retiree welfare benefits except as may be required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or similar state law.  Each Employee Benefit Plan is and has been operated in material compliance with its terms and all applicable laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred (including a “reportable event” as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) and no condition exists that would subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any material tax, fine, lien, penalty or liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable law.  Each Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a) is so qualified and has a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS upon which it can rely, and any such determination or opinion letter remains in effect and has not been revoked; to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred since the date of any such determination or opinion letter that is reasonably likely to adversely affect such qualification; (ii) with respect to each Foreign Benefit Plan, such Foreign Benefit Plan (A) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets, in all material respects, the requirements for such treatment, and (B) if required to be funded, is funded to the extent required by applicable law, and with respect to all other Foreign Benefit Plans, adequate reserves therefore have been established on the accounting statements of the applicable Company or its subsidiaries; (iii) the Company does not have any obligations under any collective bargaining agreement with any union and no organization efforts are underway with respect to Company employees.  As used in this Agreement, “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; “Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, including, without limitation, all stock purchase, stock option, stock-based severance, employment, change-in-control, medical, disability, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA, under which (A) any current or former employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which are contributed to, sponsored by or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) the Company or any of its subsidiaries has had or has any present or future obligation or liability; “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; “ERISA Affiliate” means any member of the company’s controlled group as defined in Code Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o); and “Foreign Benefit Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan established, maintained or contributed to outside of the United States of America or which covers any employee working or residing outside of the United States.

 

  

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2.28           Labor Matters.  No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

2.29           Statistical Information.  Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in the Company SEC Documents are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

2.30           Forward-looking Statements.  No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) made publicly available by the Company or any of its officers or directors since January 1, 2014 has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

2.31           Transfer Taxes.  On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) that are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Securities hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company and the Company will have complied with all laws imposing such taxes.

 

  

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2.32           No General Solicitation.  Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

2.33           Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement.  The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s charter or the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation which is or could become applicable to any Purchaser as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Purchaser’s ownership of the Securities.  The Company has not adopted a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company.

 

2.34           No Manipulation; Disclosure of Information.  The Company has not taken and will not take any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in an unlawful manipulation of the price of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.  The Company confirms that, with the exception of the proposed sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information.  The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers shall be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.  All disclosures provided to the Purchasers regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated hereby furnished by the Company are true and correct and do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

2.35           Certain Acknowledgements.  Anything in this Agreement or elsewhere herein to the contrary notwithstanding (except for Sections 3.7 and 6.11 hereof), it is understood and acknowledged by the Company that: (i) none of the Purchasers has been asked by the Company to agree, nor has any Purchaser agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling, long and/or short, securities of the Company, or “derivative” securities based on securities issued by the Company or to hold the Securities for any specified term; (ii) past or future open market or other transactions by any Purchaser, specifically including, without limitation, Short Sales (as defined below) or “derivative” transactions, before or after the closing of this or future private placement transactions, may negatively impact the market price of the Company’s publicly-traded securities; (iii) any Purchaser, and counter-parties in “derivative” transactions to which any such Purchaser is a party, directly or indirectly, presently may have a “short” position in the Common Stock, and (iv) each Purchaser shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm’s length counter-party in any “derivative” transaction. The Company further understands and acknowledges that (y) one or more Purchasers may engage in hedging activities at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, and (z) such hedging activities (if any) could reduce the value of the existing stockholders’ equity interests in the Company at and after the time that the hedging activities are being conducted. The Company acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging activities do not constitute a breach hereof.

 

2.36           No Additional Agreements.  Other than with respect to closing mechanics, the Company has no other agreements or understandings (including, without limitation, side letters) with any Purchaser or other person to purchase Securities on terms more favorable to such person than as set forth herein.

 

2.37           No “Bad Actor” Disqualification.  The Company has exercised reasonable care, in accordance with SEC rules and guidance, and has conducted a factual inquiry, the nature and scope of which reflect reasonable care under the relevant facts and circumstances, to determine whether any Covered Person (as defined below) is subject to any of the “bad actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (“Disqualification Events”). To the Company’s knowledge, after conducting such sufficiently diligent factual inquiries, no Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event, except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with any disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e) under the Securities Act. “Covered Persons” are those persons specified in Rule 506(d)(1) under the Securities Act, including the Company; any predecessor or affiliate of the Company; any director, executive officer, other officer participating in the offering, general partner or managing member of the Company; any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power; any promoter (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of the sale of the Units; and any person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the Units (a “Solicitor”), any general partner or managing member of any Solicitor, and any director, executive officer or other officer participating in the offering of any Solicitor or general partner or managing member of any Solicitor.

 

  

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3.           Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers.  Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

3.1           Legal Power. If the Purchaser is a corporation, limited partnership, or limited liability company, such Purchaser is validly existing and has all requisite corporate, partnership, or limited liability company power and authority to invest in the Units pursuant to this Agreement. The Purchaser has the requisite authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement.  All action on the Purchaser’s part required for the lawful execution and delivery of this Agreement have been or will be effectively taken prior to the Closing.

 

3.2           Due Execution.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser, and, upon due execution and delivery by the Company, this Agreement will be a valid and binding agreement of the Purchaser, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

3.3           Investment Representations.  In connection with the sale and issuance of the Securities, the Purchaser, for itself and no other Purchaser, makes the following representations:

 

(a)           Investment for Own Account.  The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities for its own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution or public offering thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, and such Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the Securities Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the Purchaser does not agree to hold any of the Units for any minimum or specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

(b)           Transfer Restrictions; Legends.  The Purchaser understands that (i) the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act; (ii) the Securities are being offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration, based in part upon the Company’s reliance upon the statements and representations made by the Purchasers in this Agreement, and that the Securities may be held by the Purchaser indefinitely, and that the Purchaser may, therefore, bear the economic risk of such investment indefinitely, unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act or is exempt from such registration; (iii) each Certificate representing any of the Preferred Stock, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares will be endorsed with the following legend until the earlier of (1) in the case of any of the Preferred Stock, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares, such date as the Preferred Stock, Warrants or Underlying Shares, as the case may be, have been registered for resale by the Purchaser or (2) the date any of the Preferred Stock, the Warrants or the Underlying Shares, as the case may be, are eligible for sale under Rule 144 under the Securities Act:

 

  

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THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATES.  THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

(iv) the Company will instruct any transfer agent not to register the transfer of the Preferred Stock, Warrants or Underlying Shares (or any portion thereof) until the applicable date set forth in clause (iii) above unless the conditions specified in the foregoing legends are satisfied or, if the opinion of counsel referred to above is to the further effect that such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act or this Agreement, or other satisfactory assurances of such nature are given to the Company.

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that a Purchaser may from time to time pledge, and/or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement in connection with a bona fide margin account and, if required under the terms of such agreement or account, the Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities to the pledgees or secured parties.  Such a pledge or transfer shall not be subject to approval or consent of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel to the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection with the pledge, but such legal opinion may be required in connection with a subsequent transfer following default by the Purchaser transferee of the pledge.  No notice shall be required of such pledge.  At the appropriate Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Securities including the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) of the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of Selling Stockholders thereunder.

 

Certificates evidencing the Securities shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in this Section): (i) upon the effectiveness of a registration statement (including the Registration Statement) covering the Securities (provided that the Purchaser agrees to only sell such Securities during such time that such registration statement is effective and not withdrawn or suspended, and only as permitted by such registration statement), or (ii) following a sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) while such Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144, if such Securities have been held for one year or more pursuant to the requirements of Rule 144, or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the Staff of the SEC).  Following such time as restrictive legends are not required to be placed on certificates representing Securities, the Company will, no later than three business days following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a certificate representing Securities containing a restrictive legend and such other documentation and representations as the Company, its legal counsel or Transfer Agent may reasonably request to confirm compliance with the preceding sentence as applicable (provided, however, that neither the Company nor its legal counsel will require a legal opinion in connection with any sale pursuant to Rule 144), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends.  The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the Company’s transfer agent promptly after the effective date of a registration statement covering the Securities if required by the Company’s transfer agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder.  The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to any transfer agent of the Company that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section.  Certificates for Securities subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the transfer agent of the Company to the Purchasers by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company system.  The Company will pay all fees and expenses of its transfer agent and the Depository Trust Company in connection with the removal of legends pursuant to this Section 3.3(b).

 

  

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Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees that the removal of the restrictive legend from certificates representing Securities as set forth in this Section 3.3(b) is predicated upon the Company’s reliance that the Purchaser will sell any Securities pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom.

