CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE SERIES D CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OF ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
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EX-4.2 3 d50907exv4w2.htm CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION exv4w2
Exhibit 4.2
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND
PREFERENCES
OF THE
SERIES D CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
OF
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PREFERENCES
OF THE
SERIES D CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
OF
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
The undersigned, the Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, does hereby certify that, pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the following resolution creating a series of preferred stock, designated as Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, was duly adopted on October 29, 2007, as follows:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority expressly granted to and vested in the Board of Directors of the Company by provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the Certificate of Incorporation), there hereby is created out of the shares of the Companys preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized in Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of preferred stock of the Company, to be named Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, consisting of Seven Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand One Hundred and Eighty-Two (788,182) shares, which series shall have the following designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the following qualifications, limitations and restrictions:
1. Designation and Rank. The designation of such series of the Preferred Stock shall be the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Stock). Each share of Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $13.20 (the Stated Value). The maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock shall be Seven Hundred Eighty-Eight Thousand One Hundred and Eighty-Two( 788,182) shares. The Preferred Stock shall rank senior to the Companys Class A and Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), and to all other classes and series of equity securities of the Company which by their terms do not rank senior to the Preferred Stock (Junior Stock). The Preferred Stock shall be subordinate to and rank junior to all indebtedness of the Company now or hereafter outstanding. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) among the Company and the initial holders of the Preferred Stock.
2. Dividends.
(a) Payment of Dividends. Commencing on the date of the initial issuance (the Issuance Date) of the Preferred Stock, the holders of record of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends at the rate of eight percent (8%) of the Stated Value per share per annum (the Dividend Payment), and no more, payable quarterly on each three month anniversary following the Issuance Date. Dividends are payable at the option of the Company in cash or, subject to the Equity Conditions (as defined below) and receiving Shareholder Approval (as defined below) if required by the Nasdaq Capital Market, in registered shares of Common Stock. If the Company elects to pay any dividend in registered shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder shall be an amount equal to ninety percent (90%) of the quotient of (i) the Dividend Payment divided by (ii) the average of the
VWAP (as defined below) for the twenty (20) trading days immediately preceding the date the Dividend Payment is due. If the Company elects to pay any dividend in registered shares of Common Stock, the Company will give the holders of record of shares of Preferred Stock twenty (20) trading days notice prior to the date of the applicable Dividend Payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, until the earlier of (A) the effective date of the registration statement providing for the resale of all of the shares of Preferred Stock and (B) six (6) months following the Issuance Date, dividends shall be payable solely in additional shares of Preferred Stock. In the case of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding for less than a full year, dividends shall be pro rated based on the portion of each year during which such shares are outstanding. Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be cumulative, shall accrue and be payable semi-annually. Dividends on the Preferred Stock are prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any distribution (as defined below) on any outstanding shares of Junior Stock. Such dividends shall accrue on each share of Preferred Stock from day to day whether or not earned or declared so that if such dividends with respect to any previous dividend period at the rate provided for herein have not been paid on, or declared and set apart for, all shares of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the deficiency shall be fully paid on, or declared and set apart for, such shares on a pro rata basis with all other equity securities of the Company ranking pari passu with the Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends before any distribution shall be paid on, or declared and set apart for Junior Stock.
(b) For purposes hereof, Equity Conditions means (i) the registration statement providing for the resale of shares of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, and any dividends accrued thereon, is effective and has been effective, without lapse or suspension of any kind, for a period thirty (30) consecutive calendar days, or the shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock can be converted or paid as dividends may be offered for sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (Rule 144(k)) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (ii) trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Trading Market (as defined below), (iii) the Company is in material compliance with the terms and conditions of this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents and has honored all prior conversions of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms hereof; (iv) there is a sufficient number of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock available to satisfy all conversions pursuant to the terms hereof; and (v) the holder of Preferred Stock is not in possession of any material non-public information.
(c) For purposes hereof, Shareholder Approval means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (or any successor entity) for companies listed thereon (whether or not the Company is then listed thereon) from the shareholders of the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including the issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock issued and issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, upon exercise of the Warrants and issued and issuable in lieu of the cash payment of dividends on the Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof to the extent in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on the Issuance Date.
(d) For purposes hereof, VWAP means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such
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date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time); (b) if the OTC Bulletin Board is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board; (c) if the Common Stock is not then quoted for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the Pink Sheets published by Pink Sheets, LLC (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported; or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company.
(e) For purposes hereof, Trading Market means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board.
(f) So long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend or make any distribution on any Junior Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable in additional shares of Junior Stock), unless at the time of such dividend or distribution the Company shall have paid all accrued and unpaid dividends on the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.
(g) In the event of a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company pursuant to Section 4 hereof, all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be payable on the date of payment of the preferential amount to the holders of Preferred Stock. In the event of (i) a mandatory redemption pursuant to Section 9 hereof or (ii) a redemption upon the occurrence of a Major Transaction (as defined in Section 8(c) hereof) or a Triggering Event (as defined in Section 8(d) hereof), all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be payable on the date of such redemption. In the event of a voluntary conversion pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof, all accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock being converted shall be payable on the Voluntary Conversion Date (as defined in Section 5(b)(i) hereof).
(h) For purposes hereof, unless the context otherwise requires, distribution shall mean the transfer of cash or property without consideration, whether by way of dividend or otherwise, payable other than in shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, or the purchase or redemption of shares of the Company (other than redemptions set forth in Section 8 below or repurchases of Common Stock held by employees or consultants of the Company upon termination of their employment or services pursuant to agreements providing for such repurchase or upon the cashless exercise of options held by employees or consultants) for cash or property.
3. Voting Rights.
(a) Class Voting Rights. The Preferred Stock shall have the following class voting rights (in addition to the voting rights set forth in Section 3(b) hereof). So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Company shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock
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outstanding at the time, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, in which the holders of the Preferred Stock vote separately as a class: (i) authorize, create, issue or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of stock (other than any class or series of Junior Stock), including but not limited to the issuance of any more shares of Preferred Stock, ranking senior to the Preferred Stock, with respect to the distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up; (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that any creation and issuance of another series of Junior Stock shall not be deemed to adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers; (iii) repurchase, redeem or pay dividends on, shares of Common Stock or any other shares of the Companys Junior Stock (other than repurchases from employees of the Company not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate amount per fiscal year, or provided that all dividends have been paid upon the Preferred Stock, repurchases pursuant to Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act or otherwise of up to $500,000 per fiscal year, and any contractual redemption obligations existing as of the date hereof as disclosed in the Companys public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission); (iv) amend the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company so as to affect materially and adversely any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that any creation and issuance of another series of Junior Stock shall not be deemed to adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers; (v) effect any distribution with respect to Junior Stock other than as permitted hereby; (vi) reclassify the Companys outstanding securities; (vii) voluntarily file for bankruptcy, liquidate the Companys assets or make an assignment for the benefit of the Companys creditors; (viii) change the nature of the Companys business; or (ix) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing.
