Document:

exhibit_10-15.htm

EXHIBIT 10.15

 

[FORM OF]

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of _________, 2014, by and among Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

Recitals

 

A.          The Company and each Purchaser is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.

 

B.          Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, Units comprised of (i) one share of its common stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock” or “Shares”) and (ii) warrants in the form as annexed hereto as Exhibit A (the “Warrants”) to purchase 1/4 share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share (the “Warrant Shares”) at a purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) of $4.00 per Unit (the “Unit”).

 

C.          The Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

 

D.          The Company has engaged National Securities Corporation as its exclusive placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) for the offering of the Units on a “best efforts” basis.

 

E.           Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Purchasers hereunder shall become parties to and bound as Purchasers under that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated _________, 2014, attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will agree to use its best efforts to file a Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) with respect to the Shares and the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws.

 

Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1           Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

 

“Action” means any action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing (or otherwise) against the Company or any of its properties or any officer, director or employee of the Company as of the date hereof acting in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee of the Company before or by any federal, state, county, local or foreign court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency, regulatory authority, stock market, stock exchange or trading facility.

 

  

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“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144. With respect to a Purchaser, any investment fund or managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the same investment manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Purchaser.

 

“Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.

 

“Buy-In” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(f).

 

“Buy-In Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(f).

 

“Closing” means the closing of the purchase by the Purchasers listed on Annex A hereto and sale by the Company of Units to such Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date as provided in Section 2.1 hereof.

 

“Closing Date” means the third (3rd) Trading Day after the date on which this Agreement has been executed and delivered by all parties hereto or such earlier date as the parties hereto shall mutually agree, unless on such date the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 5.1 and 5.2 (other than those to be satisfied at the Closing) shall not have been satisfied or waived, in which case the Closing Date shall be on the third (3rd) Trading Day after the date on which the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 5.1 and 5.2 (other than those to be satisfied at the Closing) shall have been satisfied or waived.

 

“Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals, and also includes any securities into which the Common Stock may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

“Company Counsel” means Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum, P.C..

 

“Company Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

“Company’s Knowledge” means with respect to any statement made to the knowledge of the Company, that the statement is based upon the actual knowledge of the officers of the Company who, as of the date hereof, have responsibility for the matter or matters that are the subject of the statement.

 

“Compliance Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(vi).

 

“Control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled” by or “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Deadline Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(f).

 

“Disclosure Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).

 

“Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

“DTC” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

 

“Environmental Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(l).

 

  

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“Evaluation Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as applied by the Company.

 

“Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b).

 

“Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(r).

 

“Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions” means, with respect to the Company, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in the form of Exhibit C, executed by the Company and delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Transfer Agent.

 

“Lien” means any material lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restrictions of any kind.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business or financial condition of the Company, except that any of the following, either alone or in combination, shall not be deemed a Material Adverse Effect:  (i) effects caused by changes or circumstances affecting general market conditions in the U.S. economy or which are generally applicable to the industry in which the Company operates provided that such effects are not borne disproportionately by the Company, (ii) effects resulting from or relating to the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Securities or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) effects caused by any event, occurrence or condition resulting from or relating to the taking of any action in accordance with this Agreement.

 

“Material Contract” means any contract of the Company that has been filed as an exhibit to the SEC Reports pursuant to Item 601(b)(4) or Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.

 

“Material Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p).

 

“New York Courts” means the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan.

 

“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

 

“Principal Trading Market” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on or quoted for trading, which, as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, shall be the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

“Prior Financings” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(p).

 

 “Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

“Purchase Price” means $4.00 per Unit.

 

  

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“Purchaser Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

 

“Purchaser Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).

 

“Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale by the Purchasers of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

“Required Approvals” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).

 

 “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

“SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).

 

“Secretary’s Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(v).

 

“Short Sales” include, without limitation, (i) all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, swaps, “put equivalent positions” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and (ii) sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.

 

“Stock Certificates” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(iv).

 

“Subscription Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Subscription Booklet” means the Omnibus Signature Page and Purchaser Questionnaire provided by the Placement Agent to each Purchaser for completion and execution in connection with the issuance and sale of Units hereunder.

 

“Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest.

 

“Termination Date” means January 31, 2014 (subject to extension by the Company until no later than February 28, 2014).

 

“Trading Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(i).

 

“Trading Day” means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Trading Market (unless the Principal Trading Market is the OTC Bulletin Board or the “pink sheets”), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not quoted on any Trading Market (other than the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

 

  

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“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, the OTC Bulletin Board, the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices) on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the annexes and exhibits attached hereto and thereto, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

“Transfer Agent” means First American Stock Transfer., Inc., or any successor transfer agent for the Company.

 

“Unlegended Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(f).

 

ARTICLE 2

 

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1           Closing.

 

(a)           Amount. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, each Purchaser shall purchase and the Company shall sell and issue to each Purchaser, Units comprised of the number of Shares and Warrants set forth on Annex A hereto, issued in such Purchaser’s name, at a Purchase Price of $4.00 per Unit, with a minimum purchase of 6,250 Units (the “Subscription Amount”).

 

(b)           Closing.

 

(i)           Date and Time.  The sale of Units will take place in one or more closings (“Closing”), subject to the satisfaction of all the parties hereto of their obligations herein.  The Purchasers shall submit an executed copy of this Agreement to the Company and the Placement Agent along with the Purchase Price by bank wire (or, with the consent of the Company and the Placement Agent, by check) directly to the Escrow Agent.  The Closing of the sale of Units contemplated by this Agreement shall take place from time to time as subscriptions are received, without any consent of, or notice to, Purchasers, provided, however that the minimum offering amount of $2,000,000 has been raised. Subscriptions that are not accepted will be returned with any funds. The Closing shall take place at the offices of the Company or at such other place as the Company and the Placement Agent shall agree in writing (each, a “Closing Date”) on or before January 31, 2014 unless otherwise extended by the Company until February 28, 2014 (the “Termination Date”). The Company shall cause to be delivered to the Purchasers certificates evidencing the number of Shares such Purchaser is purchasing and the Warrants within six (6) Business Days after the Closing.

 

 

  

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(ii)         Escrow Agent. The Placement Agent and the Company have consented to the appointment of Signature Bank as independent Escrow Agent (the “Escrow Agent”) and have accepted the terms of the non-interest bearing Escrow Agreement, in the form as annexed hereto as Exhibit D (the “Escrow Agreement”). All amounts to be paid by Purchasers shall be deposited prior to the Closing into the escrow account (the “Escrow”) maintained by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of an Escrow Agreement and may be immediately drawn upon at each Closing; provided, however, that the minimum offering amount of $2,000,000 has been raised.  Purchasers will not have an opportunity to approve of a Closing or request refund of any moneys held in Escrow after a Closing has occurred.  Purchasers acknowledge and agree that their subscriptions are irrevocable and binding commitments on the part of the Purchaser and that once their funds have been tendered into Escrow with the appropriate Subscription Booklet and their Subscription Agreement received, the Escrow Agent may, at the request of the Placement Agent and Company together, disburse funds from Escrow and conduct a Closing without any consent or notice to Purchasers.  The Placement Agent or Company may reject any subscriptions in whole or in part for any reason or for no reason and shall cause the Escrow Agent to return funds to the Purchaser to the extent of such non accepted funds, or, retains the right to hold the same in Escrow for acceptance or rejection at a future Closing, until the termination of the offering, at which time, any unused subscription funds shall be returned to Purchaser.