 

(c)           Financial Sophistication; Due Diligence.  The Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.  Such Purchaser has, in connection with its decision to purchase the Units, relied only upon the representations and warranties contained herein and the information contained in the Company SEC Documents.  Further, the Purchaser has had such opportunity to obtain additional information and to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Company, concerning the terms and conditions of the investment and the business and affairs of the Company, as the Purchaser considers necessary in order to form an investment decision. Such Purchaser acknowledges access to the Company SEC Documents.

 

(d)           Accredited Investor Status.  The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(e)           Residency. The Purchaser is organized under the laws of the jurisdiction set forth beneath such Purchaser’s name on the signature page attached hereto, and its principal place of operations is in the state set forth beneath such Purchaser’s name on the signature page attached hereto.

 

           (f)           General Solicitation.  The Purchaser is not purchasing the Units as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Units published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over the television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement.  Prior to the time that the Purchaser was first contacted by the Company or the Placement Agent such Purchaser had a pre-existing and substantial relationship with the Company or the Placement Agent.

 

(g)           Compliance With Registration Statement. The Purchaser agrees to sell all Registrable Securities registered under the Registration Statement and sold in connection therewith, in compliance with the plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement and any and all applicable prospectus delivery requirements.

 

3.4           No Investment, Tax or Legal Advice.  Each Purchaser understands that nothing in the Company SEC Documents, this Agreement, or any other materials presented to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase and sale of the Units constitutes legal, tax or investment advice.  Each Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of Units.

 

3.5           Additional Acknowledgement.  Each Purchaser acknowledges that it has independently evaluated the merits of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, that it has independently determined to enter into the transactions contemplated hereby, that it is not relying on any advice from or evaluation by any other person.  Each Purchaser acknowledges that the Placement Agent has acted solely as placement agent for the Company in connection with the Offering of the Units by the Company, that the information and data provided to the Purchaser in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby has not been subjected to independent verification by the Placement Agent, and that the Placement Agent has made no representation or warranty whatsoever with respect to the accuracy or completeness of such information, data or other related disclosure material.  Each Purchaser acknowledges that it has not taken any actions that would deem the Purchasers to be members of a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

  

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3.6           Limited Ownership.  The purchase of the Units issuable to each Purchaser at the Closing will not result in such Purchaser (individually or together with any other person or entity with whom such Purchaser has identified, or will have identified, itself as part of a “group” in a public filing made with the SEC involving the Company’s securities) acquiring, or obtaining the right to acquire, in excess of 19.999% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or voting power of the Company on a post-transaction basis that assumes that the Closing shall have occurred.  Such Purchaser does not presently intend to, along or together with others, make a public filing with the SEC to disclose that it has (or that it together with such other persons or entities have) acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, as a result of the Closing (when added to any other securities of the Company that it or they then own or have the right to acquire), in excess of 19.999% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the voting power of the Company on a post-transaction basis that assumes that the Closing shall have occurred.

 

3.7           Short Sales and Confidentiality Prior to the Date Hereof. Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, such Purchaser has not directly or indirectly, nor has any person or entity acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser, executed any purchases or sales, including short sales as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (“Short Sales”), of the securities of the Company during the period commencing from the time that such Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the Company or any other person representing the Company setting forth the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder until the date hereof (“Discussion Time”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s assets, the representation set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the securities covered by this Agreement. Other than to other persons party to this Agreement, such Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to the identification of the availability of, or securing of, available shares to borrow in order to effect short sales or similar transactions in the future.

 

4.           Conditions to Closing.

 

4.1           Conditions to Obligations of Purchasers at Closing.  Each Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the Units at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to that Purchaser’s reasonable satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing, of all of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Purchaser:

 

(a)           Representations and Warranties True; Performance of Obligations.  The representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 2 shall be true and correct in all respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date and the Company shall have performed and complied with all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing and a certificate duly executed by an officer of the Company, to the effect of the foregoing, shall be delivered to the Purchasers.

 

  

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(b)           Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to counsel to the Purchaser, and counsel to the Purchaser shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request. The Company shall have delivered (or caused to have been delivered) to each Purchaser, the certificates required by this Agreement.  The Warrant Shares shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants and the Conversion Shares shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Preferred Stock.

 

(c)            Qualifications, Legal Investment. All authorizations, approvals, or permits, if any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the United States or of any state that are required in connection with the lawful sale and issuance of the Securities shall have been duly obtained and shall be effective on and as of the Closing.  No stop order or other order enjoining the sale of the Securities shall have been issued and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the SEC, or any commissioner of corporations or similar officer of any state having jurisdiction over this transaction.  At the time of the Closing, the sale and issuance of the Securities shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which Purchasers and the Company are subject. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction will have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)            Execution of Agreements.  The Company shall have executed this Agreement and have delivered this Agreement to the Purchasers.

 

(e)            Secretary’s Certificate.  The Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers a certificate of the Secretary of the Company certifying as to (i) the truth and accuracy of the resolutions of the board of directors relating to the transaction contemplated hereby (a copy of which shall be included with such certificate) and (ii) the current versions of the Company’s charter and bylaws.

 

(f)            Trading and Listing.  Trading and listing of the Common Stock on the Principal Market shall not have been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market. The Company will comply with all of the requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the Principal Market with respect to the issuance of the Securities and will list the Underlying Shares on the Principal Market no later than the earlier of (a) the effective date of the Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined) or (b) the Required Effective Date (as hereinafter defined).

 

(g)            Blue Sky.  The Company shall have obtained all necessary “blue sky” law permits and qualifications, or have the availability of exemptions therefrom, required by any state for the offer and sale of the Securities.

 

(h)            Material Adverse Change.  Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any event which results in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(i)            Opinion.  The Company shall have delivered to Purchasers the opinion of The Loev Law Firm, PC, counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

(j)            Lock-Up Agreements.  The Placement Agent shall have received all of the Lock-Up Agreements referenced in Section 5.5.

 

  

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4.2            Conditions to Obligations of the Company.  The Company’s obligation to issue and sell the Units at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the Company’s reasonable satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:

 

(a)           Representations and Warranties True. The representations and warranties made by the Purchasers in Section 3 shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date.

 

(b)           Performance of Obligations.  The Purchasers shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions herein required to be performed or complied with by them on or before the Closing.  The Purchasers shall have delivered the Purchase Price, by wire transfer, to the account designated by the Company for such purpose.

 

(c)            Qualifications, Legal Investment.  All authorizations, approvals, or permits, if any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the United States or of any state that are required in connection with the lawful sale and issuance of the Securities shall have been duly obtained and shall be effective on and as of the Closing.  No stop order or other order enjoining the sale of the Securities shall have been issued and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the SEC, or any commissioner of corporations or similar officer of any state having jurisdiction over this transaction.  At the time of the Closing, the sale and issuance of the Securities shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Purchasers and the Company are subject.  No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction will have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)            Execution of Agreements.  The Purchasers shall have executed this Agreement and delivered this Agreement to the Company.

 

5.           Additional Covenants.

 

5.1           Reporting Status.  With a view to making available to the Purchasers the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale of the Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act.  The Company will otherwise take such further action as a Purchaser may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Purchaser to sell the Securities without registration under the Securities Act or any successor rule or regulation adopted by the SEC.  If, at any time during the period commencing from the six-month anniversary of the date hereof and ending at such time that all Registrable Securities (as defined below) may be sold without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 (the “144 Sale Date”), the Company fails to satisfy the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act, then the Company shall, on the business day immediately following such failure and each 30th day thereafter until the 144 Sale Date, make a payment to the Purchasers as partial liquidated damages for such failure equal to 1% of the Purchase Price paid for the Units and Underlying Shares then owned by the Purchasers.  Payments pursuant to this Section 5.1 will be prorated on a daily basis during each 30-day period and will be paid to the Purchasers by wire transfer or check within five business days after the earlier of (i) the end of each 30-day period following such failure to satisfy the current public information requirement or (ii) the 144 Sale Date.  If the Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 12% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Purchasers, accruing daily from the date such liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full.

 

  

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5.2           Listing.  So long as a Purchaser owns any of the Securities, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of its Common Stock, including the Underlying Shares, on the Principal Market or an alternative listing on the New York Stock Exchange or the NYSE MKT, or any successor market, as applicable, and will comply in all material respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of such exchanges, as applicable.

 

5.3           Adjustments in Share Numbers and Prices.   In the event of any stock split, subdivision, dividend or distribution payable in shares of Common Stock (or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly shares of Common Stock), combination or other similar recapitalization or event occurring after the date hereof, each reference in this Agreement to a number of shares or price per share shall be amended appropriately to account for such event.

 

5.4           Non-Public Information.  The Company covenants and agrees that neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf will provide any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information.  The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.  Furthermore, if the Company has disclosed any material non-public information to the Purchaser, the Purchaser has no duty to keep such information confidential following the public announcement of this transaction.