(b) General Voting Rights. The holder of each share of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Preferred Stock could be converted for purposes of determining the shares entitled to vote at any regular, annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company, and shall have voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the Common Stock (except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, voting together with the Common Stock as a single class) and shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Company. Fractional votes shall not, however, be permitted and any fractional voting rights resulting from the above formula (after aggregating all shares into which shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder could be converted) shall be rounded to the nearest whole number (with one-half being rounded upward).
4. Liquidation Preference.
(a) In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, an amount equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the Stated Value per share (the Liquidation Preference Amount) of the Preferred Stock plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and liquidated damages owed under the Transaction Documents before any payment shall be made or any assets distributed to the holders of the Common Stock or any other Junior Stock. If the assets of the Company are not sufficient to pay in full the Liquidation Preference Amount plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable to the holders of outstanding
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shares of the Preferred Stock and any series of Preferred Stock or any other class of stock ranking pari passu, as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, with the Preferred Stock, then all of said assets will be distributed among the holders of the Preferred Stock and the other classes of stock ranking pari passu with the Preferred Stock, if any, ratably in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. The liquidation payment with respect to each outstanding fractional share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to a ratably proportionate amount of the liquidation payment with respect to each outstanding share of Preferred Stock. All payments for which this Section 4(a) provides shall be in cash, property (valued at its fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser reasonably acceptable to the holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock) or a combination thereof; provided, however, that no cash shall be paid to holders of Junior Stock unless each holder of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock has been paid in cash the full Liquidation Preference Amount plus any accrued and unpaid dividends to which such holder is entitled as provided herein. After payment of the full Liquidation Preference Amount plus any accrued and unpaid dividends to which each holder is entitled, such holders of shares of Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any further participation as such in any distribution of the assets of the Company.
(b) A consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the effectuation by the Company of a transaction or series of related transactions in which more than 50% of the voting shares of the Company is disposed of or conveyed, shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up within the meaning of this Section 4. In the event of the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation, the Preferred Stock shall maintain its relative powers, designations and preferences provided for herein and no merger shall result which is inconsistent therewith.
(c) Written notice of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, stating a payment date and the place where the distributable amounts shall be payable, shall be given by mail, postage prepaid, no less than forty-five (45) days prior to the payment date stated therein, to the holders of record of the Preferred Stock at their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of the Company.
5. Conversion. The holder of Preferred Stock shall have the following conversion rights (the Conversion Rights):
(a) Right to Convert. At any time on or after the Issuance Date, the holder of any such shares of Preferred Stock may, at such holders option, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7 herein, elect to convert (a Voluntary Conversion) all or any portion of the shares of Preferred Stock held by such person into a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the Stated Value of the shares of Preferred Stock being converted, divided by (ii) the Conversion Price (as defined in Section 5(d) below) then in effect as of the date of the delivery by such holder of its notice of election to convert. In the event of a notice of redemption of any shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 8 hereof, the Conversion Rights of the shares designated for redemption shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for redemption, unless the redemption price is not paid on such redemption date, in which case the Conversion Rights for such shares shall
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continue until such price is paid in full. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the Conversion Rights shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for the payment of any such amounts distributable on such event to the holders of Preferred Stock. In the event of such a redemption or liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Company shall provide to each holder of shares of Preferred Stock notice of such redemption or liquidation, dissolution or winding up, which notice shall (i) be sent at least fifteen (15) days prior to the termination of the Conversion Rights (or, if the Company obtains lesser notice thereof, then as promptly as possible after the date that it has obtained notice thereof) and (ii) state the amount per share of Preferred Stock that will be paid or distributed on such redemption or liquidation, dissolution or winding up, as the case may be.
(b) Mechanics of Voluntary Conversion. The Voluntary Conversion of Preferred Stock shall be conducted in the following manner:
(i) Holders Delivery Requirements. To convert Preferred Stock into full shares of Common Stock on any date (the Voluntary Conversion Date), the holder thereof shall (A) transmit by facsimile (or otherwise deliver), for receipt on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time on such date, a copy of a fully executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the Conversion Notice), to the Company at (479)  ###-###-####, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, and (B) surrender to a common carrier for delivery to the Company as soon as practicable following such Voluntary Conversion Date the original certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock being converted (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to such shares in the case of their loss, theft or destruction) (the Preferred Stock Certificates) and the originally executed Conversion Notice.
(ii) Companys Response. Upon receipt by the Company of a facsimile copy of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall immediately send, via facsimile, a confirmation of receipt of such Conversion Notice to such holder. Upon receipt by the Company of a copy of the fully executed Conversion Notice, the Company or its designated transfer agent (the Transfer Agent), as applicable, shall, within three (3) business days following the date of receipt by the Company of the fully executed Conversion Notice, issue and deliver to the Depository Trust Company (DTC) account on the Holders behalf via the Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission System (DWAC) as specified in the Conversion Notice, registered in the name of the holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the holder shall be entitled. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, the Company or its Transfer Agent shall only be obligated to issue and deliver the shares to the DTC on a holders behalf via DWAC if such conversion is in connection with a sale and the Company and the Transfer Agent are participating in DTC through the DWAC system. If the number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by the Preferred Stock Certificate(s) submitted for conversion is greater than the number of shares of Preferred Stock being converted, then the Company shall, as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) business days after receipt of the Preferred Stock Certificate(s) and at the Companys expense, issue and deliver to the holder a new Preferred Stock Certificate representing the number of shares of Preferred Stock not converted.