 

2.2           Closing Deliveries.

 

(a)           On or prior to the Closing with respect to the Purchasers listed on Annex A hereto, the Company shall issue, deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser the following (the “Company Deliverables”):

 

(i)           this Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

(ii)          a legal opinion of Company Counsel dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to such Purchasers;

 

(iii)         the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

(iv)          a copy of the duly executed Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Transfer Agent relating to the issuance of stock certificates, free and clear of all restrictive and other legends except as provided in Section 4.1(b) hereof, evidencing the Shares subscribed for by the Purchasers hereunder, to be registered in the names provided by the Purchasers as set forth in Section 1 of the Subscription Booklet (the “Stock Certificates”) delivered to the Company pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(iii), with the original Stock Certificates to be delivered to the addresses provided by the Purchasers in such Subscription Booklet within six (6) Business Days following the Closing; provided, however that the copy of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions and all attachments thereto delivered to Purchasers in compliance with this Section 2.2(a)(iv) shall be redacted to exclude the mailing address and tax identification number of each such Purchaser.;

 

(v)           a certificate of the Secretary of the Company (the “Secretary’s Certificate”), dated as of the Closing Date, (a) certifying the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the issuance of the Securities, (b) certifying the current versions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws of the Company and (c) certifying as to the signatures and authority of persons signing the Transaction Documents and related documents on behalf of the Company, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E;

 

(vi)           a certificate (the “Compliance Certificate”), dated as of the Closing Date and signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or its Chief Financial Officer, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Sections 5.1(a) and (b) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

  

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(vii)         a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, as of a date within five (5) days of the Closing Date.

 

(b)           On or prior to the Closing with respect to the Purchasers listed on Annex A hereto, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following (the “Purchaser Deliverables”):

 

(i)           this Agreement, duly executed by such Purchaser by its execution and delivery of the Omnibus Signature Page included in the Subscription Booklet;

 

(ii)          its Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Escrow maintained by the Escrow Agent as previously provided to the Purchasers; and

 

(iii)         a Subscription Booklet that is fully completed and duly executed by the Purchaser in all respects in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Subscription Booklet.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1           Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants that the following statements are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and will be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date), to each of the Purchasers that, except as disclosed in the SEC Reports and the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company hereunder (the “Disclosure Schedules”), which shall be deemed a part hereof and shall qualify any representations made by the Company herein to the extent of the applicable disclosure:

 

(a)           Subsidiaries. The Company has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries other than Torchlight Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and Torchlight Energy Operating, LLC, a Texas LLC.

 

(b)           Organization and Qualification. The Company is an entity duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws. The Company is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity 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 or in good standing, as the case may be, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, but not limited to, the sale and delivery of the Securities) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further corporate action is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders in connection therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. Each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and is, or when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application or insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

  

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(d)            No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Securities) do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or otherwise result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations, assuming the correctness of the representations and warranties made by the Purchasers herein, of any self regulatory organization to which the Company or its securities are subject, including all applicable Trading Markets), or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected), except in the case of clause (ii) and clause (iii) such as would not individually have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)            Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents (including the issuance of the Securities), other than (i) the filing with the Commission of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (iii) the filing of a Notice of Sale of Securities on Form D with the Commission under Regulation D of the Securities Act, (iv) the filing of any requisite notices and/or application(s) to the Principal Trading Market for the issuance and sale of the Shares and the listing of the Shares for trading or quotation, as the case may be, thereon in the time and manner required thereby, (v) the filings required in accordance with Section 4.6 of this Agreement and (vi) those that have been made or obtained prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

(f)            Issuance of the Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of all Liens suffered or permitted by the Company, other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. Without consideration of the actions of the Placement Agent, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers in this Agreement and the accuracy of the information disclosed by each Purchaser in the Subscription Booklet delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(iii) and Section 5.2(d), the Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

 

 

  

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(g)           Capitalization. The number of shares and type of all authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock, options and other securities of the Company (whether or not presently convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company) has been set forth in the SEC Reports and has changed since the date set forth in the most recently filed of the SEC Reports, as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, and may change thereafter to reflect stock issuances, convertible debt conversions, stock option exercises and grants and warrant exercises and grants which will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material affect on the issued and outstanding capital stock, options and other securities of the Company. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase any capital stock of the Company.  Except as set forth in the SEC Reports or the Disclosure Schedules: (i) no shares of the Company’s capital stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any Liens suffered or permitted by the Company; (ii) except for the Transaction Documents or as a result of the performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company; (iii) there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing indebtedness of the Company or by which the Company is or may become bound in any material amounts; (iv) there are no financing statements securing obligations in any material amounts, either singly or in the aggregate, filed in connection with the Company; (v) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the Securities Act (except the Registration Rights Agreement); (vi) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company; (vii) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; and (viii) the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement.

 

(h)           SEC Reports. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for twelve (12) months preceding and including the date hereof (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports” and together with this Agreement, including the Disclosure Schedules hereto, the “Disclosure Materials”). As of the date hereof, the Company has no Knowledge of any event occurring on or prior to the Closing Date (other than the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents) that requires the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K after the Closing.

 

(i)            Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods

 

  

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(i)           Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments.

 

(j)            Tax Matters. The Company (i) has prepared and filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith, with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on the books of the Company and (iii) has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply, except where the failure to so pay or file or set aside provisions for any such tax, assessment, charge or return would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k)           Material Changes. Since the date of the latest financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i) there have been no events, occurrences or developments that have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or to be disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not materially altered its method of accounting or the manner in which it keeps its accounting books and records, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock (other than in connection with repurchases of unvested stock issued to employees of the Company), (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except stock options issued in the ordinary course pursuant to Company stock option or stock purchase plans or executive and director corporate arrangements disclosed in the SEC Reports and (vi) there has not been any material change or amendment to, or any waiver of any material right under, any Material Contract under which the Company or any of its assets is bound or subject. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability or development has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its business, properties, operations or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made that has not been publicly disclosed in the SEC Reports.

 

(l)            Environmental Matters. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company (i) is not in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body 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”), (ii) does not own or operate any real property contaminated with any substance that is in violation of any Environmental Laws, (iii) is not liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, and (iv) is not subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws; which violation, contamination, liability or claim has had or would have a Material Adverse Effect; and there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened investigation that might lead to such a claim.

 

  

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(m)           Litigation. There is no Action which adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities.  Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company or any of its properties; and to the Company’s Knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated against the Company that reasonably could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(n)            Employment Matters. No material labor dispute exists or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company which would have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company, and the Company is not a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company believes that its relationship with its employees is good.

 

(o)            Compliance. The Company (i) is not in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company), nor has the Company received written notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other Material Contract (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is not in violation of any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties or assets.

 

(p)            Regulatory Permits. The Company possesses all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct its business as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits has not had and would not have a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and (i) the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Material Permits and (ii) the Company has no Knowledge of any facts or circumstances that the Company would reasonably expect to give rise to the revocation or modification of any Material Permits.

 

(q)            Title to Assets. The Company does not own any real property, except for interests in oil or gas properties that may be deemed real property under state law. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company has good and marketable title to all tangible personal and real property owned by it which is material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all Liens except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and except for Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes for which appropriate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP and the payment of which is not delinquent or subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company are held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made of such property and buildings by the Company.