 

5.5           Restrictions on Future Transactions.  The Company will not, from the date of this Agreement through the date that is 60 days after the date the Registration Statement (as defined below) becomes effective (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock  or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except (1) pursuant to this Agreement, (2) pursuant to employee stock option or equity plans as existing on the date of this Agreement and filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the Company SEC Documents, or (3) upon the exercise of warrants or the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in or described or referenced in the Company SEC Documents in accordance with the terms of such securities as of the date hereof.  The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.  Except to the extent necessary to comply with the Company’s obligations hereunder and the registration rights set forth in the SEC Documents, the Company will not file any registration statement during the Lock-up Period.  The Company has caused to be delivered to the Placement Agent prior to the date of this Agreement a letter, in the form of Exhibit F hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), from each of the Company’s directors and officers.  The Company will enforce the terms of each Lock-Up Agreement and issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the Common Stock with respect to any transaction or contemplated transaction that would constitute a breach of or default under the applicable Lock-Up Agreement.

 

  

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6.           Registration Rights.

 

6.1           Registration Procedures and Expenses.

 

(a)           The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as reasonably practicable following Closing, but in no event later than 30 days following Closing, a registration statement on Form S-1 (or any successor to Form S-1), covering the resale of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) (the “S-1 Registration Statement”) and as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, but in no event later than 90 days following Closing (120 days following Closing in the event of a “full review” of the Registration Statement by the SEC) (the “Required Effective Date”), effect such registration and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all Registrable Securities held by the Purchasers.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Registrable Securities” shall mean (i) the Underlying Shares and (ii) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, any Underlying Shares, subject to reductions in the Registrable Securities pursuant to the limitations described below in connection with a Reduction in Registrable Securities.  In the event that Form S-1 (or any successor form) is or becomes unavailable to register the resale of the Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchasers’ registration rights pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(i), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC, as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date that Form S-1 is no longer available to register the Registrable Securities (or unsold portion thereof) a registration statement on any successor to Form S-1 covering the resale of the Registrable Securities (the “Successor Registration Statement”), provided that if any time in the future Form S-3 becomes available to the Company to register the Registrable Securities, the Company may amend the S-1 Registration Statement to instead be on Form S-3 (the “S-3 Registration Statement” and collectively the S-3 Registration Statement, the Successor Registration Statement and the S-1 Registration Statement, the “Registration Statement”) and as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter to effect registration of the Registrable Securities (or any unsold portion thereof) and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all Registrable Securities held by the Purchasers.  If the Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC on or before the Required Effective Date, or if, after the Registration Statement has been declared effective, it ceases to be effective and available for use for more than (y) 10 consecutive trading days, or (z) an aggregate of 45 days (which need not be consecutive) during any 12-month period, the Company shall, on the business day immediately following the Required Effective Date and each 30th day thereafter, make a payment to the Purchasers as partial liquidated damages for such delay (together, the “Late Registration Payments”) equal to 1% of the Purchase Price paid for the Units then owned by the Purchasers until the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, up to an annual maximum of 6% of the aggregate Purchase Price.  Late Registration Payments will be prorated on a daily basis during each 30-day period and will be paid to the Purchasers by wire transfer or check within five business days after the earlier of (i) the end of each 30-day period following the Required Effective Date or (ii) the effective date of the Registration Statement.  If the Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 12% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Purchasers, accruing daily from the date such liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full.  “Business day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day that is a federal legal holiday in the United States. Notwithstanding the obligations set forth above, if (i) any SEC guidance; or (ii) any comments received from the SEC, sets forth a limitation on the number of securities permitted to be registered on behalf of the Purchaser in the Registration Statement (provided that the Company shall not be prohibited from including the resale of other securities on such Registration Statement), the number of Registrable Securities to be included on such Registration Statement for the benefit of all of the Purchasers will be reduced pro rata between the Purchasers whose securities are included in such Registration Statement and all Conversion Shares shall be registered prior to all Warrant Shares (a “Limitation in Registrable Securities”).  In the case of a Limitation in Registrable Securities, the Company shall take action to file additional registration statements at the written request of the holders of a majority in interest of the Preferred Stock shares after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, subject to SEC rules and guidance and the requirements set forth above, provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to file more than one additional Registration Statement in any rolling six month period.   For the sake of clarity, the Registrable Securities required to be included in the Registration Statement shall be the total Registrable Securities reduced by any Limitation in Registrable Securities.

 

  

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(b)            The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i)           prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus forming part thereof (the “Prospectus”) used in connection therewith as may be necessary or advisable to keep the Registration Statement current and effective for the Registrable Securities held by a Purchaser for a period ending on the earliest of (i) the second anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule (“Rule 144”) during any three-month period without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) or (iii) such time as all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a registration statement or Rule 144.  At such time the Company is no longer required to keep the Registration Statement current and effective for the Registrable Securities held by a Purchaser (the “Registration Statement Termination Date”), that Purchaser will no longer accrue any additional liquidated damages payments pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) or 6.2(c); however, the Company shall still be obligated to make all payments under Sections 6.1(a) or 6.2(c) that were not made prior to the Registration Statement Termination Date for that Purchaser.  The Company shall notify each Purchaser promptly upon the Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto, being declared effective by the SEC and advise each Purchaser that the form of Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement or post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, at the time of effectiveness meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act or that it intends to file a Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)           furnish to the Purchaser with respect to the Registrable Securities registered under the Registration Statement such number of copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including supplemental prospectuses) filed with the SEC in conformance with the requirements of the Securities Act and other such documents as the Purchaser may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of all or any of the Registrable Securities by the Purchaser;

 

(iii)           make any necessary blue sky filings;

 

(iv)           pay the expenses incurred by the Company and the Purchasers in complying with Section 6, including, all registration and filing fees, FINRA fees, exchange listing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky fees and expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding attorneys’ fees of any Purchaser and any and all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities by the Purchasers);

 

(v)           advise the Purchasers, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge of the issuance of any stop order by the SEC delaying or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued; and

 

(vi)           with a view to making available to the Purchaser the benefits of Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Purchaser to sell Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:  (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) such date as all of the Registrable Securities qualify to be resold immediately pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect during any three-month period without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) or (B) such date as all of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold pursuant to Rule 144 (and may be further resold without restriction); (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and under the Exchange Act; and (iii) furnish to the Purchaser upon request, as long as the Purchaser owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company as to whether it has complied with the reporting requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (B) a copy of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail the Purchaser of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration.

 

  

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(c)            The Company shall not less than three (3) business days prior to the filing of a Registration Statement and not less than one (1) business day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any similar or successor reports), furnish to the Purchaser copies of such Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, as proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such Purchaser (it being acknowledged and agreed that if a Purchaser does not object to or comment on the aforementioned documents within such three (3) business day or one (1) business day period, as the case may be, then the Purchaser shall be deemed to have consented to and approved the use of such documents).  The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which a Purchaser reasonably objects in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing within the three (3) business day or one (1) business day period described above, as applicable.

 

The Company understands that the Purchasers disclaim being an underwriter, but acknowledges that a determination by the SEC that a Purchaser is deemed an underwriter shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has hereunder.

 

6.2      Transfer of Shares After Registration; Suspension.

 

(a)            Except in the event that Section 6.2(b) applies, the Company shall: (i) if deemed necessary or advisable by the Company, prepare and file from time to time with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that such Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) provide the Purchasers copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section 6.2(a)(i); and (iii) upon request, inform each Purchaser who so requests that the Company has complied with its obligations in Section 6.2(b)(i) (or that, if the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which has not yet been declared effective, the Company will notify the Purchaser to that effect, will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to secure the effectiveness of such post-effective amendment as promptly as possible and will promptly notify the Purchaser pursuant to Section 6.2(b)(i) when the amendment has become effective).

 

(b)            Subject to Section 6.2(c), in the event: (i) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) of any event or circumstance which necessitates the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; then the Company shall promptly deliver a certificate in writing to the Purchasers (the “Suspension Notice”) to the effect of the foregoing and, upon receipt of such Suspension Notice, the Purchasers will refrain from selling any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (a “Suspension”) until the Purchasers are advised in writing by the Company that the current Prospectus may be used, and have received copies from the Company of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in any such Prospectus.  Such Suspension Notice shall not contain any material non-public information.  In the event of any Suspension, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the use of the Prospectus so suspended to be resumed as soon as reasonably practicable after delivery of a Suspension Notice to the Purchasers.  In addition to and without limiting any other remedies (including, without limitation, at law or at equity) available to the Company and the Purchaser, the Company and the Purchasers shall be entitled to specific performance in the event that the other party fails to comply with the provisions of this Section 6.2(b).