(iii) Dispute Resolution. In the case of a dispute as to the arithmetic calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion, the Company shall cause its Transfer Agent to promptly issue to the holder the number of shares of Common Stock that is not disputed and shall submit the arithmetic calculations to the holder via
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facsimile as soon as possible, but in no event later than two (2) business days after receipt of such holders Conversion Notice. If such holder and the Company are unable to agree upon the arithmetic calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon such conversion within one (1) business day of such disputed arithmetic calculation being submitted to the holder, then the Company shall within one (1) business day submit via facsimile the disputed arithmetic calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon such conversion to the Companys independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause the accountant to perform the calculations and notify the Company and the holder of the results no later than seventy-two (72) hours from the time it receives the disputed calculations. Such accountants calculation shall be binding upon all parties absent manifest error. The reasonable expenses of such accountant in making such determination shall be paid by the Company, in the event the holders calculation was correct, or by the holder, in the event the Companys calculation was correct, or equally by the Company and the holder in the event that neither the Companys or the holders calculation was correct. The period of time in which the Company is required to effect conversions or redemptions under this Certificate of Designation shall be tolled with respect to the subject conversion or redemption pending resolution of any dispute by the Company made in good faith and in accordance with this Section 5(b)(iii).
(iv) Record Holder. The person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon a conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on the Conversion Date.
(v) Companys Failure to Timely Convert. If within three (3) business days of the Companys receipt of an executed copy of the Conversion Notice (so long as the applicable Preferred Stock Certificates and original Conversion Notice are received by the Company on or before such third business day) (the Delivery Date) the Transfer Agent shall fail to issue and deliver to a holder the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled upon such holders conversion of the Preferred Stock or to issue a new Preferred Stock Certificate representing the number of shares of Preferred Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii) (a Conversion Failure), in addition to all other available remedies which such holder may pursue hereunder and under the Purchase Agreement (including indemnification pursuant to Section 6 thereof), the Company shall pay additional damages to such holder on each business day after such third (3rd) business day that such conversion is not timely effected in an amount equal 0.5% of the product of (A) the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the holder on a timely basis pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii) and to which such holder is entitled and, in the event the Company has failed to deliver a Preferred Stock Certificate to the holder on a timely basis pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii), the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such Preferred Stock Certificate, as of the last possible date which the Company could have issued such Preferred Stock Certificate to such holder without violating Section 5(b)(ii) and (B) the Closing Bid Price (as defined below) of the Common Stock on the last possible date which the Company could have issued such Common Stock and such Preferred Stock Certificate, as the case may be, to such holder without violating Section 5(b)(ii). If the Company fails to pay the additional damages set forth in this Section 5(b)(v) within five (5) business days of the date incurred, then such payment shall bear interest at the rate of 2.0% per month (pro rated for partial months) until such payments are made. The term Closing Bid Price shall mean (a) the closing bid price per share of the Common Stock on such date on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another
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Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed, or if there is no such price on such date, then the closing bid price on such exchange or quotation system on the date nearest preceding such date, or (b) if the Common Stock is not listed then on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any registered national stock exchange, the closing bid price for a share of Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or in the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices) at the close of business on such date, or (c) if the Common Stock is not then reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), then the average of the Pink Sheet quotes for the five days preceding such date of determination, or (d) if the Common Stock is not then publicly traded the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the he holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.
(vi) Buy-In Rights. In addition to any other rights available to the holders of Preferred Stock, if the Company fails to cause its Transfer Agent to transmit to the holder a certificate or certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock on or before the Delivery Date, and if after such date the holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the holder of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock which the holder anticipated receiving upon such conversion (a Buy-In), then the Company shall (1) pay in cash to the holder the amount by which (x) the holders total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (A) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock that the Company was required to deliver to the holder in connection with the conversion at issue times (B) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (2) at the option of the holder, either reinstate the shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent number of shares of Common Stock for which such conversion was not honored or deliver to the holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its conversion and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (1) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay to the holder $1,000. The holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the holder in respect of the Buy-In, together with applicable confirmations and other evidence reasonably requested by the Company. Nothing herein shall limit a holders right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Companys failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
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(c) Mandatory Conversion.
(i) At any time following the date that is eighteen (18) months from the Issuance Date, and provided that all of the Required Conditions (as defined below) have been satisfied, the Company may, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice (a Mandatory Conversion Notice) to all holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, cause the Preferred Stock to convert into Common Stock pursuant to the applicable conversion procedures in Section 5(b).
(ii) The Required Conditions shall consist of the following:
(1) the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days prior to delivery of the Mandatory Conversion Notice equals or exceeds two hundred percent (200%) of the Conversion Price then in effect (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends or similar events);
(2) the average daily trading volume of the Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days prior to delivery of the Mandatory Conversion Notice has been at least 100,000 shares;
(3) the registration statement providing for the resale of shares of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, and any dividends accrued thereon, is effective on the date of the Mandatory Conversion and has been effective, without lapse or suspension of any kind, for a period thirty (30) consecutive calendar days, or the shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock can be converted or paid as dividends may be offered for sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(4) trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Trading Market;
(5) the Company is in material compliance with the terms and conditions of this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement); and
(6) all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants are then (a) authorized and reserved for issuance, (b) registered under the Securities Act for resale by the holders and (c) listed or traded on the Trading Market.
(iii) In the event any holder of Preferred Stock is unable to convert all of the outstanding Preferred Stock that it holds due to the limitations set forth in Section 7(a) hereof, such unconverted Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding with all of the rights and privileges set forth herein. Upon the Companys written request, a holder of Preferred Stock shall advise the Company in writing the number of shares of Common Stock that are beneficially owned by such holder, not counting shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Stock held by such holder. Beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder. If the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such holder (excluding shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock) amount to less than 4.99% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time, the Company may, at its option, compel such holder, by delivery of a Mandatory Conversion Notice,
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to convert such portion of the Preferred Stock owned by such holder into shares of Common Stock such that the total number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such holder after such conversion shall equal up to 4.99% but not more, of the shares of Common Stock outstanding after such conversion.
(iv) As used herein, a Mandatory Conversion Date shall be the date when the Mandatory Conversion Notice shall be deemed delivered pursuant to Section 5(i). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Mandatory Conversion Date shall be extended for as long as (a) a Triggering Event (as defined in Section 8(d) hereof) shall have occurred and be continuing, or (b) any event shall have occurred and be continuing which with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in a Triggering Event. The Mandatory Conversion Date and the Voluntary Conversion Date collectively are referred to in this Certificate of Designation as the Conversion Date.