 

(r)            Intellectual Property. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company or its Subsidiaries owns, possesses, licenses or has other rights to use all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology and other proprietary rights and processes (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of its businesses as now conducted and which the failure to so own, possess, license or have other rights to use would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except where any such violations or infringements would not have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Company’s Knowledge (i) the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ use of any such Intellectual Property in the conduct of its business as presently conducted does not infringe upon the rights of any third parties; (ii) there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or threatened Action challenging the Company’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; (iv) there is no pending or threatened Action challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; and (v) there is no pending or threatened Action that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others.

 

  

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(s)            Insurance. The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes to be prudent in the businesses and locations in which the Company is engaged. The Company has not received any notice of cancellation of any such insurance, nor does the Company have any Knowledge that it will be unable to renew its existing insurance coverage for the Company as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

 

(t)            Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. None of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge, none of the employees of the Company, is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or to a presently contemplated transaction (other than for services as employees, officers and directors) that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, except as contemplated by the Transaction Documents or set forth in the SEC Reports.

 

(u)            Internal Accounting Controls. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company that have adversely materially affected, or are reasonably likely to adversely materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company.

 

(v)            Sarbanes-Oxley; Disclosure Controls. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all of the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which are currently applicable to it, except where such non-compliance could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)           Certain Fees. Other than the Placement Agent, no person or entity will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or a Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company. The Company shall indemnify, pay, and hold each Purchaser harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such right, interest or claim.

 

(x)            Registration Rights. Other than each of the Purchasers, or Purchasers in a Prior Financing, no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company.

 

(y)            No Directed Selling Efforts or General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any Person acting on its behalf has conducted any “general solicitation” or “general advertising” (as those terms are used in Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of any of the Securities.

 

  

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(z)            No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 (without giving effect to any materiality qualifiers therein), except as disclosed in the SEC Reports and except for the Prior Financings, neither the Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, at any time within the past six (6) months, made any offers or sales of any Company security or solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that would (i) eliminate the availability of the exemption from registration under Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale by the Company of the Securities as contemplated hereby or (ii) cause the offering of the Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable law, regulation or shareholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.

 

(aa)          Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Company’s Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.

 

(bb)          Investment Company. The Company is not required to be registered as, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(cc)          Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its SEC Reports and is not so disclosed or that otherwise would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(dd)          Acknowledgment Regarding the Purchasers’ Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Purchasers is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby. The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchasers’ purchase of the Securities.

 

(ee)          Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has: (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

(ff)           No Additional Agreements. The Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.

 

3.2           Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser hereby, for itself and for no other Purchaser, represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date in the case of the Purchasers listed on Annex A hereto to the Company as follows:

 

  

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(a)            Organization; Authority. Such Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if such Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application or insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(b)            No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Purchaser, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Purchaser is a party or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

(c)            Investment Intent. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to, or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Purchaser does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum period of time and reserves the right, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under an exemption from such registration and in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser does not presently have any agreement, plan or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute or effect any distribution of any of the Securities (or any securities which are derivatives thereof) to or through any person or entity; such Purchaser is not a registered broker-dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act or an entity engaged in a business that would require it to be so registered as a broker-dealer.

 

(d)            Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and at the date hereof it is, an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.

 

(e)            Rule 144.  Such Purchaser understands that the Securities must be held indefinitely unless such Securities are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available.  Such Purchaser acknowledges that such person is familiar with Rule 144 of the rules and regulations of the Commission, as amended, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), and that such Purchaser has been advised that Rule 144 permits resales only under certain circumstances. Such Purchaser understands that to the extent that Rule 144 is not available, such Purchaser will be unable to sell any Securities without either registration under the Securities Act or the existence of another exemption from such registration requirement.

 

  

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(f)            General Solicitation. Such Purchaser acknowledges that the Securities were not offered to such Purchaser by means of any form of general or public solicitation or general advertising, or publicly disseminated advertisements or sales literature, including (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media, or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting to which such Purchaser was invited by any of the foregoing means of communications.

 

(g)           Experience of Such Purchaser. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.  Such Purchaser acknowledges that an investment in the Securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk.

 

(h)           Access to Information. Such Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to and has reviewed the Disclosure Materials and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and its respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of such Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of the Disclosure Materials and the Company’s representations and warranties contained in the Transaction Documents (as qualified by the Disclosure Materials). Such Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

 

(i)            Certain Trading Activities. Other than with respect to the transactions contemplated herein, since the time that such Purchaser was first contacted by the Company or any other Person regarding the transactions contemplated hereby, neither the Purchaser nor, to the knowledge of such Purchaser, any Affiliate of such Purchaser which (i) had knowledge of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) has or shares discretion relating to such Purchaser’s investments or trading or information concerning such Purchaser’s investments, including in respect of the Securities and (iii) is subject to such Purchaser’s review or input concerning such Affiliate’s investments or trading (collectively, “Trading Affiliates”) has directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser or Trading Affiliate, effected or agreed to effect any transactions in the securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any Short Sales involving the Company’s securities). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser and/or Trading Affiliate that is, individually or collectively, a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s or Trading Affiliate’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 or Trading Affiliate’s assets, the representation set forth above shall apply only with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager(s) that have knowledge about the financing transaction contemplated 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 the transactions contemplated hereby (including the existence and terms of such transactions). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided in Section 4.11, no Purchaser makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in Short Sales in the securities of the Company after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as described in Section 4.11.

 

  

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(j)            Brokers and Finders. Other than the Placement Agent, no Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or any Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of such Purchaser.

 

(k)           Independent Investment Decision. Such Purchaser has independently evaluated the merits of its decision to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser confirms that it has not relied on the advice of any other Purchaser’s business and/or legal counsel in making such decision. Such Purchaser understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Securities constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. Such 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 the Securities.

 

(l)            Reliance on Exemptions. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire the Securities.

 

(m)           No Governmental Review. Such Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

(n)            Regulation M. Such Purchaser is aware that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of Common Stock and other activities with respect to the Common Stock by the Purchasers.

 

(o)            Residency. Such Purchaser’s principal executive offices are in the jurisdiction set forth immediately below such Purchaser’s name on the applicable signature page attached hereto.

 

(p)            Prior Financings. Such Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has sold shares of Common Stock and/or securities exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock in the aggregate amount of up to $6,803,973 within one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the Closing Date in one or more financings (the “Prior Financings”).

 

The Company and each of the Purchasers acknowledge and agree that no party to this Agreement has made or makes any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Article III and the Transaction Documents.

 

  

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ARTICLE 4

 

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1           Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a)           Compliance with Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Transaction Documents, each Purchaser covenants that the Securities may be disposed of only pursuant to an effective registration statement under, and in compliance with the requirements of, the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of the Securities other than (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) to the Company, (iii) to an Affiliate of a Purchaser, (iv) pursuant to Rule 144 (provided that the Purchaser provides the Company with reasonable assurances (in the form of seller and broker representation letters if required) that the securities may be sold pursuant to such rule) or Rule 144A, (v) pursuant to Rule 144 without the requirement that the Company be in compliance with the current public information requirements of Rule 144 and without other restriction following the applicable holding period or (vi) in connection with a bona fide pledge, the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(b)           Legends. Certificates evidencing the Securities shall bear any legend as required by the “Blue Sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form until such time as they are not required under Section 4.1(c) (and a stock transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for the Securities):

 

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (B) AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

 

In addition, if any Purchaser is an Affiliate of the Company, certificates evidencing the Securities issued to such Purchaser shall bear a customary “affiliates” legend.