 

  

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(c)            Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 6.2, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to ensure that (i) a Suspension shall not exceed 10 days individually, (ii) Suspensions covering no more than 45 days, in the aggregate, shall occur during any twelve-month period and (iii) each Suspension shall be separated by a period of at least 30 days from a prior Suspension (each Suspension that satisfies the foregoing criteria being referred to herein as a “Qualifying Suspension”). In the event that there occurs a Suspension (or part thereof) that does not constitute a Qualifying Suspension, the Company shall pay to the Purchaser the amounts set forth in Section 6.1(a).

 

(d)           If a Suspension is not then in effect, the Purchasers may sell Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement, provided that they sell such Registrable Securities during such time that the registration statement is effective and not withdrawn or suspended and only as permitted by such registration statement, and provided that they comply with any applicable prospectus delivery requirements.  Upon receipt of a request therefor, the Company will provide an adequate number of current Prospectuses to a Purchaser and to any other parties reasonably requiring such Prospectuses.

 

(e)            The Company agrees that it shall, immediately prior to the Registration Statement being declared effective, deliver to its transfer agent an opinion letter of counsel, opining that at any time the Registration Statement is effective, the transfer agent may issue, in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities, certificates representing such Registrable Securities without restrictive legend, provided the Registrable Securities are to be sold pursuant to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and applicable prospectus delivery requirements.  Upon receipt of such opinion, the Company shall cause the transfer agent to confirm that no further opinion of counsel is required at the time of transfer in order to issue such Registrable Securities without restrictive legend.

 

The Company shall cause its transfer agent to issue a certificate without any restrictive legend to a purchaser of any Registrable Securities from the Purchasers, if no Suspension is in effect at the time of sale, and (a) the sale of such Registrable Securities is registered under the Registration Statement (including registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act); (b) the holder has provided the Company with an opinion of counsel, in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions, to the effect that a public sale or transfer of such Registrable Securities may be made without registration under the Securities Act; or (c) such Registrable Securities are or may be sold in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

  

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6.3      Indemnification.  For the purpose of this Section 6.3:

 

(a)            the term “Selling Stockholder” shall mean a Purchaser, its general partners, managing members, managers, executive officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls that Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act;

 

(b)            the term “Registration Statement” shall include any final Prospectus, exhibit, supplement or amendment included in or relating to, and any document incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement (or deemed to be a part thereof) referred to in Section 6.1; and

 

(c)            the term “untrue statement” shall mean any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or any omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(d)            The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Stockholder from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Selling Stockholder may become subject (under the Securities Act or otherwise) insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, (ii) any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement or the failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or (iii) any failure by the Company to fulfill any undertaking included in the Registration Statement, and the Company will reimburse such Selling Stockholder for any reasonable legal expense or other actual accountable out of pocket expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon, an untrue statement made in such Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement or the failure of such Selling Stockholder to comply with its covenants and agreements contained herein or any statement or omission in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent Prospectus that was delivered to the Selling Stockholder prior to the pertinent sale or sales by the Selling Stockholder.

 

(e)            Each Purchaser severally (as to itself), and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company (and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement and each director of the Company) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company (or any such officer, director or controlling person) may become subject (under the Securities Act or otherwise), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any failure by that Purchaser to comply with the covenants and agreements contained in this Section 6 or (ii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement if, and only if, such untrue statement was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of that Purchaser specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement, and that Purchaser will reimburse the Company (or such officer, director or controlling person, as the case may be), for any reasonable legal expense or other reasonable actual accountable out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim.  The obligation to indemnify shall be limited to the net amount of the proceeds received by the Purchaser from the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

  

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(f)            Promptly after receipt by any indemnified person of a notice of a claim or the beginning of any action in respect of which indemnity is to be sought against an indemnifying person pursuant to this Section 6.3, such indemnified person shall notify the indemnifying person in writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party under this Section 6.3 (except to the extent that such omission materially and adversely affects the indemnifying party’s ability to defend such action) or from any liability otherwise than under this Section 6.3.  Subject to the provisions hereinafter stated, in case any such action shall be brought against an indemnified person, the indemnifying person shall be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it shall elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified person.  After notice from the indemnifying person to such indemnified person of its election to assume the defense thereof (unless it has failed to assume the defense thereof and appoint counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party), such indemnifying person shall not be liable to such indemnified person for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified person in connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that if there exists or shall exist a conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the indemnified person, for the same counsel to represent both the indemnified person and such indemnifying person or any affiliate or associate thereof, the indemnified person shall be entitled to retain its own counsel (who shall not be the same as the opining counsel) at the expense of such indemnifying person; provided, however, that no indemnifying person shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) for all indemnified parties.  In no event shall any indemnifying person be liable in respect of any amounts paid in settlement of any action unless the indemnifying person shall have approved the terms of such settlement; provided that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  No indemnifying person shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified person is or could reasonably have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

 

(g)            If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.3 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (d) or (e) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the liable Purchaser on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or other matters which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, in the case of an untrue statement, whether the untrue statement relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the liable Purchaser on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement.  The Company and the Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (g) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (g).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (g) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (g), no Purchasers shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net amount received by that Purchaser from the sale of the Registrable Securities to which such loss relates exceeds the amount of any damages which that Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay to the Company by reason of such untrue statement.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Purchasers’ obligations in this subsection to contribute are several in proportion to their sales of Registrable Securities to which such loss relates and not joint.

 

  

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(h)            The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including, without limitation, the provisions of this Section 6.3, and are fully informed regarding said provisions.  They further acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 6.3 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made in the Registration Statement as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

(i)            The obligations of the Company and of the Purchasers under this Section 6.3 shall survive completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement for a period of two years from the completion of such offering.  No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

6.4      Termination of Conditions and Obligations.  The conditions precedent imposed by Section 3 or this Section 6 upon the transferability of the Registrable Securities shall cease and terminate as to any particular number of the Registrable Securities when such Registrable Securities shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act and sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the intended method of disposition set forth in the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities or at such time as an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company shall have been rendered to the effect that such conditions are not necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act.  The Company shall request an opinion of counsel promptly upon receipt of a request therefor from Purchaser.

 

6.5      Information Available.  So long as the Registration Statement is effective covering the resale of Registrable Securities owned by a Purchaser, the Company will furnish (or, to the extent such information is available electronically through the Company’s filings with the SEC, the Company will make available via the SEC’s EDGAR system or any successor thereto) to each Purchaser:

 

(a)            as soon as practicable after it is available, one copy of (i) its Annual Report to Stockholders (which Annual Report shall contain financial statements audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by a national firm of certified public accountants) and (ii) if not included in substance in the Annual Report to Stockholders, its Annual Report on Form 10-K (the foregoing, in each case, excluding exhibits);

 

(b)            upon the request of the Purchaser, all exhibits excluded by the parenthetical to subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 6.5 as filed with the SEC and all other information that is made available to stockholders; and

 

(c)            upon the reasonable request of the Purchaser, an adequate number of copies of the Prospectuses to supply to any other party requiring such Prospectuses; and the Company, upon the reasonable request of a Purchaser, will meet with each Purchaser or a representative thereof at the Company’s headquarters during the Company’s normal business hours to discuss all information relevant for disclosure in the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities and will otherwise reasonably cooperate with the Purchasers conducting an investigation for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the Purchasers’ exposure to liability under the Securities Act, including the reasonable production of information at the Company’s headquarters; provided, that the Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information to or meet at its headquarters with a Purchaser until and unless that Purchaser shall have entered into a confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company with the Company with respect thereto.

 

  

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6.6      Public Statements; Limitation on Information.  The Company agrees to disclose on a Current Report on Form 8-K the existence of the Offering and the material terms, thereof, including pricing, within one business day after the date hereof.  Such Current Report on Form 8-K shall include a form of this Agreement (and all exhibits and schedules thereto) as an exhibit thereto.  The Company will not issue any public statement, press release or any other public disclosure listing a Purchaser as one of the purchasers of the Units, or otherwise naming the Purchaser or its affiliates or investment advisers, without that Purchaser’s prior written consent, except as may be required by applicable law or rules of any exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed.  The Company shall not provide, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries and the respective officers, directors, employees and agents of the Company and each of its subsidiaries not to provide, the Purchasers with any material nonpublic information regarding the Company or any subsidiary from and after the date the Company files, or is required by this Section to file, the Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC without the prior express written consent of the Purchaser.