(v) On the Mandatory Conversion Date, the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted automatically without any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered to the Company or its Transfer Agent; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to issue the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock unless certificates evidencing such shares of Preferred Stock are either delivered to the Company or the holder notifies the Company that such certificates have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Company to indemnify the Company from any loss incurred by it in connection therewith. Upon the occurrence of a Mandatory Conversion of the Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificates representing the Preferred Stock for which the Mandatory Conversion Date has occurred to the Company and the Company shall cause its Transfer Agent to deliver the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion (in the same manner set forth in Section 5(b)(ii)) to the holder within three (3) business days of the holders delivery of the applicable Preferred Stock Certificates.
(d) Conversion Price.
(i) The term Conversion Price shall mean $1.32, subject to adjustment under Section 5(e) hereof. Notwithstanding any adjustment hereunder, at no time shall the Conversion Price be greater than $1.32 per share except if it is adjusted pursuant to Section 5(e)(i).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, if during any period (a Black-out Period), a holder of Preferred Stock is unable to trade any Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock immediately due to the postponement of filing or delay or suspension of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or because the Company has otherwise informed such holder of Preferred Stock that an existing prospectus cannot be used at that time in the sale or transfer of such Common Stock (provided that such postponement, delay, suspension or fact that the prospectus cannot be used is not due to factors solely within the control of the holder of Preferred Stock or due to the Company exercising its rights under Section 3(n) of the Registration Rights Agreement), such holder of Preferred Stock shall have the option but not the obligation on any Conversion Date within ten (10) trading days following the expiration of the Black-out Period of using the Conversion Price applicable on
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such Conversion Date or any Conversion Price selected by such holder of Preferred Stock that would have been applicable had such Conversion Date been at any earlier time during the Black-out Period or within the ten (10) trading days thereafter.
(e) Adjustments of Conversion Price.
(i) Adjustments for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the Issuance Date, effect a stock split of the outstanding Common Stock, the Conversion Price shall be proportionately decreased. If the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the Issuance Date, combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustments under this Section 5(e)(i) shall be effective at the close of business on the date the stock split or combination becomes effective.
(ii) Adjustments for Certain Dividends and Distributions. If the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the Issuance Date, make or issue or set a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, then, and in each event, the Conversion Price shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:
(A) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date; and
(B) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.
(iii) Adjustment for Other Dividends and Distributions. If the Company shall at any time or from time to time after the Issuance Date, make or issue or set a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the Company other than shares of Common Stock, then, and in each event, an appropriate revision to the applicable Conversion Price shall be made and provision shall be made (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the holders of Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversions thereof, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereon, the number of securities of the Company which they would have received had their Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event and had thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the Conversion Date, retained such securities (together with any distributions payable thereon during such period), giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this Section 5(e)(iii) with respect to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this paragraph as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions; and provided further, however, that no such adjustment shall be made if the holders
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of Preferred Stock simultaneously receive (i) a dividend or other distribution of shares of Common Stock in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event or (ii) a dividend or other distribution of shares of Preferred Stock which are convertible, as of the date of such event, into such number of shares of Common Stock as is equal to the number of additional shares of Common Stock being issued with respect to each share of Common Stock in such dividend or distribution.
(iv) Adjustments for Reclassification, Exchange or Substitution. If the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock at any time or from time to time after the Issuance Date shall be changed to the same or different number of shares of any class or classes of stock, whether by reclassification, exchange, substitution or otherwise (other than by way of a stock split or combination of shares or stock dividends provided for in Sections 5(e)(i), (ii) and (iii), or a reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale of assets provided for in Section 5(e)(v)), then, and in each event, an appropriate revision to the Conversion Price shall be made and provisions shall be made (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the holder of each share of Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such share of Preferred Stock into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities receivable upon reclassification, exchange, substitution or other change, by holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such share of Preferred Stock might have been converted immediately prior to such reclassification, exchange, substitution or other change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(v) Adjustments for Reorganization, Merger, Consolidation or Sales of Assets. If at any time or from time to time after the Issuance Date there shall be a capital reorganization of the Company (other than by way of a stock split or combination of shares or stock dividends or distributions provided for in Section 5(e)(i), (ii) and (iii), or a reclassification, exchange or substitution of shares provided for in Section 5(e)(iv)), or a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the holders of outstanding voting securities prior to such merger or consolidation do not own over 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the merged or consolidated entity, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Companys properties or assets to any other person (an Organic Change), then as a part of such Organic Change an appropriate revision to the Conversion Price shall be made if necessary and provision shall be made if necessary (by adjustments of the Conversion Price or otherwise) so that the holder of each share of Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such share of Preferred Stock into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property of the Company or any successor corporation resulting from Organic Change. In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this Section 5(e)(v) with respect to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock after the Organic Change to the end that the provisions of this Section 5(e)(v) (including any adjustment in the Conversion Price then in effect and the number of shares of stock or other securities deliverable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock) shall be applied after that event in as nearly an equivalent manner as may be practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, in the event of an Organic Change, the Company shall have the sole option, in lieu of the rights of each holder of Preferred Stock contained in this Section 5(e)(v) upon an Organic Change, to pay to each holder of Preferred Stock an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference Amount of each share of Preferred Stock held by such holder
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at the time plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and liquidated damages owed under the Transaction Documents.
(vi) Adjustments for Issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock.
(A) Commencing on the Issuance Date and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, in the event the Company shall issue or sell any additional shares of Common Stock (otherwise than as provided in the foregoing subsections (i) through (v) of this Section 5(e) or pursuant to Common Stock Equivalents (hereafter defined) granted or issued on or prior to the Issuance Date) (the Additional Shares of Common Stock), at a price per share less than the Conversion Price, or without consideration, the Conversion Price then in effect upon each such issuance shall be adjusted to the price equal to the consideration per share paid for such Additional Shares of Common Stock.