 

 

 

  

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(c)           Removal of Legends. Subject to the Company’s right to request an opinion of counsel as set forth in Section 4.1(a), the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) above shall be removable and the Company shall issue or cause to be issued a certificate without such legend or any other legend (except for any “affiliates” legend as set forth in Section 4.1(b)) to the holder of the applicable Shares upon which it is stamped or issue or cause to be issued to such holder by electronic delivery at the applicable balance account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) as provided in this Section 4.1(c), if (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act (provided that, if the Purchaser is selling pursuant to the effective registration statement registering the Securities for resale, 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), (ii) such Securities are sold or transferred in compliance with Rule 144 (if the transferor is not an Affiliate of the Company), including without limitation in compliance with the current public information requirements of Rule 144 if applicable to the Company at the time of such sale or transfer, and the holder and its broker have delivered customary documents reasonably requested by the Transfer Agent and/or Company Counsel in connection with such sale or transfer, or (iii) such Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144 without the requirement that the Company be in compliance with the current public information requirements of Rule 144 and without other restriction and Company Counsel has provided written confirmation of such eligibility to the Transfer Agent. Any fees (with respect to the Transfer Agent, Company Counsel or otherwise) associated with the removal of such legend shall be borne by the Company. Following the Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), or at such other time as a legend is no longer required for certain Securities, the Company will no later than three (3) Trading Days following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent (with concurrent notice and delivery of copies to the Company) of a legended certificate representing such Shares (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer, and together with such other customary documents as the Transfer Agent and/or Company Counsel shall reasonably request), deliver or cause to be delivered to the transferee of such Purchaser or such Purchaser, as applicable, a certificate representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 4.1. Certificates for Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchasers, as applicable, by crediting the account of the transferee’s Purchaser’s prime broker with DTC.

 

(d)            Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions. The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to its Transfer Agent, and any subsequent Transfer Agent, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (the “Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions”). The Company represents and warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions or instructions consistent therewith or otherwise contemplated hereby or thereby or by the other Transaction Documents or such other documents as the Transfer Agent may request in connection with any such instructions will be given by the Company to its Transfer Agent in connection with this Agreement, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company as and to the extent provided in and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and applicable law.

 

(e)            Acknowledgement. Each Purchaser hereunder acknowledges its primary responsibilities under the Securities Act and accordingly will not sell or otherwise transfer the Shares or any interest therein without complying with the requirements of the Securities Act. While the Registration Statement remains effective, each Purchaser hereunder may sell the Shares in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the Registration Statement and, if it does so, it will comply therewith and with the related prospectus delivery requirements unless an exemption therefrom is available. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees that if it is notified by the Company in writing at any time that the Registration Statement registering the resale of the Shares  is not effective or that the prospectus included in such Registration Statement no longer complies with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, the Purchaser will refrain from selling such Shares until such time as the Purchaser is notified by the Company that such Registration Statement is effective or such prospectus is compliant with Section 10 of the Securities Act, unless such Purchaser is able to, and does, sell such Shares pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act. Each Purchaser acknowledges that the delivery of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions and any removal of any legends from certificates representing the Shares as set forth in this Section 4.1 is predicated on the Company’s reliance upon the Purchaser’s acknowledgement in this Section 4.1(e).

 

  

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(f)            Buy-In. If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to a Purchaser a certificate not bearing the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) within three (3) Trading Days after receipt by the Company and the Transfer Agent of all documents necessary for the removal of the legend as set forth in Section 4.1(c) (the “Deadline Date”) (such certificate, the “Unlegended Certificate”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Purchaser, if on or after the Trading Day immediately following such three (3) Trading Day period, such Purchaser purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Purchaser of the shares of Common Stock to be represented by the Unlegended Certificate that such Purchaser anticipated receiving from the Company without any restrictive legend as a result of such Purchaser’s full compliance with Section 4.1(c) (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall, within three (3) Trading Days after such Purchaser’s request and in such Purchaser’s sole discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Purchaser in an amount equal to such Purchaser’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to such Purchaser a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock and pay cash to the Purchaser in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (a) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (b) the closing price of the Common Stock on the Deadline Date as reported by the Principal Trading Market. The Purchaser of shares of Common Stock shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to such Purchaser in respect of the Buy-In, together with applicable confirmations and other evidence reasonably requested by the Company.

 

4.2           Acknowledgment of Dilution. The Company acknowledges that the issuance of the Securities may result in dilution of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.  The Company specifically acknowledges that its obligation to issue the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants, in accordance with its terms, is binding upon the Company and enforceable regardless of the dilution such issuance may have on the ownership interest of other stockholders of the Company or parties entitled to receive equity of the Company.

 

4.3           Furnishing of Information. In order to enable the Purchasers to sell the Securities under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, for a period of one year from the Closing Date, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. During such one year period, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to such laws, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for the Purchasers to sell the Shares under Rule 144.

 

4.4           Form D and Blue Sky. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Purchaser who requests a copy in writing promptly after such filing. The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to qualify the Securities for sale to the Purchasers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), which, subject to the accuracy of the Company’s and the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth herein, shall consist of the submission of all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D required under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date, and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Purchasers who request in writing such evidence.

 

  

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4.5           No Integration. Except for the Prior Financings, the Company shall not, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Affiliates of the Company shall not, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers, or that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

 

4.6           Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. Within the time required by the Exchange Act, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission describing the terms of the Transaction Documents (and including as exhibits to such Current Report on Form 8-K the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser or an Affiliate of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser or an Affiliate of any Purchaser in any press release or filing with the Commission (other than the Registration Statement) or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (i) as required by federal securities law in connection with (A) any registration statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement and (B) the filing of final Transaction Documents (including signature pages thereto) with the Commission or (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, request of the Staff of the Commission or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the Purchasers with prior written notice of such disclosure permitted under this subclause (ii). From and after the issuance of the Form 8-K, no Purchaser shall be in possession of any material, non-public information received from the Company or any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents, that is not disclosed in the Form 8-K unless a Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information. 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 as described in this Section 4.6, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with such transactions (including the existence and terms of such transactions).

 

4.7           Non-Public Information. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company shall not and shall cause each of its officers, directors, employees and agents, not to, provide any Purchaser with any information the Company believes is material, non-public information regarding the Company from and after the filing of the Press Release without the express written consent of such Purchaser, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information.

 

  

  

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4.8          Indemnification.

 

(a)           Indemnification of the Purchasers. In addition to the indemnity provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, subject to this Section 4.8, the Company will indemnify and hold eachPurchaser and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Person (each, a “Purchaser Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation that any such Purchaser Party may suffer or incur, as a result of or relating to third party claims against such Purchaser relating to any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents, provided that such a claim for indemnification relating to any breach of any of the representations or warranties made by the Company in this Agreement is made within one (1) year from the Closing. The Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Purchaser Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Purchaser Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents.

 

(b)            Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any Person (the “Indemnified Person”) of notice of any demand, claim or circumstances which would or might give rise to a claim or the commencement of any action, proceeding or investigation in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.8(a), such Indemnified Person shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the assumption of the payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the failure of any Indemnified Person so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Company is actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to notify. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless: (i) the Company and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel; (ii) the Company shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person in such proceeding; or (iii) in the reasonable judgment of counsel to such Indemnified Person and counsel to the Company, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, the Company shall not effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such Proceeding.

 

4.9           Listing of Securities. In the time and manner required by the Principal Trading Market, the Company shall prepare and file with such Trading Market any additional shares listing application that may be required by such Trading Market covering all of the Shares and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all steps necessary to maintain, so long as any other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing.