 

6.7      Limits on Additional Issuances.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 5.5, the Company will not, for a period of 90 days following the Closing Date offer for sale or sell any securities unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, such offer or sale does not jeopardize the availability of exemptions from the registration and qualification requirements under applicable securities laws with respect to the Offering.  Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, and except for the issuance of equity awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans, the issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants, the issuance of Common Stock purchase warrants, the issuance of Common Stock as part of acquisitions approved by the board of directors of the Company, and the offering contemplated hereby, the Company has not engaged in any offering of equity securities during the six months prior to the date of this Agreement.  The foregoing provisions shall not prevent the Company from filing a resale registration statement or registration statements under the Securities Act.

 

6.8      Form D and State Securities Filings.  The Company will file with the SEC a Notice of Sale of Securities on Form D with respect to the Units, as required under Regulation D under the Securities Act, no later than 15 days after the Closing Date.  The Company will promptly and timely file all documents and pay all filing fees required by any states’ securities laws in connection with the sale of Securities.

 

6.9       Assignment of Registration Rights.  The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6 may be assigned by a Purchaser to a party that acquires, other than pursuant to the Registration Statement or Rule 144, any of Registrable Securities.

 

6.10       Selling Stockholder Questionnaire.  Each Purchaser agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E (a “Selling Holder Questionnaire”).  The Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Purchaser in a Registration Statement and shall not be required to pay any liquidated or other damages hereunder to any such Purchaser who fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed Selling Holder Questionnaire at least three business days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement.

 

6.11        Short Sales and Confidentiality After the Date Hereof.  Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that neither it, nor any affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of any of the Company’s securities during the period commencing with the Discussion Time and ending at such time the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced.  Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) no Purchaser makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in effecting transactions in any securities of the Company after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced, (ii) no Purchaser shall be restricted or prohibited from effecting any transactions in any securities of the Company in accordance with applicable securities laws from and after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced and (iii) no Purchaser shall have any duty of confidentiality to the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement after the issuance of the Current Report on Form 8-K as described in Section 6.6.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s assets, the covenants set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the securities covered by this Agreement.

 

  

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7.           Miscellaneous.

 

7.1           Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the choice of law provisions thereof, and the federal laws of the United States.

 

7.2           Successors and Assigns.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators of the parties hereto.  The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchasers or their affiliates holding Preferred Stock that constitute at least a majority of the Preferred Stock then held by the Purchasers and their affiliates). Any Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Preferred Stock, provided that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Preferred Stock, by the provisions hereof to the “Purchasers.”

 

7.3           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the exhibits hereto, and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto, constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements except as specifically set forth herein or therein.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein and in the engagement letter between the Company and the Placement Agent relating to the Offering.

 

7.4           Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, it shall to the extent practicable, be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable and to retain as nearly as practicable the intent of the parties, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

7.5           Amendment and Waiver.  Except as otherwise provided herein, any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, either retroactively or prospectively, and either for a specified period of time or indefinitely), with the written consent of the Company and the Purchasers or their affiliates holding Preferred Stock that constitute at least a majority of the Preferred Stock then held by the Purchasers and their affiliates; provided that such amendment or waiver prior to the Closing Date shall require the consent of all Purchasers.  Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 7.5 shall be binding upon any holder of any Securities purchased under this Agreement, each future holder of all such Securities, and the Company.

 

  

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7.6           Fees and Expenses.  Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Company and the Purchasers shall bear their own expenses and legal fees incurred on their behalf with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Each party hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless of and from any liability the other parties for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which such indemnifying party or any of its employees or representatives are responsible.

 

7.7           Notices.  All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be delivered (A) if within the United States, by first-class registered or certified airmail, or nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or electronic mail, or (B) if from outside the United States, by International Federal Express (or comparable service) or facsimile or electronic mail, and shall be deemed given (i) if delivered by first-class registered or certified mail domestic, upon the business day received, (ii) if delivered by nationally recognized overnight carrier, one business day after timely delivery to such carrier, (iii) if delivered by International Federal Express (or comparable service), two business days after so mailed, (iv) if delivered by facsimile or electronic mail, upon electric confirmation of receipt and shall be addressed as follows, or to such other address or addresses as may have been furnished in writing by a party to another party pursuant to this paragraph: (x) if to the Company, to the address of the Company’s principal office set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, Facsimile: (281) 754-4185; or (y) if to the Purchaser, at its address, facsimile number or email address on the signature page to this Agreement.

 

7.8           Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.  Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement or by the Placement Agent, all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company and the Purchasers herein shall survive the execution of this Agreement, the delivery to the Purchasers of the Units being purchased and the payment therefor, and a party’s reliance on such representations and warranties shall not be affected by any investigation made by such party or any information developed thereby.

 

7.9           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature and in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

7.10           Headings.  The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

7.11           Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights.  The obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this Agreement.  Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Each Purchaser confirms that it has independently participated in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors.  Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.  It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement is between the Company and a Purchaser, solely, and not between the Company and the Purchasers collectively and not between and among the Purchasers.

 

  

Page 27

  

           7.12           Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the sale and purchase of the Units abandoned at any time prior to the Closing by either the Company or any Purchaser (with respect to itself only) upon written notice to the other, if the Closing has not been consummated on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifteenth (15th) day following the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.12 shall not be available to any person whose failure to comply with its obligations under this Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such time.  Nothing in this Section 7.12 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement. In the event of a termination pursuant to this Section, the Company shall promptly notify all non-terminating Purchasers. Upon a termination in accordance with this Section, the Company and the terminating Purchaser(s) shall not have any further obligation or liability (including arising from such termination) to the other, and no Purchaser will have any liability to any other Purchaser under this Agreement as a result therefrom.

 

[The Remainder of this Page is Blank]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Page 28

  

In witness whereof, the foregoing Unit Purchase Agreement is hereby executed as of the date first above written.

 

	 	 	
Vertex Energy, Inc.

By:                                                                           

Name:

Title:

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

  

  

  

In witness whereof, the foregoing Unit Purchase Agreement is hereby executed as of the date first above written.

 

	 	 	
__________________________________________

Name of Purchaser

 

By:                                                                                     

Name:

Title:

Investment Amount (# of Units):

Investment Amount ($ @ $3.10/Unit):

Tax Identification No.:

Jurisdiction of Organization:

State of Principal Place of Operations: 

Address for Notice:

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Attention:                                                                                     

Telephone:

Facsimile:                                                                                     

Email:

Delivery Instructions (if different from above):

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Attention:                                                                                     

Telephone:

Facsimile:                                                                                     

Email:

 

[Signature Page to Unit Purchase Agreement]

  

  

  

EXHIBIT A

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS

 

 

	
Purchaser

	
Shares of 

Preferred 

Stock

	
Warrant 

Shares

	
Aggregate 

Purchase 

Price

	
State of 

Organization

	
State of Principal 

Place of Operations

	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Page A-1

  

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF WARRANT

NEITHER THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY NOR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THESE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATES.  THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

 

 

VERTEX ENERGY, INC.

 

WARRANT

 

	Warrant No. ___ 	 Original Issue Date:[____________ __, 20__]

 

                                                                                                      

Vertex Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, for value received, [______________________] or its registered assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled to purchase from the Company up to a total of [____________] shares of Common Stock (each such share, a “Warrant Share” and all such shares, the “Warrant Shares”), at any time and from time to time beginning [185 days after the Original Issue Date] and through and including [5.5 years after the Original Issue Date] (the “Expiration Date”), and subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

1.           Definitions. As used in this Warrant, the following terms shall have the respective definitions set forth in this Section 1.  Capitalized terms that are used and not defined in this Warrant that are defined in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) shall have the respective definitions set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Black Scholes Value” means the value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant remaining on the date of the Holder’s request, which value is calculated using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg utilizing (i) an underlying price per share equal to the greater of (1) the highest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request and (2) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash in the applicable Fundamental Transaction (if any) plus the value of the non-cash consideration being offered in the applicable Fundamental Transaction (if any), (ii) a strike price equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of the Holder’s request, (iii) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the greater of (1) the remaining term of this Warrant as of the date of the Holder’s request and (2) the remaining term of this Warrant as of the date of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction or as of the date of the Holder’s request pursuant to if such request is prior to the date of the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (iv) a zero cost of borrow and (v) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 30 day volatility obtained from the “HVT” function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the earliest to occur of (A) the public disclosure of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (B) the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and (C) the date on which Holder first became aware of the applicable Fundamental Transaction.

 

  

Page B-1

  

“Closing Price” means, for any date of determination, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (i) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the closing bid price per share of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the primary Trading Market on which the Common Stock trades or (ii) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent qualified appraiser selected in good faith and paid for by the Company.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any securities into which such common stock may hereafter be reclassified.