(B) Commencing on the date that is two (2) years and one (1) day following the Issuance Date, in the event the Company shall issue or sell any additional shares of Common Stock (otherwise than as provided in the foregoing subsections (i) through (v) of this Section 5(e) or pursuant to Common Stock Equivalents (hereafter defined) granted or issued on or prior to the Issuance Date) (the Additional Shares of Common Stock), at a price per share less than the Conversion Price, or without consideration, the Conversion Price then in effect upon each such issuance shall be adjusted to that price (rounded to the nearest cent) determined by multiplying the Conversion Price by a fraction:
(1) the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of such Additional Shares of Common Stock plus (B) the number of shares of Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole share) which the aggregate consideration for the total number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued would purchase at a price per share equal to the then Conversion Price, and
(2) the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the issuance of such Additional Shares of Common Stock;
No adjustment of the number of shares of Common Stock shall be made under paragraphs (A) and (B) of Section 5(e)(vi) upon the issuance of any Additional Shares of Common Stock which are issued pursuant to the exercise of any warrants or other subscription or purchase rights or pursuant to the exercise of any conversion or exchange rights in any Common Stock Equivalents (as defined below), if any such adjustment shall previously have been made upon the issuance of such warrants or other rights or upon the issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents (or upon the issuance of any warrant or other rights therefore) pursuant to Section 5(e)(vii).
(vii) Issuance of Common Stock Equivalents. The provisions of this Section 5(e)(vii) shall apply if (a) the Company, at any time after the Issuance Date, shall issue any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, directly or indirectly, Common Stock (Convertible Securities), other than the Preferred Stock, or (b) any rights or warrants or options to purchase any such Common Stock or Convertible Securities (collectively, the Common Stock Equivalents) shall be issued or sold. If the price per share for which Additional Shares of
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Common Stock may be issuable pursuant to any such Common Stock Equivalent shall be less than the applicable Conversion Price then in effect, or if, after any such issuance of Common Stock Equivalents, the price per share for which Additional Shares of Common Stock may be issuable thereafter is amended or adjusted, and such price as so amended shall be less than the applicable Conversion Price in effect at the time of such amendment or adjustment, then the applicable Conversion Price upon each such issuance or amendment shall be adjusted as provided in subsection (vi) of this Section 5(e). No adjustment shall be made to the Conversion Price upon the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Security or Common Stock Equivalent where an adjustment to the Conversion Price was made as a result of the issuance or purchase of any Convertible Security or Common Stock Equivalent.
(viii) Shareholder Approval. Unless Shareholder Approval has been obtained and deemed effective, neither the Company nor any subsidiary shall make any issuance whatsoever of Additional Shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents which would cause any adjustment of the Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock. Any holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.
(ix) Consideration for Stock. In case any shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities other than the Preferred Stock, or any rights or warrants or options to purchase any such Common Stock or Convertible Securities, shall be issued or sold:
(A) in connection with any merger or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation (other than any consolidation or merger in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be changed to or exchanged for the stock or other securities of another corporation), the amount of consideration therefor shall be deemed to be the fair value, as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, of such portion of the assets and business of the nonsurviving corporation as such Board may determine to be attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Convertible Securities, rights or warrants or options, as the case may be; or
(B) in the event of any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or in which the previously outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be changed into or exchanged for the stock or other securities of another corporation, or in the event of any sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company for stock or other securities of any corporation, the Company shall be deemed to have issued a number of shares of its Common Stock for stock or securities or other property of the other corporation computed on the basis of the actual exchange ratio on which the transaction was predicated, and for a consideration equal to the fair market value on the date of such transaction of all such stock or securities or other property of the other corporation. If any such calculation results in adjustment of the applicable Conversion Price, or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, the determination of the applicable Conversion Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or sale, shall be made after giving effect to such adjustment of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. In the event any consideration received by the Company for any securities consists of property other than cash, the fair market value thereof at
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the time of issuance or as otherwise applicable shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company. In the event Common Stock is issued with other shares or securities or other assets of the Company for consideration which covers both, the consideration computed as provided in this Section (5)(e)(viii) shall be allocated among such securities and assets as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(x) Record Date. In case the Company shall take record of the holders of its Common Stock or any other Preferred Stock for the purpose of entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities, then the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to be such record date.
(xi) Certain Issues Excepted. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be required to make any adjustment to the Conversion Price upon (i) securities issued (other than for cash) in connection with a merger, acquisition, or consolidation, (ii) securities issued pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities issued or outstanding on or prior to the Issuance Date (so long as the conversion or exercise price in such securities are not amended to lower such price (except as the result of stock dividends, subdivisions or combinations) and/or adversely affect the holders), (iii) securities issued in connection with bona fide strategic license agreements or other partnering arrangements so long as such issuances are not for the purpose of raising capital, (iv) Common Stock issued or the issuance or grants of options to purchase Common Stock pursuant to the Issuers stock option plans and employee stock purchase plans outstanding as they exist on the Issuance Date, (v) securities issued as payment of dividends on the Preferred Stock, and (vi) any warrants issued to the placement agent and its designees for the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.
(f) No Impairment. The Company shall not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Company, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Section 5 and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the Conversion Rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock against impairment. In the event a holder shall elect to convert any shares of Preferred Stock as provided herein, the Company cannot refuse conversion based on any claim that such holder or any one associated or affiliated with such holder has been engaged in any violation of law, unless (i) an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission prohibiting such conversion or (ii) an injunction from a court, on notice, restraining and/or adjoining conversion of all or of said shares of Preferred Stock shall have been issued and the Company posts a surety bond for the benefit of such holder in an amount equal to 120% of the Stated Value of the Preferred Stock such holder has elected to convert, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to such holder in the event it obtains judgment.
(g) Certificates as to Adjustments. Upon occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price or number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5, the Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and
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furnish to each holder of such Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment and readjustment, showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Company shall, upon written request of the holder of such affected Preferred Stock, at any time, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like certificate setting forth such adjustments and readjustments, the Conversion Price in effect at the time, and the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other securities or property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of a share of such Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver a certificate unless such certificate would reflect an increase or decrease of at least one percent of such adjusted amount.
(h) Issue Taxes. The Company shall pay any and all issue and other taxes, excluding federal, state or local income taxes, that may be payable in respect of any issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversion of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes resulting from any transfer requested by any holder in connection with any such conversion.
(i) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by facsimile or e-mail or three (3) business days following being mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return-receipt requested, addressed to the holder of record at its address appearing on the books of the Company. The Company will give written notice to each holder of Preferred Stock at least twenty (20) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (I) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Stock, (II) with respect to any pro rata subscription offer to holders of Common Stock or (III) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Organic Change, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up and in no event shall such notice be provided to such holder prior to such information being made known to the public. The Company will also give written notice to each holder of Preferred Stock at least twenty (20) days prior to the date on which any Organic Change, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up will take place and in no event shall such notice be provided to such holder prior to such information being made known to the public.