 

  

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4.10         Use of Proceeds. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital and general corporate purposes, which includes, without limitation, drilling capital and lease acquisition capital.

 

4.11         Dispositions and Confidentiality After The Date Hereof. Each Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its Trading Affiliates not to, prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement: (a) sell, offer to sell, solicit offers to buy, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any right with respect to (collectively, a “Disposition”) the Securities; or (b) engage in any hedging or other transaction which is designed or could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of the Securities by such Purchaser or a Trading Affiliate, except, in each case, for Dispositions pursuant to an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable state and federal securities laws. In addition, the Purchaser agrees that for so long as it owns any Common Stock, it will not enter into any Short Sale of Shares executed at a time when the Purchaser has no equivalent offsetting long position in the Common Stock. For purposes of determining whether the Purchaser has an equivalent offsetting long position in the Common Stock, shares that the Purchaser is entitled to receive within sixty (60) days (whether pursuant to contract or upon conversion or exercise of convertible securities) will be included as if held long by the Purchaser. Such Purchaser covenants that neither it nor any Person acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will engage in any transactions in the Company’s securities (including, without limitation, any Short Sales involving the Company’s securities) during the period from the date hereof until the earlier of such time as (i) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced as described in Section 4.6 or (ii) this Agreement is terminated in full pursuant to Section 6.17. 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 apply only with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that have knowledge about the financing transaction contemplated by this Agreement.  Each Purchaser understands and acknowledges, severally and not jointly with any other Purchaser, that the Commission currently takes the position that covering a short position established prior to effectiveness of a resale registration statement with shares included in such registration statement would be a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act, as set forth in Division of Corporation Financing Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 239.10 regarding short selling.

 

4.12         Subsequent Private Offering by the Company.  Until the first anniversary of the Termination Date, Purchasers will have the right to participate in up to 25%, in the aggregate, on a pro-rata basis, of any subsequent private placement offerings by the Company of its securities on identical terms and conditions as set forth in the private placement then being offered.  By way of example only, if a Purchaser purchased Units amounting to 10% of the total number of Units sold hereunder, such Purchaser will have the right to purchase up to 2.5% of the total maximum securities offered in the subsequent private placement offering until the first anniversary date of the Termination Date.  The Purchasers will have ten (10) days to subscribe to any such offering once written notice of such offering is provided to the Purchaser.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

 

5.1           Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Purchasers to Purchase Securities at the Closing. The obligation of each Purchaser listed on Annex A hereto to acquire Securities at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by such Purchaser (as to itself only):

 

  

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(a)            Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties which are qualified as to materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of such date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a different specified date.

 

(b)            Performance. The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.

 

(c)            No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(d)            Consents. The Company shall have obtained in a timely fashion any and all consents, permits, approvals, registrations and waivers necessary for consummation of the purchase and sale of the Securities at the Closing (including all Required Approvals, except for those set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (v) of Section 3.1(e), which may be obtained after the Closing), all of which shall be and remain so long as necessary in full force and effect.

 

(e)            No Suspensions of Trading in Common Stock. The Common Stock shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the Commission.

 

(f)            Company Deliverables. The Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(a).

 

(g)           Termination. This Agreement shall not have been terminated as to such Purchaser in accordance with Section 6.17 herein.

 

(h)           Minimum and Maximum Raise.  The Company shall have raised gross proceeds pursuant to the issuance and sale of Units under this Agreement of (i) at least two million dollars ($2,000,000), and (ii) no more than five million dollars ($5,000,000), subject to increase to no more than five million six hundred thousand dollars ($5,600,000) upon the exercise of the Placement Agent’s over-allotment option.

 

5.2           Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company to sell Securities at the Closing. The Company’s obligation to sell and issue the Securities to each Purchaser listed on Annex A hereto at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:

 

(a)            Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties made by such Purchaser in Section 3.2 hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties which are qualified as to materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date when made, and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a different specified date.

 

  

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(b)            Performance. Such Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Purchaser at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)            No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(d)            Purchaser Deliverables. Such Purchaser shall have delivered its Purchaser Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(b).

 

(e)            Termination. This Agreement shall not have been terminated as to such Purchaser in accordance with Section 6.17 herein.

 

ARTICLE 6

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.1           Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, the Company and the Purchasers shall each pay the fees and expenses of their respective advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the sale and issuance of the Securities to the Purchasers.

 

6.2           Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company and the Purchasers will execute and deliver to the other such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under the Transaction Documents.

 

6.3           Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (provided the sender receives a machine-generated confirmation of successful transmission) at the facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Trading Day, provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (provided the sender receives a machine-generated confirmation of successful transmission) at the facsimile number specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Trading Day, provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, (c) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

  

	 If to the Company: 	Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. 

5700 Plano Parkway, Suite 3600

Plano, Texas 75093

Telephone No.: (214) 432-8002

Facsimile No.: (214) 432-8005

Attention: President

 

 

  

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With a copy to:

	
Axelrod, Smith & Kirshbaum

5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 1000

Houston, Texas 77007

Telephone No.: (713) 861-1996

Facsimile No.: (713) 552-0202

Attention: Robert D. Axelrod

  

	
If to a Purchaser:

	
To the address set forth under such Purchaser’s name on its signature page hereof;

 

or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.

 

6.4           Amendments; Waivers; No Additional Consideration. No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Purchasers holding or having the right to acquire at least a majority of the Securities to be purchased at the Closing or then outstanding or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Purchaser to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any Transaction Document unless the same consideration is also offered to all Purchasers who then hold Securities.

 

6.5           Construction. 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. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.

 

6.6           Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement, or any rights or obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Purchasers (other than by merger or consolidation or to an entity which acquires the Company, including by way of acquiring all or substantially all of the Company’s assets). Any Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in whole or in part to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities in compliance with the Transaction Documents and applicable law, provided such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the terms and conditions of this Agreement that apply to the “Purchasers”.

 

6.7           No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

 

  

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6.8           Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement 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. Each party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the New York Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

6.9           Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities for a period of one (1) year from the Closing Date. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations.

 

6.10         Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

6.11         Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor and achieves that same or substantially the same effect or result, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

 

6.12         Replacement of Securities. If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent of such loss, theft or destruction and the execution by the holder thereof of a customary lost certificate affidavit of that fact and an agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Transfer Agent for any losses in connection therewith or, if required by the Transfer Agent, a bond in such form and amount as is required by the Transfer Agent. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities. If a replacement certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is requested due to a mutilation thereof, the Company may require delivery of such mutilated certificate or instrument as a condition precedent to any issuance of a replacement.

 

  

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6.13         Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

6.14         Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

6.15         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 any Transaction Document to a number of shares or a price per share shall be deemed to be amended to appropriately account for such event.

 

6.16         Independent Nature of the Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document 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 any Transaction Document. The decision of each Purchaser to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such Purchaser independently of any other Purchaser and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company which may have been made or given by any other Purchaser or by any agent or employee of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser and any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Purchaser (or any other Person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statement or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, 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 the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser acknowledges that no other Purchaser has acted as agent for such Purchaser in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Purchaser will be acting as agent of such Purchaser in connection with monitoring its investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Purchasers has been provided with the same Transaction Documents for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Purchasers and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser. The Company’s obligations to each Purchaser under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are identical to its obligations to each other Purchaser other than such differences resulting solely from the number of Securities purchased by such Purchaser.