 

“Exercise Price” means $2.92, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 9.

 

“Fundamental Transaction” means any of the following: (a) a sale, lease, exclusive license or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (b) any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other entity but excluding any sale of capital stock by the Company for capital raising purposes) (i) in which the holders of the Company’s outstanding capital stock immediately before the first such transaction do not, immediately after any other such transaction, retain stock or other equity interests representing at least 50% of the voting power of the surviving entity of such transaction or (ii) in which at least 50% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock (calculated on an as-converted to Common Stock basis) is transferred.

 

“Original Issue Date” means the Original Issue Date first set forth on the first page of this Warrant or its predecessor instrument.

 

“Purchase Agreement” means the Unit Purchase Agreement, dated June 19, 2015, to which the Company and the original Holder are parties.

 

“Trading Day” means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market (other than any marketplace organized by the OTC Markets Group (or similar successor organization)), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Markets Group (or similar successor organization); provided, that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted on a Trading Market, then Trading Day shall mean a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day that banks in the State of New York are generally authorized or required by applicable law to be closed.

 

“Trading Market” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market or any marketplace organized by the OTC Markets Group (or similar successor organization) on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 

2.           Registration of Warrant.  The Company shall register this Warrant upon 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.

 

  

Page B-2

  

3.           Registration of Transfers.  The Company shall register the transfer of any portion of this Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon surrender of this Warrant, with the Form of Assignment attached hereto duly completed and signed, to the Company at its address specified herein. Upon any such registration or transfer, a new Warrant to purchase Common Stock, in substantially the form of this Warrant (any such new Warrant, a “New Warrant”), evidencing the portion of this Warrant so transferred shall be issued to the transferee and a New Warrant evidencing the remaining portion of this Warrant not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to the transferring Holder. 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 of a holder of a Warrant. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, comply with applicable requirements to confirm an exemption from registration for such transfer or assignment and to provide the Company and/or its legal counsel with reasonable and customary confirmations in order to confirm compliance with Rule 144.

 

4.           Exercise and Duration of Warrants.

 

(a)            This Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder in whole at any time and in part from time to time beginning 185 days after the Original Issue Date through and including the Expiration Date. At 5:30 p.m., Central time on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the number of Warrant Shares that may be acquired by the Holder upon any exercise of this Warrant (or otherwise in respect hereof) shall be limited to the extent necessary to insure that, following such exercise (or other issuance), the total number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by such Holder and its affiliates (as defined under Rule 144, “Affiliates”) and any other persons whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 9.999% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including for such purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise).  For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  This provision shall not restrict the number of shares of Common Stock which a Holder may receive or beneficially own in order to determine the amount of securities or other consideration that such Holder may receive in the event of a Fundamental Transaction as contemplated in Section 9 of this Warrant.  This restriction may not be waived.

 

5.           Delivery of Warrant Shares.

 

(a)            To effect exercises hereunder, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant unless the aggregate Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant are being exercised. Upon delivery of the Exercise Notice (in the form attached hereto) to the Company (with the attached Warrant Shares Exercise Log) at its address for notice set forth herein and subject to the payment terms described below, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than three Trading Days after the Date of Exercise (as defined herein)) issue and deliver to the Holder, a certificate for the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, which, shall include restrictive legends unless the applicable Warrant Shares are (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, provided that the Company may require, as a condition to the issuance of Warrant Shares exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144, that the Holder of this Warrant, comply with applicable requirements to confirm an exemption from registration and provide the Company and/or its legal counsel with reasonable and customary confirmations in order to confirm compliance with Rule 144.  Prior to delivery of the Warrant Shares (but in no event later than two Trading Days after the Date of Exercise (as defined herein)), the Holder shall have delivered to the Company, if such Holder is not utilizing the cashless exercise provisions set forth in this Warrant, payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares that the Holder intends to purchase hereunder.  The Company shall, upon request of the Holder and subsequent to the date on which a registration statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, use its reasonable best efforts to deliver Warrant Shares hereunder electronically through the Depository Trust Corporation or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions, if available, provided, that, the Company may, but will not be required to change its transfer agent if its current transfer agent cannot deliver Warrant Shares electronically through the Depository Trust Corporation. A “Date of Exercise” means the date on which the Holder shall have delivered to the Company the Exercise Notice (with the Warrant Exercise Log attached to it), appropriately completed and duly signed.

 

  

Page B-3

  

(b)           If by the third Trading Day after a Date of Exercise the Company fails to deliver the required number of Warrant Shares in the manner required pursuant to Section 5(a), then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

 

(c)           If by the third Trading Day after a Date of Exercise the Company fails to deliver the required number of Warrant Shares in the manner required pursuant to Section 5(a), and if after such third Trading Day and prior to the receipt of such Warrant Shares, the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) 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 (1) pay in cash to the Holder the amount by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue by (B) the closing bid price of the Common Stock at the time of the obligation giving rise to such purchase obligation and (2) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In.

 

(d)           The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of Warrant Shares. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

6.           Charges, Taxes and Expenses.  Issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax, withholding tax, transfer agent fee or other incidental tax or expense in respect of the issuance of such certificates, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable 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. 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.

 

  

Page B-4

  

7.           Replacement of Warrant.  If this Warrant is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation hereof, or in lieu of and substitution for this Warrant, a New Warrant, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction and customary and reasonable indemnity (which shall not include a surety bond), if requested. Applicants for a New Warrant under such circumstances shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and procedures and pay such other reasonable third-party costs as the Company may prescribe. If a New Warrant is requested as a result of a mutilation of this Warrant, then the Holder shall deliver such mutilated Warrant to the Company as a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation to issue the New Warrant.

 

8.           Reservation of Warrant Shares.  The Company covenants that it will at all times 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 Warrant Shares which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 9). The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

9.           Certain Adjustments.  The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 9.

 

(a)           Stock Dividends and Splits.  If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) pays a stock dividend on its Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, or (iii) combines outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to equal the product obtained by multiplying the then-current Exercise Price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

 

(b)           Fundamental Transactions.  If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding there is a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall have the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise in full of this Warrant (the “Alternate Consideration”). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. At the Holder’s option and request, any successor to the Company or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall, either (1) issue to the Holder a new warrant substantially in the form of this Warrant and consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to purchase the Alternate Consideration for the aggregate Exercise Price upon exercise thereof, or (2) purchase the Warrant from the Holder for a purchase price, payable in cash within five Trading Days after such request (or, if later, on the effective date of the Fundamental Transaction), equal to the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of such request.  The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Fundamental Transaction is effected shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this paragraph (b) and insuring that the Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to a Fundamental Transaction.

 

  

Page B-5

  

(c)           Number of Warrant Shares.  Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 9, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment.

 

(d)           Calculations. All calculations under this Section 9 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

 

(e)           Notice of Adjustments.  Upon the occurrence of each adjustment pursuant to this Section 9, the Company at its expense will promptly compute such adjustment in accordance with the terms of this Warrant and prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, including a statement of the adjusted Exercise Price and adjusted number or type of Warrant Shares or other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (as applicable), describing the transactions giving rise to such adjustments and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based. Upon written request, the Company will promptly deliver a copy of each such certificate to the Holder and to the Company’s Transfer Agent.

 

10.           Payment of Exercise Price. The Holder may pay the Exercise Price in one of the following manners:

 

(a)           Cash Exercise.  The Holder may deliver immediately available funds; or

 

(b)           Cashless Exercise.  If an Exercise Notice is delivered at a time when a registration statement permitting the Holder to resell the Warrant Shares is not then effective or the prospectus forming a part thereof is not then available to the Holder for the resale of the Warrant Shares, then the Holder may notify the Company in an Exercise Notice of its election to utilize cashless exercise, in which event the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares determined as follows:

 

X = Y [(A-B)/A]  

 

where:  

 

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.  

 

Y = the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is being exercised.  

 

A = the average of the Closing Prices for the five Trading Days immediately prior to (but not including) the Exercise Date.  

 

B = the Exercise Price.  

 

For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, it is intended, understood and acknowledged that the Warrant Shares issued in a cashless exercise transaction shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued.

 

  

Page B-6

  

11.           No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Warrant Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional shares which would, otherwise be issuable, the Company shall either (a) pay cash equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the Closing Price of one Warrant Share on the date of exercise; or (b) issue the Holder one (1) additional share of Common Stock in lieu of such fractional share.