(j) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Company shall round the number of shares to be issued upon conversion up to the nearest whole number of shares.
(k) Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall, so long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock equal to at least one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all of the Preferred Stock then outstanding. The initial number of shares of Common Stock reserved for conversions of the Preferred Stock and any increase in the number of shares so reserved shall be allocated pro rata among the holders of the Preferred Stock based on the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder of record at the time of issuance of the Preferred Stock or increase in the number of reserved shares, as the case may be. In the event a holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holders shares of Preferred Stock, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of reserved shares of Common
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Stock reserved for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock reserved and which remain allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any shares of Preferred Stock shall be allocated to the remaining holders of Preferred Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares of Preferred Stock then held by such holder.
(l) Retirement of Preferred Stock. Conversion of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have been effected on the Conversion Date. Upon conversion of only a portion of the number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by a certificate surrendered for conversion, the Company shall issue and deliver to such holder at the expense of the Company, a new certificate covering the number of shares of Preferred Stock representing the unconverted portion of the certificate so surrendered as required by Section 5(b)(ii).
(m) Regulatory Compliance. If any shares of Common Stock to be reserved for the purpose of conversion of Preferred Stock require registration or listing with or approval of any governmental authority, stock exchange or other regulatory body under any federal or state law or regulation or otherwise before such shares may be validly issued or delivered upon conversion, the Company shall, at its sole cost and expense, in good faith and as expeditiously as possible, endeavor to secure such registration, listing or approval, as the case may be.
6. No Preemptive Rights. Except as provided in Section 5 hereof and in the Purchase Agreement, no holder of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to rights to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any new or additional shares of any class, whether now or hereinafter authorized, or of bonds or debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any class, but all such new or additional shares of any class, or any bond, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness convertible into or exchangeable for shares, may be issued and disposed of by the Board of Directors on such terms and for such consideration (to the extent permitted by law), and to such person or persons as the Board of Directors in their absolute discretion may deem advisable.
7. Conversion Restriction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 5 of this Certificate of Designation, at no time may a holder of shares of Preferred Stock convert shares of the Preferred Stock if the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to such conversion would cause the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such holder and its affiliates at such time to exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Stock owned by such holder and its affiliates at such time, the number of shares of Common Stock which would result in such holder and its affiliates beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder) in excess of 4.99% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time; provided, however, that upon a holder of Preferred Stock providing the Company with sixty-one (61) days notice (pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof) (the Waiver Notice) that such holder would like to waive Section 7 of this Certificate of Designation with regard to any or all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock, this Section 7 shall be of no force or effect with regard to those shares of Preferred Stock referenced in the Waiver Notice.
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8. Redemption.
(a) Redemption Option Upon Major Transaction. In addition to all other rights of the holders of Preferred Stock contained herein, simultaneous with the occurrence of a Major Transaction (as defined below), each holder of Preferred Stock shall have the right, at such holders option, to require the Company to redeem all or a portion of such holders shares of Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Stated Value, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends and liquidated damages (the Major Transaction Redemption Price); provided that the Company shall have the sole option to pay the Major Transaction Redemption Price in cash or shares of Common Stock. If the Company elects to pay the Major Transaction Redemption Price in shares of Common Stock, the price per share shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect on the day preceding the date of delivery of the Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction (as hereafter defined) or (ii) the average of the VWAP of the Common Stock for the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date of delivery of the Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction. The holder of such shares of Common Stock shall have demand registration rights with respect to such shares.
(b) Redemption Option Upon Triggering Event. In addition to all other rights of the holders of Preferred Stock contained herein, after a Triggering Event (as defined below), each holder of Preferred Stock shall have the right, at such holders option, to require the Company to redeem all or a portion of such holders shares of Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock equal to one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the Stated Value, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends and liquidated damages the Triggering Event Redemption Price and, collectively with the Major Transaction Redemption Price, the Redemption Price); provided that with respect to the Triggering Events described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (vii) of Section 8(d), the Company shall have the sole option to pay the Triggering Event Redemption Price in cash or shares of Common Stock; and provided, further, that with respect to the Triggering Event described in clauses (iv), (v) and (vi) of Section 8(d), the Company shall pay the Triggering Event Redemption Price in cash. If the Company elects to pay the Triggering Event Redemption Price in shares of Common Stock in accordance with this Section 8(b), the price per share shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect on the day preceding the date of delivery of the Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event (as hereafter defined) or (ii) the average of the VWAP of the Common Stock for the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date of delivery of the Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event. The holder of such shares of Common Stock shall have demand registration rights with respect to such shares.
(c) Major Transaction. A Major Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as any of the following events:
(i) the consolidation, merger or other business combination of the Company with or into another Person (other than (A) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or (B) a consolidation, merger or other business combination in which holders of the Companys voting power immediately prior to the transaction continue after the transaction to hold, directly or indirectly, the voting power of the surviving entity or entities necessary to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a corporation) of such entity or entities).
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(ii) the sale or transfer of more than 50% of the Companys assets other than inventory in the ordinary course of business in one or a related series of transactions; or
(iii) closing of a purchase, tender or exchange offer made to the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were tendered and accepted.
(d) Triggering Event. A Triggering Event shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as any of the following events:
(i) so long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, after it becomes effective, (i) lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order) and such lapse continues for a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days, or (ii) is unavailable to the holder of the Preferred Stock for sale of the shares of Common Stock, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days, and the shares of Common Stock into which such holders Preferred Stock can be converted cannot be sold in the public securities market pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided that the cause of such lapse or unavailability is not due to factors solely within the control of such holder of Preferred Stock.
(ii) the suspension from listing, without subsequent listing on any one of, or the failure of the Common Stock to be listed on a Trading Market for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days;
(iii) the Companys notice to any holder of Preferred Stock, including by way of public announcement, at any time, of its inability to comply (including for any of the reasons described in Section 9) or its intention not to comply with proper requests for conversion of any Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock; or
(iv) the Companys failure to comply with a Conversion Notice tendered in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate of Designation within ten (10) business days after the receipt by the Company of the Conversion Notice and the Preferred Stock Certificates; or
(v) the Company deregisters its shares of Common Stock and as a result such shares of Common Stock are no longer publicly traded; or
(vi) the Company consummates a going private transaction and as a result the Common Stock is no longer registered under Sections 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or
(vii) the Company breaches any representation, warranty, covenant or other term or condition of the Purchase Agreement, this Certificate of Designation or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby, except to the extent that such breach would not have a Material Adverse Effect and except, in the case of a breach of a covenant which is
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curable, only if such breach continues for a period of a least twenty (20) business days; provided, however, a breach of a representation or warranty under the Purchase Agreement shall constitute a Triggering Event only during the two (2) year period following the Closing.