 

  

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6.17         Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the maximum Securities under the Offering are sold to Purchasers; or (ii)  5:00 p.m. New York time on January 31, 2014, unless extended by the Company until no later than February 28, 2014 (the “Termination Date”).  If the Company does not obtain the minimum amount of subscriptions prior to the Termination Date, all subscriptions will be cancelled and all funds received will be timely returned.

 

6.18         Independent Counsel. Each Purchaser acknowledges that: (a) it has read this Agreement; (b) it has been represented in the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of its own choice or has voluntarily declined to seek such counsel; and (c) it understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement and is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

 

  

	 	TORCHLIGHT ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	
By: 

	/s/ 	 
	 	 	Name: John Brda	 
	 	 	Title: President	 
	 	 	 	 

  

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ANNEX A:   Schedule of Purchasers

EXHIBITS:

 

A:               Warrant Agreement

B:               Registration Rights Agreement

C:               Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions

D:               Escrow Agreement

E:               Form of Secretary’s Certificate

F:               Form of Compliance Certificate

 

 

 

 

Page 29exhibit_10-16.htm

EXHIBIT 10.16

 

[FORM OF]

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of ______________, 2014, by and among Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of _____________, 2014, between the Company and each Purchaser (the “Purchase Agreement”).

 

Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Purchasers agree as follows:

 

1.           Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(g).

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any other person which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person.

 

“Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.

 

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $.001 per share, and any securities into which such common stock may hereinafter be reclassified.

 

“Effective Date” means the date that the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

“Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

 

  

1

  

“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Principal Market” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on and quoted for trading, which, as of the Closing Date, shall be the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

“Register,” “registered” and “registration” means the registration of securities for offer, sale or resale made by preparing and filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document by the Commission.

 

“Registrable Securities” means all of (i) the Shares and (ii) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing, provided, that the Holder has completed and delivered to the Company a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire; and provided, further, that Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities (and the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of any, or file another, Registration Statement hereunder with respect thereto) upon the earliest to occur of the following: (A) sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in which case, only such security sold shall cease to be a Registrable Security); or (B) becoming eligible for sale by the Holder, without restriction, pursuant to Rule 144.

 

“Registration Statements” means any one or more registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Initial Registration Statement, the New Registration Statement and any Remainder Registration Statements), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statements or Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statements.

 

  

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“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Selling Stockholder Questionnaire” means a questionnaire in the form attached as Annex B hereto, or such other form of questionnaire as may reasonably be adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

“Shares” means, collectively, (a) the shares of Common Stock purchased by and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (b) the Shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants acquired by the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

“Special Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement relating to any employee benefit plan filed on Form S-8 or similar form or, with respect to any corporate reorganization or other transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, a registration statement on Form S-4 or similar form.

 

“Trading Day” means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Trading Market (unless the Principal Trading Market is the OTC Bulletin Board or the “pink sheets”), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not quoted on any Trading Market (other than the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc.), a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

 

  

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“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, the OTC Bulletin Board, the OTC QB, OTC QX or “pink sheets” tier of OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its function of reporting prices) on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 

2.           Registration.

 

(a)           On or before 45 days after the Closing Date, the Company agrees to use all commercially reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 or, if Rule 415 is not available for offers and sales of the Registrable Securities, by such other means of distribution of Registrable Securities as the Holders may reasonably specify (the “Initial Registration Statement”). The Initial Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1 and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement) the “Plan of Distribution” section attached hereto as Annex A. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this subsection (a) and subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 2, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees promptly (i) to inform each of the Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) to withdraw the Initial Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”), in either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced by Registrable Securities represented by Shares (applied, in the case that some Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Shares held by such Holders, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Shares held by such Holders). In the event the Company amends the Initial Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by the Commission or the SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement (the “Remainder Registration Statements”) unless such registerable securities are eligible for sale by the Holder, without restriction, pursuant to Rule 144, in which event the Company will not be obligated to file any remainder Registration Statement.

 

  

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(b)           Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable following the filing thereof and, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, (including filing with the Commission a request for acceleration of effectiveness in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act within five (5) Business Days after the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or not be subject to further review and the effectiveness of such Registration Statement may be accelerated) and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep each Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the later of (i) one year after the Closing Date or (ii) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144 or may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 including, without limitation, volume limitations and other restrictions of Rule 144 (the “Effectiveness Period”); provided, however, that the requirement of continuous effectiveness may be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the then outstanding Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. The Company shall ensure that each Registration Statement (including and as amended and modified by any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading. Each Registration Statement shall also cover, to the extent allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416 under the Securities Act), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. The Company shall request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date. The Company shall promptly notify the Holders via facsimile or e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement within one (1) Business Day after the date on which the Company confirms effectiveness with the Commission, which confirmation shall initially be the date requested for effectiveness of a Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the first Trading Day after the Effective Date, file a Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424.

 

(c)           The Company shall not, from the date hereof until the date that is 60 days after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities other than a Special Registration Statement unless the closing bid price for the Common Stock on the Trading Day prior to the date of filing any such registration statement, as reported by the Principal Trading Market, was greater than the Purchase Price. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be prohibited from preparing and filing with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering of Common Stock by existing stockholders of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of registration rights held by such stockholders.

 

  

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(d)           Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire not more than ten (10) Trading Days following the date of this Agreement. Each Holder further agrees that it shall not be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in a Registration Statement or use the Prospectus for offers and resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless such Holder has returned to the Company a completed and signed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire. If a Holder of Registrable Securities returns a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire after the deadline specified in the first sentence of this Section 2(d), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as are required to name such Holder as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto and to include (to the extent not theretofore included) in the Registration Statement the Registrable Securities identified in such late Selling Stockholder Questionnaire. Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that (i) the information in the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire will be used by the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement and hereby consents to the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement, and (ii) if the Holder does not complete the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire, or does not complete the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire by the time specified in the first sentence of this Section 2(d) and the Company does not name such Holder as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto or include (to the extent not theretofore included) in the Registration Statement the Registrable Securities identified in such late Selling Stockholder Questionnaire after the use of its commercially reasonable efforts to do so, then the Holder shall not be entitled to be named in a Registration Statement or to receive liquidated damages to the extent resulting from the failure of the Company to name such Holder in a Registration Statement.

 

3.           Registration Procedures.

 

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a)           Not less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of a Registration Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any similar or successor reports), the Company shall furnish to each Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement or counsel designated by such Holders copies of such Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, as proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holder or such counsel (it being acknowledged and agreed that if a Holder does not object to or comment on the aforementioned documents within such five (5) Trading Days or one (1) Trading Day period, as the case may be, then the Holder 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 the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing within the five (5) Trading Days or one (1) Trading Day period described above, as applicable.

 

  

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(b)           (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for its Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that pertains to the Holders as “Selling Stockholders” but not any comments that would result in the disclosure to the Holders of material and non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable Effectiveness Period (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented;  provided, however, that each Purchaser shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus to the Persons to whom such Purchaser sells any of the Shares (including in accordance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act), and each Purchaser agrees to dispose of Registrable Securities in compliance with the plan of distribution described in the Registration Statement and otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after the Exchange Act report which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement was filed or, if later, when required pursuant to applicable federal securities laws.

 

 

 

  

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(c) Notify the Holders (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to such filing, in the case of (iii) and (iv) below, not more than one (1) Trading Day after such issuance or receipt, in the case of (v) below, not less than one (1) Trading Day after a determination by the Company that the financial statements in any Registration Statement have become ineligible for inclusion therein and, in the case of (vi) below, not more than three (3) Trading Days after the occurrence or existence of such development) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on any Registration Statement; and (C) with respect to each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains to the Holders as “Selling Stockholders” or the “Plan of Distribution”; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) 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 or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided  that any and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further, that notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential, the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.

 

(d)           Use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, as soon as practicable.

 

  

  

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(e) If requested by a Holder, furnish to such Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement including such Holder’s Registrable Securities and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided, that the Company shall have no obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system.

 

(f) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the Registrable Securities for offer and sale or resale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject the Company to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(g)           If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement and under law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may reasonably request. In connection therewith, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Company shall promptly after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with its transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent, which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without legend upon sale by the holder of such shares of Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement.

 

(h)           Following the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(iii) through (vi), as promptly as reasonably practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will 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 the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

 

(i)           (i) In the time and manner required by the Principal Trading Market, prepare and file with such Trading Market any additional shares listing application that may be required by such Trading Market covering all of the Registrable Securities, (ii) use reasonable best efforts to take all steps necessary to cause such Registrable Securities to be approved for listing on the Principal Market as soon as possible thereafter, (iii) if requested by any Holder, provide such Holder evidence of such listing, and (iv) so long as any other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed, during the Effectiveness Period, use reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of such Registrable Securities on the Principal Market.

 

 

 

  

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(j)            In order to enable the Holders to sell Shares under Rule 144, for a period of one year from the Closing, the Company covenants to use commercially reasonable efforts to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. During such one year period, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements in form and substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in the time period that such filings would have been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, to the extent required to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act if, and for such period of time during the Effectiveness Period when, a Registration Statement covering such Holder’s Registrable Securities is not effective, including compliance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement relating to the transfer of the Shares.

 

(k)           The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and any Affiliate thereof, (ii) any FINRA affiliations, (iii) any natural persons who have the power to vote or dispose of the Common Stock and (iv) any other information as may be requested by the Commission, FINRA or any state securities commission. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of Registrable Securities because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three (3) Trading Days of the Company’s request, then any obligation that the Company has as to the Holder shall be suspended until such information is delivered to the Company.

 

(l)           The Company shall promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request, provided that the Company shall have no such obligation to deliver the Prospectus or Prospectuses that are available on the Commission’s EDGAR system.  The Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto to the extent permitted by federal and state securities laws and regulations.

 

(m)           The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the Securities Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, promptly inform the Holders in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Holders are required to make available a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

 

 

  

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4.        Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Agreement (excluding any underwriting discounts and selling commissions and all legal fees and expenses of legal counsel for any Holder) shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, (B) with respect to compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities) and (C) with respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 (or any successor rule), so long as the broker is receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on the Principal Trading Market as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any underwriting, broker or similar fees or commissions of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.

 

 

 

 

  

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5.          Indemnification.

 

(a)           Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, partners, members, managers, stockholders and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any violation of this Agreement; except in each of (i) and (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A) such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), related to the use by a Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated and defined in Section 6(g) below, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected or (C) any such Losses arise out of the Holder’s (or any other Indemnified Party’s (as defined in Section 5(c))) failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was corrected in such Prospectus or supplement. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party (as defined in Section 5(c)) and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Holders in accordance herewith.

 

 

 

  

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(b)          Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, severally and not jointly, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent that, such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, (ii) to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (iii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), to the extent related to the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(g). In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder under this Section 5(b) be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)           Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Section 5, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest exists if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party); provided, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

 

 

 

  

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Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within twenty (20) Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is finally judicially determined to not be entitled to indemnification hereunder. The failure to deliver written notice to the Indemnifying Party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such Indemnifying Party of any liability to the Indemnified Party under this Section 5, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

(d)           Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), (A) no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (B) no contribution will be made under circumstances where the maker of such contribution would not have been required to indemnify the Indemnified Party under the fault standards set forth in this Section 5. 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 indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties and are not in diminution or limitation of the indemnification provisions under the Purchase Agreement.

 

  

  

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6. Miscellaneous.

  

(a)           Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)           No Piggyback on Registrations. Except for (i) the shares of common stock sold in the offering commenced by the Company on December 17, 2013, as well as shares of common stock underlying warrants sold in that offering, (ii) the shares of common stock underlying warrants sold in the offering commenced by the Company in February, 2011, and/or (iii) as provided in the SEC Reports, neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto and for a period of no longer than one (1) year from the Closing Date) may include securities of the Company in a Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not prior to the Effective Date enter into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.  Nothing in this Section 6(b) shall limit the Company’s ability to include securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities in a registration statement that is not a Registration Statement and file any such registration statement with the Commission, except as is expressly prohibited by this Agreement.

 

(c)           Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter, except for, and as provided in the Transaction Documents.

 

(d)           Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it (unless an exemption therefrom is available) in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and shall sell the Registrable Securities only in accordance with a method of distribution described in the Registration Statement.

 

(e)           Suspension of Trading. At any time after the Registrable Securities are covered by an effective Registration Statement, the Company may deliver to the Holders of such Registrable Securities a certificate (the “Suspension Certificate”) approved by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company and signed by an officer of the Company stating that the effectiveness of and sales of Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement would:

 

(i)           materially interfere with any transaction that would require the Company to prepare financial statements under the Securities Act that the Company would otherwise not be required to prepare in order to comply with its obligations under the Exchange Act, or

 

(ii)           require public disclosure of a material transaction or event prior to the time such disclosure might otherwise be required.

 

  

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Upon receipt of a Suspension Certificate by Holders of Registrable Securities, such Holders of Registrable Securities shall refrain from selling or otherwise transferring or disposing of any Registrable Securities then held by such Holders for a specified period of time (a “Suspension Period”) that is customary under the circumstances (not to exceed twenty (20) days). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Company shall be permitted to cause Holders of Registrable Securities to so refrain from selling or otherwise transferring or disposing of any Registrable Securities for the reasons set forth in clause (i) and (ii) of this Section 6(e) on only two (2) occasions during each twelve (12) consecutive month period that the Registration Statement remains effective with no less than sixty (60) calendar days in between Suspension Periods; provided that nothing in this sentence shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to suspend the effectiveness of a Registration Statement and/or cause the Holders to suspend dispositions of the Registrable Securities thereunder as provided in this Agreement for reasons other than those set forth in clause (i) and (ii) of this Section 6(e). The Company may impose stop transfer instructions to enforce any required agreement of the Holders under this Section 6(e).  Immediately after the end of any Suspension Period, provided that the Effectiveness Period continues at such time, the Company shall take all necessary actions (including filing any required supplemental prospectus) to restore the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement and the ability of the Holders to publicly resell, pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, their Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement.

 

(f)           Piggyback Registrations. If, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, there is not an effective Registration Statement covering Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on a Special Registration Statement, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within seven days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(f) that are (i) eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or (ii) the subject of a then-effective Registration Statement.

 

(g)           Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder hereby expressly makes the acknowledgements and agreements set forth in Section 4.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement with respect to any Registrable Securities.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Holder further agrees by its acquisition of Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section 6(g).

 

 

 

  

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(h)          Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified, supplemented or waived unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and Holders holding at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of a Holder or some Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(i)           Term. The registration rights provided to the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, and the Company’s obligation to keep the Registration Statements effective, shall terminate at the end of the Effectiveness Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6(j), Section 6(m), Section 6(n), Section 6(o), Section 6(p), Section 6(q) and Section 6(r) shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

(j)           Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(k)           Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities (other than by merger or consolidation or to an entity which acquires the Company including by way of acquiring all or substantially all of the Company’s assets). The rights of the Holders hereunder, including the right to have the Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, may be assigned by each Holder to transferees or assignees of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities (but only with all related obligations) that after such assignment holds at least 20,000 shares of Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations and other recapitalizations), but only if (i) the Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and related obligations under this Agreement, and for the transferee or assignee to assume such obligations, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) at or before the time the Company received the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein that apply to the “Holders”, (iv) the transfer or assignment is in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (v) the transferee is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D.

 

 

 

  

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(l)             Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature were the original thereof.

 

(m)           Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

(n)           Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

(o)           Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(p)           Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(q)           Currency. Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement are in United States Dollars. All amounts owing under this Agreement are in United States Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies shall be converted in the United States Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the applicable exchange rate in effect on the date of calculation.

 

(r)           Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.

 

(s)           Counsel. Each Purchaser acknowledges that: (i) it has read this Agreement; (ii) it has been represented in the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement by legal counsel of its own choice or has voluntarily declined to seek such counsel; and (iii) it understands the terms and consequences of this Agreement and is fully aware of the legal and binding effect of this Agreement.

 

 

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In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	 	TORCHLIGHT ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	
By: 

	/s/ 	 
	 	 	Name: John Brda	 
	 	 	Title: President	 
	 	 	 	 

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19

  

Annex A

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering the shares of common stock issued to the selling stockholders to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the shares of common stock from time to time after the date of this prospectus. 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.

 

The selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market and in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:

 

	
  

	
·

	
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

	
  

	
·

	
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

	
  

	
·

	
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

	
  

	
·

	
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

	
  

	
·

	
privately negotiated transactions;

 

	
  

	
·

	
settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

	
  

	
·

	
broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

	
  

	
·

	
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

	
  

	
·

	
a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

  

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·

	
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as permitted by that rule, or Section 4(1) under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of those provisions.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. If the selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal. Such commissions will be in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction will not be in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110.

 

In connection with sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and if such short sale shall take place after the date that this Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, the selling stockholders may deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling stockholders have been advised that they may not use shares registered on this registration statement to cover short sales of our common stock made prior to the date the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the warrants or 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 or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under 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.

 

  

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The selling stockholders and any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer or agent and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Selling Stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and may be subject to certain statutory liabilities of, including but not limited to, Sections 11, 12 and 17 of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

 

Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it is not a registered broker-dealer and does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common stock. Upon the Company being notified in writing by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of common stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling stockholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such the shares of common stock were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups, which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

 

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.

 

Each selling stockholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 stockholder 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.

 

  

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We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws;  provided, however, that each selling stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, and any legal expenses incurred by it. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with a registration rights agreement, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may 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 specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements, or we may be entitled to contribution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

23

  

Annex B

 

TORCHLIGHT ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.

 

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

 

The undersigned holder of shares of the common stock, par value $.001 per share, of Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), issued pursuant to a certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated as of _______________, 2014 (the “Agreement” and such shares, the “Registrable Securities”), understands that the Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration and the resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and a related Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

 

In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, a holder of Registrable Securities generally will be required to be named as a selling stockholder in the related prospectus or a supplement thereto (as so supplemented, the “Prospectus”), deliver the Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities (including pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act) and be bound by the provisions of the Agreement (including certain indemnification provisions, as described below). Holders must also complete and deliver this Notice and Questionnaire in order to be named as selling stockholders in the Prospectus.  Holders of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire within ten (10) Trading Days following the date of the Agreement (1) will not be named as selling stockholders in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and (2) may not use the Prospectus for resales of Registrable Securities.

 

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Holders of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

NOTICE

 

The undersigned holder (the “Selling Stockholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention to sell or otherwise dispose of Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Item 3, unless otherwise specified in Item 3, pursuant to the Registration Statement. The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, understands and agrees that it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

 

  

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QUESTIONNAIRE

 

	 1.	 Name.
	 	(a)	Full Legal Name of Selling Stockholder:
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	(b)	Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item 3 below are held:
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
 

(c)

	
 

Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by this Questionnaire):

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 2.	Address for Notices to Selling Stockholder:
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 

 

	 	
 

Telephone:

	 	 
	 	
 

Fax: 

	 	 	 
	 	
 

Contact Person:

	 	 
	 	
 

E-mail address of Contact Person: 

	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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	3.	Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities Issued Pursuant to the Agreement:
	 	  

(a)

	  

Type and Number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned and issued pursuant to the Agreement:

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	(b)	Number of shares of Registrable Securities listed in Item 3(a) that the Selling Stockholder requests be registered for resale pursuant to the Registration Statement:
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 

	4.	Broker-Dealer Status:	 	 	 	 
	 	(a)	Are you a broker-dealer?
	 	 	Yes	 	 	No	 	 
	 	(b) 	If “yes” to Section 4(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the Company?
	 	 	Yes 	 	 	No	 	 
	 	Note:	If no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
	 	(c)	Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
	 	 	Yes	 	 	No	 	 

 

 

  

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	 	Note:	Note:If yes, provide a narrative explanation below:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	(c) 	If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?
	 	 	Yes	 	 	No	 	 
	 	Note: 	If no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
	5.	Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Stockholder.
	 	Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.
	 	(a)	Type and amount of other securities of the Company beneficially owned (if none, so state):
	6.	Relationships with the Company:
	 	
 

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

 

 

 

  

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	 	State any exceptions here:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	7. 	Plan of Distribution:
	 
	The undersigned has reviewed the form of Plan of Distribution attached as Annex A to the Registration Rights Agreement, and hereby confirms that, except as set forth below, the information contained therein regarding the undersigned and its plan of distribution is correct and complete.
	
State any exceptions here:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

 

***********

 

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the effective date of any applicable Registration Statement and at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing and delivered as set forth in the Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. In the absence of any such notification, the Company shall be entitled to rely and continue to rely on the accuracy of the information in this Notice and Questionnaire.

 

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (7) above and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of any such Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

By signing below, the undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. The undersigned also acknowledges that it understands that the answers to this Questionnaire are furnished for use in connection with the Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and any amendments or supplements thereto filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

 

 

  

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The undersigned hereby acknowledges and is advised of the following Division of Corporation Financing Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 239.10 regarding short selling:

 

“An issuer filed a Form S-1 registration statement for a secondary offering of common stock which is not yet effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted to do a short sale of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale with registered shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that the short sale could not be made before the registration statement becomes effective, because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section 5 if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective date.”

 

By returning this Questionnaire, the undersigned will be deemed to be aware of the foregoing interpretation.  The acknowledgements by and agreements of the Selling Stockholder set forth in this Notice and Questionnaire shall be in addition to, and shall not limit the scope and applicability of, the representations, warranties and covenants made by such Selling Stockholder in the Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foregoing statements (including without limitation the answers to this Questionnaire) are correct and complete.

 

In Witness Whereof the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

	 	Selling Stockholder:	 
	 	 	 	 
	
Dated: 

	
By: 

	 	 
	 	 	
Name 

	 
	 	 	
Title 

	 
	 	 	 	 

PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:

 

	
Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. 

5700 Plan Parkway, Suite 3600 

Plano, Texas 75093 

Attention: John Brda, President

	Tel: (214) 432-8002 

Fax: (214) 432-8005

Email: john@torchlightenergy.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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