 

12.           Notices.  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries hereunder (including, without limitation, any Exercise Notice) shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective if provided pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. In case any time:  (1) the Company shall declare any cash dividend on its capital stock; (2) the Company shall pay any dividend payable in stock upon its capital stock or make any distribution to the holders of its capital stock; (3) the Company shall offer for subscription pro rata to the holders of its capital stock any additional shares of stock of any class or other rights; (4) there shall be any capital reorganization, or reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, or consolidation or merger of the Company with, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation; or (5) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company; then, in any one or more of said cases, the Company shall give prompt written notice to the Holder. Such notice shall also specify the date as of which the holders of capital stock of record shall participate in such dividend, distribution or subscription rights, or shall be entitled to exchange their capital stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, or conversion or redemption, as the case may be.  Such written notice shall be given at least 20 days prior to the action in question and not less than 20 days prior to the record date or the date on which the Company’s transfer books are closed in respect thereto.

 

13.           Registration Rights.  The Holder shall be entitled to the registration rights set forth in Section 6 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

14.           Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           This Warrant shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Subject to the preceding sentence, nothing in this Warrant shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company and the Holder any legal or equitable right, remedy or cause of action under this Warrant. This Warrant may be amended only in writing signed by the Company and the Holder and their successors and assigns.

 

(b)           All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

(c)           The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(d)           In case any one or more of the provisions of this Warrant shall be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Warrant shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision which shall be a commercially reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.

 

(e)           Prior to exercise of this Warrant, the Holder hereof shall not, by reason of by being a Holder, be entitled to any rights of a stockholder with respect to the Warrant Shares

 

  

Page B-7

  

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank, signature page follows]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Page B-8

  

 

 

In witness whereof, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.

 

                                               

 

	 	 	
Vertex Energy, Inc.

By:                                                      

Name:                                                                

Its:       

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Page B-9

  

EXERCISE NOTICE

The undersigned Holder hereby irrevocably elects to purchase                      shares of Common Stock pursuant to the attached Warrant.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

(1) The undersigned Holder hereby exercises its right to purchase                      Warrant Shares pursuant to the Warrant.

 

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

 

	 	
_____     “Cash Exercise” under Section 10

 

_____     “Cashless Exercise” under Section 10

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

(3) 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.

 

(4) Pursuant to this Exercise Notice, the Company shall deliver to the holder                      Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

	Dated ______________ __, _____      	 	
Name of Holder:

(Print)

____________________________________

By:_________________________________

Its:_________________________________

(Signature must conform in all respects toname of holder as specified on the face ofthe Warrant)

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

 

  

Page B-10

  

Warrant Shares Exercise Log

	
Date

	
Number of Warrant

Shares Available

to be Exercised

	
Number of Warrant

Shares Exercised

	
Number of Warrant

Shares Remaining

to be Exercised

	  	  	  	  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Page B-11

  

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

[To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                              the right represented by the attached Warrant to purchase                  shares of Common Stock to which such Warrant relates and appoints                              attorney to transfer said right on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: __________ __, _______

  

 

	 	 	

________________________________________

(Signature must conform in all respects to name of

holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)

Address of Transferee

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

Attest:

__________________________________

  

Page B-12

  

EXHIBIT C

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF 

AMENDED AND RESTATED SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK OF

VERTEX ENERGY, INC.

[attached]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Page C-1

  

EXHIBIT D

FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL

[Capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Unit Purchase Agreement. Subject to customary qualifications and assumptions.]

 

1.           The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada.

 

2.           The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to (i) execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under the Agreement and (ii) conduct its business as it is, to our knowledge, currently conducted and described in the Company SEC Documents, and own, lease and license it properties and assets.

 

3.           The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.           The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company.

 

5.           The Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

6.           Except for filings, authorizations or approvals contemplated by the Agreement, no authorizations or approvals of, and no filings with, any governmental or administrative agency, regulatory authority, stock market or trading facility are necessary or required by the Company for the execution and delivery of the Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, provided that the Company will be required to file an Increase or Decrease of 5% or More in the Number of Shares Outstanding form with the Nasdaq Capital Market no later than 10 calendar days after the Closing.

 

7.           Neither the execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Company, nor the consummation or performance by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement (i) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws; (ii) constitute a violation of Applicable Law relevant to the Company; (iii) violate any judgment, decree, order or award of any court, governmental body or arbitrator specifically naming the Company which we have knowledge of; or (iv) with or without notice and/or the passage of time, conflict with or result in the breach or termination of any term or provision of, or constitute a default under, or cause any acceleration under, or cause the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the properties or assets of the Company pursuant to, any agreement to which the Company is a party that is included as an exhibit to the Company SEC Documents.

 

8.           To our knowledge, no person or entity is entitled to any preemptive, right of first refusal, contractual or similar rights with respect to the issuance of the Securities.

 

9.           The Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when issued, sold and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement or the Warrants, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  

Page D-1

  

10.           Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each of the Purchasers set forth in Section 3 of the Agreement, the offer, issuance and sale of the Units at the Closing pursuant to the Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the securities or “blue sky” laws of the states in which the Investors reside.

 

11.           We have no knowledge of any actions, suits, arbitrations, claims, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective operations, businesses, properties or assets by or before any court, arbitrator or government or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency that challenges the validity of any actions taken or to be taken by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or the transaction contemplated thereby.

 

12.           To our knowledge, except as set forth in the Purchase Agreement, no holders of the Company’s securities have rights to the registration of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company because of the filing of the Registration Statement or the Offering, except as set forth in the SEC Documents.

 

13.           The form of certificate for the Preferred Stock and Underlying Shares conforms to the requirements of the Nevada Revised Statutes, to the extent required thereby.

 

14.           The Company is not, and immediately after giving effect to the sale of the Securities, will not be required to be, registered as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

As used herein, “Applicable Law” means those laws, rules, regulations, orders, judgments, injunctions, decrees or other restrictions of any court or governmental authority of the Covered Law (defined below) that are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Agreement (other than any laws, rules, regulations or administrative decisions of any county, town, municipality or special political subdivision (regardless of where and how it has been created or enabled)), subject in all cases to the Qualifications provided herein, without our having made any special investigation as to the applicability of any specific law, rule or regulation, and that are not the subject of a specific opinion herein referring expressly to a particular law or laws; provided, however, that such references (including, without limitation, those appearing in paragraph 7 above) do not include any antifraud, environmental, labor, tax, insurance or antitrust, laws, rules or regulations. No opinions are offered or implied as to any matter, and no inference may be drawn, beyond the strict scope of the specific issues expressly addressed by the opinions herein.

The opinions in this letter are solely limited to matters involving, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than, (i) applicable laws of the State of Texas, (ii) Section 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes – ‘Private Corporations’, (iii) the Texas Business Organizations Code, (iv) the Securities Act, (v) [Insert applicable state “blue sky” statutes]; and (vi) certain other specified laws of the United States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein, subject in all cases to the assumptions described in this opinion herein, and the limitations of our opinion set forth above (collectively the “Covered Law”). In connection therewith, we note that the Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Agreements provide that they are governed by the laws of the state of New York and we have assumed, for purposes of the opinions expressed with respect to the Purchase Agreement and Warrant Agreements and transactions contemplated therein (including any required consent, approval, authorization or filing), that the laws of the state of New York are identical to the laws of the state of Texas, notwithstanding the express terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Agreements. We express no opinion as to any other laws, rules or regulations.

  

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EXHIBIT E

SELLING STOCKHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE

Vertex Energy, Inc.

Questionnaire for Selling Stockholder

This questionnaire is necessary to obtain information to be used by Vertex Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) to complete a Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) covering the resale of certain shares of Company Common Stock currently outstanding and/or of certain shares of Company Common Stock to be issued upon the conversion of preferred stock into Company Common Stock or the exercise of currently outstanding warrants to purchase Company Common Stock.  Please complete and return this questionnaire to The Loev Law Firm, PC, the Company’s legal counsel, to the attention of David M. Loev, either by mail to 6300 West Loop South, Suite 280, Bellaire, Texas 77401, Attn: David M. Loev, by email to dloev@loevlaw.com, or by fax to (713) 920-9372.  Please return the questionnaire by [Day], [Month Day], 2015 or sooner, if possible.  Call David M. Loev at (713) 524-4110 with questions.

FAILURE TO RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRE MAY RESULT IN THE EXCLUSION OF YOUR NAME AND SHARES FROM THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

Please answer all questions.  If the answer to any question is “None” or “Not Applicable,” please so state.

If there is any question about which you have any doubt, please set forth the relevant facts in your answer.

	
1.

	
Please correct your name and/or address if not correct below

Name: _______________________________________________________________                     

Address:______________________________________________________________

 

_____________________________________________________________________          

 

            

  

Page E-1

  

 

	
2.