(e) Mechanics of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction. No sooner than fifteen (15) days nor later than ten (10) days prior to the consummation of a Major Transaction, but not prior to the public announcement of such Major Transaction, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (Notice of Major Transaction) to each holder of Preferred Stock. At any time after receipt of a Notice of Major Transaction (or, in the event a Notice of Major Transaction is not delivered at least ten (10) days prior to a Major Transaction, at any time within ten (10) days prior to a Major Transaction), any holder of Preferred Stock then outstanding may require the Company to redeem, effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Major Transaction, all of the holders Preferred Stock then outstanding by delivering written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction) to the Company, which Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction shall indicate (i) the number of shares of Preferred Stock that such holder is electing to redeem and (ii) the applicable Major Transaction Redemption Price, as calculated pursuant to Section 8(a) above.
(f) Mechanics of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event. Within one (1) business day after the Company obtains knowledge of the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (Notice of Triggering Event) to each holder of Preferred Stock. At any time after the earlier of a holders receipt of a Notice of Triggering Event and such holder becoming aware of a Triggering Event, any holder of Preferred Stock then outstanding may require the Company to redeem all of the Preferred Stock by delivering written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event) to the Company, which Notice of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event shall indicate (i) the number of shares of Preferred Stock that such holder is electing to redeem and (ii) the applicable Triggering Event Redemption Price, as calculated pursuant to Section 8(b) above.
(g) Payment of Redemption Price. Upon the Companys receipt of a Notice(s) of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event or a Notice(s) of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction from any holder of Preferred Stock, the Company shall immediately notify each holder of Preferred Stock by facsimile of the Companys receipt of such Notice(s) of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Triggering Event or Notice(s) of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction and each holder which has sent such a notice shall promptly submit to the Company such holders Preferred Stock Certificates which such holder has elected to have redeemed. Other than with respect to the Triggering Event described in clause (iv) of Section 8(d), the Company shall have the sole option to pay the Redemption Price in cash or shares of Common Stock in accordance with Sections 8(a) and (b) and Section 9 of this Certificate of Designation. The Company shall deliver the applicable Major Transaction Redemption Price immediately prior to the consummation of the Major Transaction; provided that a holders Preferred Stock Certificates shall have been so delivered to the Company; provided further that if the Company is unable to redeem all of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, the Company shall redeem an amount from each holder of Preferred Stock being redeemed equal to such holders pro-rata amount (based on the number of shares of Preferred
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Stock held by such holder relative to the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding) of all Preferred Stock being redeemed. If the Company shall fail to redeem all of the Preferred Stock submitted for redemption (other than pursuant to a dispute as to the arithmetic calculation of the Redemption Price), in addition to any remedy such holder of Preferred Stock may have under this Certificate of Designation and the Purchase Agreement, the applicable Redemption Price payable in respect of such unredeemed Preferred Stock shall bear interest at the rate of 1.0% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Until the Company pays such unpaid applicable Redemption Price in full to a holder of shares of Preferred Stock submitted for redemption, such holder shall have the option (the Void Optional Redemption Option) to, in lieu of redemption, require the Company to promptly return to such holder(s) all of the shares of Preferred Stock that were submitted for redemption by such holder(s) under this Section 8 and for which the applicable Redemption Price has not been paid, by sending written notice thereof to the Company via facsimile (the Void Optional Redemption Notice). Upon the Companys receipt of such Void Optional Redemption Notice(s) and prior to payment of the full applicable Redemption Price to such holder, (i) the Notice(s) of Redemption at Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction shall be null and void with respect to those shares of Preferred Stock submitted for redemption and for which the applicable Redemption Price has not been paid and (ii) the Company shall immediately return any Preferred Stock submitted to the Company by each holder for redemption under this Section 8(d) and for which the applicable Redemption Price has not been paid and (iii) the Conversion Price of such returned shares of Preferred Stock shall be adjusted to the lesser of (A) the Conversion Price and (B) the lowest Closing Bid Price during the period beginning on the date on which the Notice(s) of Redemption of Option of Buyer Upon Major Transaction is delivered to the Company and ending on the date on which the Void Optional Redemption Notice(s) is delivered to the Company; provided that no adjustment shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Conversion Price then in effect. A holders delivery of a Void Optional Redemption Notice and exercise of its rights following such notice shall not effect the Companys obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice other than interest payments. Payments provided for in this Section 8 shall have priority to payments to other stockholders in connection with a Major Transaction.
(h) Demand Registration Rights. If the Redemption Price upon the occurrence of a Major Transaction or a Triggering Event is paid in shares of Common Stock and such shares have not been previously registered on a registration statement under the Securities Act, a holder of Preferred Stock may make a written request for registration under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 8(h) of all of its shares of Common Stock issued upon such Major Transaction or Triggering Event. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be filed and declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable (but in no event later than the ninetieth (90th) day after such holders request is made) a registration statement under the Securities Act, providing for the sale of all of the shares of Common Stock issued upon such Major Transaction or Triggering Event by such holder. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to keep any such registration statement continuously effective for resale of the Common Stock for so long as such holder shall request, but in no event later than the date that the shares of Common Stock issued upon such Major Transaction or Triggering Event may be offered for resale to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k).
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9. Inability to Fully Convert.