	
Please state the total number of currently outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Preferred Stock that you beneficially own* (including securities acquired (or to be acquired) in the current offering), the form of ownership and the date that you acquired such stock (for example only and without limitation, the name of any entity which holds Company Common Stock which you hold voting and/or dispositive control over (as well as your position with such entity (if any) and/or your ownership of such entity if such ownership provides you control over such entity) and a description of any shares held by your spouse or by your children who are minors and who live in the same household as you) and the form of ownership and the date that you acquired such stock.  Include shares registered in your name individually or jointly with others and shares held in the name of a bank, broker, nominee, depository or in “street name” for your account. (DO NOT list options and warrants.  See Question #3).

	
3.

	
Please list any outstanding options and warrants to purchase Company Common Stock and Preferred Stock that you beneficially own*, including (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock to be issued upon the exercise of such option or warrant, (ii) the date such option or warrant is exercisable, (iii) the expiration date and (iv) the exercise price per share of EACH such option and warrant.  Please list separately all warrants acquired in the current offering.

	
Number of Shares Covered by Option or Warrant

	
 

 

Date Exercisable

	
 

 

Exercise Price

	
 

 

Expiration Date

	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  

	
4.

	
Please list the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock listed under Question #2 above that you wish to include in the Registration Statement.

  

Page E-2

  

	
5.

	
Please list the number of shares of Common Stock underlying warrants listed under Question #3 above that, upon exercise of such warrants, you wish to include in the Registration Statement.

	
6.

	
If you are a limited liability company or limited partnership, please name the managing member or general partner and each person controlling such managing member or general partner.

	
7.

	
If you are an entity, please identify the natural person(s) who exercises sole or shared voting power* and/or sole or shared investment power* with regard to the shares listed under Question #2 and Question #3 and the Securities acquired in the Offering.

	
8.

	
Please advise whether you are a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate* thereof.  If you are an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer, please explain the nature of the affiliation and disclose whether you acquired the shares in the ordinary course of business and whether at the time of the acquisition you had any plans or proposals, directly or with any other person, to distribute the shares listed under Question #2 and Question #3.

	
9.

	
List below the nature of any position, office or other material relationship that you have, or have had within the past three years, with the Company or any of its predecessors or affiliates*.

 

 

  

Page E-3

  

 

	
10.

	
If you expressly wish to disclaim any beneficial ownership* of any shares listed under Question #2 for any reason in the Registration Statement, indicate below the shares and circumstances for disclaiming such beneficial ownership*.

	
11.

	
With respect to the shares that you wish to include in the Registration Statement, please list any party that has or may have secured a lien, security interest or any other claim relating to such shares, and please give a full description of such claims.

	
12.

	
Please review Appendix B “Plan of Distribution.”  Please identify and describe any method of distribution, other than described in Appendix B, that you plan on using to sell your shares of the Company’s Common Stock.  By signing below you agree to distribute your shares of the Company’s Common Stock as described in Appendix B and this Item 12 and to notify the Company of any plan to distribute the Company’s Common Stock that is not described in Appendix B or herein under Item 12.

The undersigned, a Selling Stockholder of the Company, hereby furnishes the foregoing information for use by the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement.  The undersigned will notify The Loev Law Firm, PC, at the address specified above, in writing immediately of any changes in the foregoing answers that should be made as a result of any developments occurring prior to the time that all the shares of Common Stock of the Company are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement referred to above.  Otherwise, the Company is to understand that the above information continues to be, to the best of the undersigned’s knowledge, information and belief, complete and correct.

Dated:  ___________ __, 2015

 

	 	 	
_________________________________

 

 

By:                                                                

Name:

Its:                                                                

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 

 

  

Page E-4

  

APPENDIX A

To Exhibit E

CERTAIN TERMS USED IN QUESTIONNAIRE

 

AFFILIATE

 

An “affiliate” of a company is a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such company.

 

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

 

A person “beneficially owns” a security if such person, directly or indirectly, has or shares voting power or investment power of such security, whether through a contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise.  A person is also the beneficial owner of a security if he has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant or right, or the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement.

 

INVESTMENT POWER

 

“Investment power” includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, a security.

 

VOTING POWER

 

“Voting power” includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, a security.

 

  

Page E-5

  

 

APPENDIX B

To Exhibit E

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering for resale by the selling stockholders and certain transferees a total of _________ shares of common stock, of which ____________ shares are issued and outstanding and up to ____________ shares are issuable upon exercise of warrants.  We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock.  We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.  If the shares of common stock are sold through broker-dealers or agents, the selling stockholder will be responsible for any compensation to such broker-dealers or agents.

 

The selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus.

 

The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The selling stockholders will sell their shares of common stock subject to the following:

 

	
  

	
·

	
all or a portion of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders or their perspective pledgees, donees, transferees or successors in interest, may be sold on the OTC Market, any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the shares of our common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the counter market, in privately negotiated transactions, through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise, short sales or in a combination of such transactions;

 

	
  

	
·

	
each sale may be made at market price prevailing at the time of such sale, at negotiated prices, at fixed prices or at carrying prices determined at the time of sale;

 

	
  

	
·

	
some or all of the shares of common stock may be sold through one or more broker-dealers or agents and may involve crosses, block transactions or hedging transactions.  The selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or agents, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and deliver shares of common stock to close out short positions or loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers or agents that in turn may sell such shares; and

 

	
  

	
·

	
in connection with such sales through one or more broker-dealers or agents, such broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders and may receive commissions from the purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they act as broker-dealer or agent or to whom they sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transaction involved).  Any broker-dealer or agent participating in any such sale may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and will be required to deliver a copy of this prospectus to any person who purchases any share of common stock from or through such broker-dealer or agent.  We have been advised that, as of the date hereof, none of the selling stockholders have made any arrangements with any broker-dealer or agent for the sale of their shares of common stock.

 

The selling stockholder and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profits realized by the selling stockholders and any commissions paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. In addition, any shares of common stock covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.  A selling stockholder may also transfer, devise or gift the shares of common stock by other means not covered in this prospectus in which case the transferee, devisee or giftee will be the selling stockholder under this prospectus.

 

  

Page E-6

  

If required at the time a particular offering of the shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the shelf registration statements of which this prospectus is a part, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-deals or agents, any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.  There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

The selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders and any other participating person.  Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.

 

We will bear all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with the state securities of “blue sky” laws. The selling stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions and expenses, brokerage fees and transfer taxes, as well as the fees and disbursements of counsel to and experts for the selling stockholders, if any. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreement or the selling stockholder will be entitled to contribution. We will be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholders for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related securities purchase agreement or will be entitled to contribution. Once sold under this registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

 

  

Page E-7

  

EXHIBIT F

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

June ___, 2015

Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC

222 South Ninth Street, Suite 350

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Dear Sirs or Madams:

 

As an inducement to Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (the “Agent”) to act as placement agent in connection with a private placement (the “Offering”) of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”) and warrants to purchase common stock of Vertex Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby agrees that without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Agent during the period specified in the second succeeding paragraph (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of the Preferred Stock or common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive the Preferred Stock or Common Stock (including, without limitation, the Preferred Stock or Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “Undersigned’s Securities”) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Undersigned’s Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or clause (2) above is to be settled by delivery of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.  The foregoing restriction is expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned’s Securities even if such securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned.  Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned’s Securities or with respect to any security that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from such Securities.

 

In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Agent, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock.

 

The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Agreement and continue to and include the date that is 60 days after the date on which the resale registration statement registering the securities sold in the Offering becomes effective.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Securities (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts and (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned; provided, in each case, that (x) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (y) the transferee agrees in writing with the Agent to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement and (z) no filing by any party under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer.  For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, nor more remote than first cousin.

 

In addition, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans; provided that it shall apply to any of the Undersigned’s Securities issued upon such exercise or (ii) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan (a “Plan”) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act; provided that no sales of the Undersigned’s Securities shall be made pursuant to such a Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, and such a Plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or existence thereof and no filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authority in respect thereof or transactions thereunder or contemplated thereby, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, shall be required, and no such announcement or filing is made voluntarily, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.

 

  

F-1

  

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

 

The undersigned understands that the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Agreement if (i) the Company notifies the Agent that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (ii) the purchase agreement for the Offering does not become effective, or if the purchase agreement for the Offering (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Preferred Stock to be sold thereunder, or (iii) the Offering is not completed by July 15, 2015.

 

The undersigned understands that the Agent is proceeding with the Offering in reliance upon this Agreement.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

	

Very truly yours,

 

_______________________________________

Printed Name of Holder

	
By: _________________________________________

Signature

	
_________________________________________

Printed Name of Person Signing

(and indicate capacity of person signing if

signing as custodian, trustee or on behalf of

an entity)

  

F-2

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