(a) Holders Option if Company Cannot Fully Convert. If, upon the Companys receipt of a Conversion Notice or on the Mandatory Conversion Date, the Company cannot issue shares of Common Stock registered for resale under the Registration Statement for any reason, including, without limitation, because the Company (w) does not have a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized and available, (x) is otherwise prohibited by applicable law or by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange, interdealer quotation system or other self-regulatory organization with jurisdiction over the Company or its securities from issuing all of the Common Stock which is to be issued to a holder of Preferred Stock pursuant to a Conversion Notice or (y) subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement, fails to have a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock registered for resale under the Registration Statement, then the Company shall issue as many shares of Common Stock as it is able to issue in accordance with such holders Conversion Notice and pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii) above and, with respect to the unconverted Preferred Stock, the holder, solely at such holders option, can elect, within five (5) business days after receipt of notice from the Company thereof to:
(i) require the Company to redeem from such holder those Preferred Stock for which the Company is unable to issue Common Stock in accordance with such holders Conversion Notice (Mandatory Redemption) at a price per share equal to the Major Transaction Redemption Price as of such Conversion Date (the Mandatory Redemption Price); provided that the Company shall have the sole option to pay the Mandatory Redemption Price in cash or shares of Common Stock;
(ii) if the Companys inability to fully convert Preferred Stock is pursuant to Section 9(a)(y) above, require the Company to issue restricted shares of Common Stock in accordance with such holders Conversion Notice and pursuant to Section 5(b)(ii) above;
(iii) void its Conversion Notice and retain or have returned, as the case may be, the shares of Preferred Stock that were to be converted pursuant to such holders Conversion Notice (provided that a holders voiding its Conversion Notice shall not effect the Companys obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice); or
(iv) exercise its Buy-In rights pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and provisions of Section 5(b)(vi) hereof.
(b) Mechanics of Fulfilling Holders Election. The Company shall immediately send via facsimile to a holder of Preferred Stock, upon receipt of a facsimile copy of a Conversion Notice from such holder which cannot be fully satisfied as described in Section 9(a) above, a notice of the Companys inability to fully satisfy such holders Conversion Notice (the Inability to Fully Convert Notice). Such Inability to Fully Convert Notice shall indicate (i) the reason why the Company is unable to fully satisfy such holders Conversion Notice, (ii) the number of Preferred Stock which cannot be converted and (iii) the applicable Mandatory Redemption Price. Such holder shall notify the Company of its election pursuant to Section 9(a) above by delivering written notice via facsimile to the Company (Notice in Response to Inability to Convert).
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(c) Payment of Redemption Price. If such holder shall elect to have its shares redeemed pursuant to Section 9(a)(i) above, the Company shall pay the Mandatory Redemption Price to such holder within thirty (30) days of the Companys receipt of the holders Notice in Response to Inability to Convert, provided that prior to the Companys receipt of the holders Notice in Response to Inability to Convert the Company has not delivered a notice to such holder stating, to the satisfaction of the holder, that the event or condition resulting in the Mandatory Redemption has been cured and all Conversion Shares issuable to such holder can and will be delivered to the holder in accordance with the terms of Section 2(g). If the Company shall fail to pay the applicable Mandatory Redemption Price to such holder on a timely basis as described in this Section 9(c) (other than pursuant to a dispute as to the determination of the arithmetic calculation of the Redemption Price), in addition to any remedy such holder of Preferred Stock may have under this Certificate of Designation and the Purchase Agreement, such unpaid amount shall bear interest at the rate of 2.0% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Until the full Mandatory Redemption Price is paid in full to such holder, such holder may (i) void the Mandatory Redemption with respect to those shares of Preferred Stock for which the full Mandatory Redemption Price has not been paid, (ii) receive back such Preferred Stock, and (iii) require that the Conversion Price of such returned shares of Preferred Stock be adjusted to the lesser of (A) the Conversion Price and (B) the lowest Closing Bid Price during the period beginning on the Conversion Date and ending on the date the holder voided the Mandatory Redemption.
(d) Pro-rata Conversion and Redemption. In the event the Company receives a Conversion Notice from more than one holder of Preferred Stock on the same day and the Company can convert and redeem some, but not all, of the Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 9, the Company shall convert and redeem from each holder of Preferred Stock electing to have Preferred Stock converted and redeemed at such time an amount equal to such holders pro-rata amount (based on the number shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder relative to the number shares of Preferred Stock outstanding) of all shares of Preferred Stock being converted and redeemed at such time.
10. Vote to Change the Terms of or Issue Preferred Stock. The affirmative vote at a meeting duly called for such purpose or the written consent without a meeting, of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (in addition to any other corporate approvals then required to effect such action), shall be required (a) for any change to this Certificate of Designation or the Companys Certificate of Incorporation which would amend, alter, change or repeal any of the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the Preferred Stock or (b) for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock other than pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
11. Lost or Stolen Certificates. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Preferred Stock Certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the holder to the Company and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of the Preferred Stock Certificate(s), the Company shall execute and deliver new preferred stock certificate(s) of like tenor and date; provided, however, the Company shall not be obligated to re-issue Preferred Stock Certificates if the holder contemporaneously requests the Company to convert such shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock.
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12. Remedies, Characterizations, Other Obligations, Breaches and Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Certificate of Designation shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Certificate of Designation, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), no remedy contained herein shall be deemed a waiver of compliance with the provisions giving rise to such remedy and nothing herein shall limit a holders right to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Certificate of Designation. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the holder thereof and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the holders of the Preferred Stock and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.
13. Specific Shall Not Limit General; Construction. No specific provision contained in this Certificate of Designation shall limit or modify any more general provision contained herein. This Certificate of Designation shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and all initial purchasers of the Preferred Stock and shall not be construed against any person as the drafter hereof.
14. Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of a holder of Preferred Stock in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and subscribed this Certificate and does affirm the foregoing as true this 29th day of October, 2007.
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
EXHIBIT I
ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CONVERSION NOTICE
CONVERSION NOTICE
Reference is made to the Certificate of Designation of the Relative Rights and Preferences of the Preferred Stock of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (the Certificate of Designation). In accordance with and pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Preferred Shares), of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), indicated below into shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), of the Company, by tendering the stock certificate(s) representing the share(s) of Preferred Shares specified below as of the date specified below.
Date of Conversion: | ||||
Number of Preferred Shares to be converted: | ||||
Stock certificate no(s). of Preferred Shares to be converted: | ||||
The Common Stock have been sold pursuant to the Registration Statement: YES NO |
Please confirm the following information:
Conversion Price: | ||||
Number of shares of Common Stock to be issued: | ||||
Number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned or deemed beneficially owned by the Holder on the Date of Conversion:
Please issue the Common Stock into which the Preferred Shares are being converted and, if applicable, any check drawn on an account of the Company in the following name and to the following address:
Issue to: | ||||||||
Facsimile Number: | ||||||||
Authorization: | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Title: | ||||||||
Dated: