Exhibit 10.1 PURCHASEAGREEMENT
EX-10.1 4 ex101.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex101.htm
Exhibit 10.1
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made as of the 19th day of March, 2008, by and among Arkanova Energy Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and John Thomas Bridge & Opportunity Fund (“Investor”).
Recitals
A. The Company and the Investor are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by the provisions of Regulation D (“Regulation D”), as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
B. The Investor wishes to purchase from the Company, and the Company wishes to sell and issue to the Investor, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) a one-year debenture in the principal amount of $500,000, bearing interest at the rate of 10% per annum, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Debenture”), and (ii) a warrant to purchase 250,000 shares of Company common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Common Stock”), at an exercise price of $0.65 per share (subject to adjustment) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Warrant”).
In consideration of the mutual promises made herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. In addition to those terms defined above and elsewhere in this Agreement, for the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“10-KSB” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries 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 Section 3.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.
“Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of the executive officers (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) of the Company, after due inquiry.
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“Confidential Information” means trade secrets, confidential information and know-how (including but not limited to ideas, formulae, compositions, processes, procedures and techniques, research and development information, computer program code, performance specifications, support documentation, drawings, specifications, designs, business and marketing plans, and customer and supplier lists and related information).
“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.
“Debenture” has the meaning set forth in recitals.
“Debenture Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable to Investor upon a default of the Debenture, should Investor elect to convert all or a part of such Debenture upon such default.
“Environmental Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16.
“Evaluation Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.26.
“GAAP” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18.
“Infringe” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(d).
“Intellectual Property” means all of the following: (i) patents, patent applications, patent disclosures and inventions (whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice); (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, corporate names, logos, slogans and Internet domain names, together with all goodwill associated with each of the foregoing; (iii) copyrights and copyrightable works; (iv) registrations, applications and renewals for any of the foregoing; and (v) proprietary computer software (including but not limited to data, data bases and documentation).
“License Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(b).
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the assets, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), business, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
“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.
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“Purchase Price” means $500,000.
“SEC Filings” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
“Securities” means the Debenture, the Warrant and the Underlying Shares.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means another Person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first Person.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Warrant, and the Debenture.
“Underlying Shares” means the Warrant Shares and the Debenture Shares.
“Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant.
“1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2. Purchase and Issuance of the Debenture and Warrant. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date the Investor shall purchase, and the Company shall sell and issue to the Investor, the Debenture and Warrant in the amount set forth opposite the Investor’s name on the signature page attached hereto in exchange for the Purchase Price.
3. Closing. Within one Business Day of the date of executing this Agreement, the Company shall cause the delivery of the certificates representing the Debenture and the Warrant, registered in the names and amounts of the Investor as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto to the Investor and the Investor shall wire to the Company in same day funds an amount representing such Investor’s Purchase Price, as set forth on the signature page hereto (“Closing” or “Closing Date”). The Closing shall occur upon confirmation that the conditions to Closing in Section 6 hereof have been satisfied. The Closing of the purchase and sale of the Debenture and Warrant shall take place at the offices of Brewer & Pritchard, P.C., 3 Riverway, Suite 1800, Houston, Texas 77056.
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4. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investor that, except as set forth in the schedules delivered herewith (collectively, the “Disclosure Schedules”):
4. 1 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to own its properties. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property makes such qualification or leasing necessary unless the failure to so qualify has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s Subsidiaries are listed in the SEC Filings.
4.2 Authorization. The Company has full power and authority and has taken all requisite action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for (i) the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, (ii) the authorization of the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, and (iii) the authorization, issuance (or reservation for issuance) and delivery of the Securities. The Transaction Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability, relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally.
4.3 Capitalization. Schedule 4.3 sets forth (a) the authorized capital stock of the Company on the date hereof; (b) the number of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding; (c) the number of shares of capital stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s stock plans; and (d) the number of shares of capital stock issuable and reserved for issuance pursuant to securities (excluding the Underlying Shares) exercisable for, or convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of pre-emptive rights and were issued in full compliance with applicable state and federal securities law and any rights of third parties. Except as described on Schedule 4.3, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of pre-emptive rights, were issued in full compliance with applicable state and federal securities law and any rights of third parties and are owned by the Company, beneficially and of record, subject to no lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim. Except as described on Schedule 4.3, no Person is entitled to pre-emptive or similar statutory or contractual rights with respect to any securities of the Company. Except as described on Schedule 4.3, there are no outstanding warrants, options, convertible securities or other rights, agreements or arrangements of any character under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be obligated to issue any equity securities of any kind and except as contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently in negotiations for the issuance of any equity securities of any kind. Except as described on Schedule 4.3, there are no voting agreements, buy-sell agreements, option or right of first purchase agreements or other agreements of any kind among the Company and any of the securityholders of the Company relating to the securities of the Company held by them. Except as described on Schedule 4.3, no Person has the right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company under the 1933 Act, whether on a demand basis or in connection with the registration of securities of the Company for its own account or for the account of any other Person.
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Except as described on Schedule 4.3, the issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any other Person (other than the Investor) and will not result in the adjustment of the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of any outstanding security.
Except as described on Schedule 4.3, the Company does not have outstanding stockholder purchase rights or “poison pill” or any similar arrangement in effect giving any Person the right to purchase any equity interest in the Company upon the occurrence of certain events.
4.4 Valid Issuance. The Debenture and the Debenture Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and paid for pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and shall be free and clear of all encumbrances and restrictions (other than those created by the Investor), except for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws. The Warrant and Warrant Shares have been duly and validly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable free and clear of all encumbrances and restrictions, except for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws. The Company has reserved a sufficient number of shares of Underlying Shares for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrant and conversion of the Debenture in the case of default, free and clear of all encumbrances and restrictions, except for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws.
4.5 Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents and the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities require no consent of, action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Person, governmental body, agency, or official other than filings that have been made pursuant to applicable state securities laws and post-sale filings pursuant to applicable state and federal securities laws which the Company undertakes to file within the applicable time periods. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investor set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Company has taken all action necessary to exempt (i) the issuance and sale of the Securities, (ii) the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon due exercise of the Warrants, (iii) the issuance of the Debenture Shares in the case of a default of the Debenture, and (iv) the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents from the provisions of any stockholder rights plan or other “poison pill” arrangement, any anti-takeover, business combination or control share law or statute binding on the Company or to which the Company or any of its assets and properties may be subject and any provision of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws that is or could reasonably be expected to become applicable to the Investor as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation, the issuance of the Securities and the ownership, disposition or voting of the Securities by the Investor or the exercise of any right granted to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
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4.6 Delivery of SEC Filings; Business. The Company has made available to the Investor through the EDGAR system, true and complete copies of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 (the “10-KSB”), and all other reports filed by the Company pursuant to the 1934 Act since the filing of the 10-KSB and prior to the date hereof (collectively, the “SEC Filings”). The SEC Filings are the only filings required of the Company pursuant to the 1934 Act for such period. The Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged in all material respects only in the business described in the SEC Filings and the SEC Filings contain a complete and accurate description in all material respects of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
4.7 Use of Proceeds. The net proceeds of the sale of the Debenture and the Warrant hereunder shall be used by the Company for working capital.
4.8 No Material Adverse Change. Since September 30, 2007, except as identified and described in the SEC Filings or as described on Schedule 4.18, there has not been:
(i) any change in the consolidated assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of the Company from that reflected in the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, except for changes in the ordinary course of business which have not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate;
(ii) any declaration or payment of any dividend, or any authorization or payment of any distribution, on any of the capital stock of the Company, or any redemption or repurchase of any securities of the Company;
(iii) any material damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance to any assets or properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(iv) any waiver, not in the ordinary course of business, by the Company or any Subsidiary of a material right or of a material debt owed to it;
(v) any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by the Company or a Subsidiary, except in the ordinary course of business and which is not material to the assets, properties, financial condition, operating results or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (as such business is presently conducted and as it is proposed to be conducted);
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(vi) any change or amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, or material change to any material contract or arrangement by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or to which any of their respective assets or properties is subject;
(vii) any material labor difficulties or labor union organizing activities with respect to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(viii) any material transaction entered into by the Company or a Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) the loss of the services of any key employee, or material change in the composition or duties of the senior management of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(x) the loss or threatened loss of any customer which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(xi) any other event or condition of any character that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9 SEC Filings.
(a) Since March 1, 2007, at the time of filing thereof, the SEC Filings complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. All SEC comments on any filing made pursuant to the 1933 Act or 1934 Act have been resolved to the satisfaction of the SEC.
(b) Each registration statement and any amendment thereto filed by the Company since January 1, 2006 pursuant to the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as of the date such statement or amendment became effective, complied as to form in all material respects with the 1933 Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein not misleading; and each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, as of its issue date and as of the closing of any sale of securities pursuant thereto did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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4.10 No Conflict, Breach, Violation or Default. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the issuance and sale of the Securities will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under (i) the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or the Company’s Bylaws, both as in effect on the date hereof (true and complete copies of which have been made available to the Investor through the EDGAR system), or (ii)(a) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective assets or properties, or (b) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or to which any of their respective assets or properties is subject.
4.11 Tax Matters. The Company and each Subsidiary has timely prepared and filed all tax returns required to have been filed by the Company or such Subsidiary with all appropriate governmental agencies and timely paid all taxes shown thereon or otherwise owed by it. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate in all material respects, and there are no material unpaid assessments against the Company or any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any basis for the assessment of any additional taxes, penalties or interest for any fiscal period or audits by any federal, state or local taxing authority except for any assessment which is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. All taxes and other assessments and levies that the Company or any Subsidiary is required to withhold or to collect for payment have been duly withheld and collected and paid to the proper governmental entity or third party when due. There are no tax liens or claims pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective assets or property. There are no outstanding tax sharing agreements or other such arrangements between the Company and any Subsidiary or other corporation or entity.
4.12 Title to Properties. Except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, the Company and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by it, in each case free from liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or currently planned to be made thereof by them; and except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, the Company and each Subsidiary holds any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made or currently planned to be made thereof by them.
4.13 Certificates, Authorities and Permits. The Company and each Subsidiary possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by it, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or such Subsidiary, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate.
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4.14 Labor Matters.
(a) The Company is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreements or other agreements with labor organizations. The Company has not violated in any material respect any laws, regulations, orders or contract terms, affecting the collective bargaining rights of employees, labor organizations or any laws, regulations or orders affecting employment discrimination, equal opportunity employment, or employees’ health, safety, welfare, wages and hours.
(b) (i) There are no labor disputes existing, or to the Company's Knowledge, threatened, involving strikes, slow-downs, work stoppages, job actions, disputes, lockouts or any other disruptions of or by the Company's employees, (ii) there are no unfair labor practices or petitions for election pending or, to the Company's Knowledge, threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any other federal, state or local labor commission relating to the Company's employees, (iii) no demand for recognition or certification heretofore made by any labor organization or group of employees is pending with respect to the Company and (iv) to the Company's Knowledge, the Company enjoys good labor and employee relations with its employees and labor organizations.
(c) The Company is, and at all times has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws respecting employment (including laws relating to classification of employees and independent contractors) and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours, and immigration and naturalization. There are no claims pending against the Company before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other administrative body or in any court asserting any violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 or 1983 or any other federal, state or local Law, statute or ordinance barring discrimination in employment.
(d) Except as disclosed in the SEC Filings or as described on Schedule 4.14, the Company is not a party to, or bound by, any employment or other contract or agreement that contains any severance, termination pay or change of control liability or obligation, including, without limitation, any “excess parachute payment,” as defined in Section 2806(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(e) Each of the Company's employees is a Person who is either a United States citizen or a permanent resident entitled to work in the United States. To the Company's Knowledge, the Company has no liability for the improper classification by the Company of such employees as independent contractors or leased employees prior to the Closing.
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4.15 Intellectual Property.
(a) All Intellectual Property of the Company and its Subsidiaries is currently in compliance with all legal requirements (including timely filings, proofs and payments of fees) and is valid and enforceable. No Intellectual Property of the Company or its Subsidiaries which is necessary for the conduct of Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted has been or is now involved in any cancellation, dispute or litigation, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no such action is threatened. No patent of the Company or its Subsidiaries has been or is now involved in any interference, reissue, re-examination or opposition proceeding.
(b) All of the licenses and sublicenses and consent, royalty or other agreements concerning Intellectual Property which are necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their assets are bound (other than generally commercially available, non-custom, off-the-shelf software application programs having a retail acquisition price of less than $10,000 per license) (collectively, “License Agreements”) are valid and binding obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries that are parties thereto and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and there exists no event or condition which will result in a material violation or breach of or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such License Agreement.
(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries own or have the valid right to use all of the Intellectual Property that is necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted and for the ownership, maintenance and operation of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties and assets, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, adverse claims or obligations to license all such owned Intellectual Property and Confidential Information, other than licenses entered into in the ordinary course of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses. The Company and its Subsidiaries have a valid and enforceable right to use all third party Intellectual Property and Confidential Information used or held for use in the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) The conduct of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses as currently conducted does not infringe or otherwise impair or conflict with (collectively, “Infringe”) any Intellectual Property rights of any third party or any confidentiality obligation owed to a third party, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Intellectual Property and Confidential Information of the Company and its Subsidiaries which are necessary for the conduct of Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted are not being Infringed by any third party. There is no litigation or order pending or outstanding or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened or imminent, that seeks to limit or challenge or that concerns the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of any Intellectual Property or Confidential Information of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ use of any Intellectual Property or Confidential Information owned by a third party, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no valid basis for the same.
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(e) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents will not result in the alteration, loss, impairment of or restriction on the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ownership or right to use any of the Intellectual Property or Confidential Information which is necessary for the conduct of Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted.
(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps to protect the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ rights in their Intellectual Property and Confidential Information. Each employee, consultant and contractor who has had access to Confidential Information which is necessary for the conduct of Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted has executed an agreement to maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information and has executed appropriate agreements that are substantially consistent with the Company’s standard forms thereof. Except under confidentiality obligations, there has been no material disclosure of any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Confidential Information to any third party.
4.16 Environmental Matters. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is 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”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate; and there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened investigation that might lead to such a claim.
4.17 Litigation. There are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of its or their properties; and to the Company’s Knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated.
4.18 Financial Statements. The financial statements included in each SEC Filing filed on or after March 1, 2007 present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the dates shown and its consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (“GAAP”) (except as may be disclosed therein or in the notes thereto, and, in the case of quarterly financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-QSB under the 1934 Act). Except as set forth in the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Filings filed prior to the date hereof or as described on Schedule 4.18, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, except those incurred in the ordinary course of business, consistent (as to amount and nature) with past practices since the date of such financial statements, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.19 Insurance Coverage. The Company and each Subsidiary maintains in full force and effect insurance coverage that is customary for comparably situated companies for the business being conducted and properties owned or leased by the Company and each Subsidiary, and the Company reasonably believes such insurance coverage to be adequate against all liabilities, claims and risks against which it is customary for comparably situated companies to insure.
4.20 Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company, any Subsidiary or an Investor for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company, other than a $40,000 fee to be paid to John Thomas Financial, Inc.
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4.21 No Directed Selling Efforts or General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor 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.
4.22 No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any Company security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would adversely affect reliance by the Company on Section 4(2) for the exemption from registration for the transactions contemplated hereby or would require registration of the Securities under the 1933 Act.
4.23 Private Placement. The offer and sale of the Securities to the Investor as contemplated hereby is exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.
4.24 Questionable Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor their respective directors, officers or employees nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of their respective current or former stockholders, agents or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with their respective businesses: (a) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (b) made any direct or indirect unlawful payments to any governmental officials or employees from corporate funds; (c) established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded fund of corporate monies or other assets; (d) made any false or fictitious entries on the books and records of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (e) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of any nature.
4.25 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, 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 any Subsidiary (other than as holders of stock options and/or warrants, and for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner.
4.26 Internal Controls. The Company is in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 currently applicable to the Company. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in 1934 Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including the Subsidiaries, is made known to the certifying officers by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which the Company’s most recently filed period report under the 1934 Act, as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company's certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the 1934 Act (such date, the "Evaluation Date"). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the 1934 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 significant changes in the Company's internal controls (as such term is defined in Item 308 of Regulation S-B) or, to the Company's Knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect the Company's internal controls. The Company maintains and will continue to maintain a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP and the applicable requirements of the 1934 Act.
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4.27 Solvency. Based on the financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date and giving effect to the net proceeds from the Closing, (i) the Company's fair saleable value of its assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company's existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature; (ii) the Company's assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business for the 2008 fiscal year as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof; and (iii) the proceeds the Company receives, giving effect to the Closing, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its debt when such amounts are required to be paid. As of Closing, the Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt).
4.28 Disclosures. Neither the Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has provided the Investor or its agent or counsel with any information that constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information. The written materials delivered to the Investor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Investor. The Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:
5.1 Organization and Existence. Investor is a validly existing corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company and has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and authority to invest in the Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
5.2 Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by Investor of the Transaction Documents to which Investor is a party have been duly authorized and will each constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against Investor in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability, relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally.
5.3 Purchase Entirely for Own Account. The Securities to be received by Investor hereunder will be acquired for Investor’s own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the 1933 Act, and such Investor has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the 1933 Act without prejudice, however, to such Investor’s right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Securities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed a representation or warranty by such Investor to hold the Securities for any period of time. Investor is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the 1934 Act or an entity engaged in a business that would require it to be so registered.
5.4 Investment Experience. Investor acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk and complete loss of its investment in the Securities and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment contemplated hereby.
5.5 Disclosure of Information. Investor has had an opportunity to receive all information related to the Company requested by it and to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company regarding the Company, its business and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities. Investor acknowledges receipt of copies of the SEC Filings. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigation conducted by such Investor shall modify, amend or affect Investor’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.
5.6 Restricted Securities. Such Investor understands that the Securities are characterized as “restricted securities” under the U.S. federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the 1933 Act only in certain limited circumstances.
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5.7 Legends. It is understood that, except as provided below, certificates evidencing the Securities may bear the following or any similar legend:
(a) “The securities represented hereby may not be transferred unless (i) such securities have been registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (ii) such securities may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) the Company has received an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to it that such transfer may lawfully be made without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or qualification under applicable state securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account secured by the securities.”
(b) If required by the authorities of any state in connection with the issuance of sale of the Securities, the legend required by such state authority.
5.8 Accredited Investor. Investor is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D, as amended, under the 1933 Act.
5.9 No General Advertisement. Investor did not learn of the investment in the Securities as a result of any public advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television, radio or internet or presented at any seminar or other general advertisement.
5.10 Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company, any Subsidiary or an Investor for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of such Investor, except as set forth in Section 4.20.
5.11 Patriot Act. Neither Investor nor any of its Affiliates has been designated, and is not owned or controlled, by a “suspected terrorist” as defined in Executive Order 13224. None of the cash used to fund such Investor’s portion of the Purchase Price has been, and none of the cash used to fund any cash exercise of such Investor’s Warrants will be, or derived from, any activity that could cause the Company to be in violation of the United States Bank Secrecy Act, the United States International Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 or the United States International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001.
6. Conditions to Closing.
6.1 Conditions to the Investor’s Obligations. The obligation of Investor to purchase the Debenture and the Warrant at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to Investor’s satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by Investor:
(a) The representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4 hereof qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct at all times prior to and on the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and, the representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4 hereof not qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct in all material respects at all times prior to and on the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
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(b) The Company shall have obtained any and all consents, permits, approvals, registrations and waivers (excluding stockholder approval of the Proposal) necessary or appropriate for consummation of the purchase and sale of the Securities and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, all of which shall be in full force and effect.
(c) No judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of or by any court, or judge, justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court or judge, or any order of or by any governmental authority, shall have been issued, and no action or proceeding shall have been instituted by any governmental authority, enjoining or preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or in the other Transaction Documents.
(d) The Company shall have delivered a Certificate, executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer or its Chief Financial Officer, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 6.1.
(e) The Company shall have delivered a Certificate, executed on behalf of the Company by its Secretary, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and the issuance of the Securities, certifying the current versions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and certifying as to the signatures and authority of persons signing the Transaction Documents and related documents on behalf of the Company.
(f) The Investor shall have received an opinion from Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP, the Company's counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Investor and addressing such legal matters as the Investor may reasonably request.
(g) No stop order or suspension of trading shall have been imposed by the SEC or any other governmental or regulatory body with respect to public trading in the Common Stock.
(h) The Company shall have delivered the Securities to the Investor.
6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The Company's obligation to sell and issue the Debenture and the Warrant 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) The representations and warranties made by the Investor in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 hereof (the “Investment Representations”), shall be true and correct in all material respects when made, and shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date. The Investment Representations shall be true and correct in all respects when made, and shall be true and correct in all respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date. The Investor shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed prior to the Closing Date.
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(b) The Investor shall have delivered the Purchase Price to the Company.
6.3 Termination by Either Company or Investor. Either the Company or Investor shall have the right to terminate this Agreement if the Closing hasn’t occurred prior to April 1, 2008.
7. Covenants and Agreements of the Company.
7.1 Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of providing for the exercise of the Warrant and the conversion of the Debenture, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time equal the number of Underlying Shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement in accordance with their respective terms.
7.2 Reports. The Company will furnish to the Investor and/or assignee such information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries as from time to time may reasonably be requested by the Investor and/or assignee; provided, however, that the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Investor, or to advisors to or representatives of the Investor, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Investor, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and Investor enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.
7.3 No Conflicting Agreements. The Company will not take any action, enter into any agreement or make any commitment that would conflict or interfere in any material respect with the Company’s obligations to the Investor under the Transaction Documents.
7.4 Insurance. The Company shall maintain in full force and effect insurance coverage that is customary for comparably situated companies for the business being conducted and properties owned or leased by the Company and each Subsidiary, in amounts the Company reasonably believes to be adequate against all liabilities, claims and risks against which it is customary for comparably situated companies to insure.
7.5 Compliance with Laws. The Company will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of all governmental authorities.
7.6 Listing of Common Stock. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on the OTC Electronic Bulletin Board and, in accordance, therewith, will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of such market.
7.7 Removal of Legends. Upon the earlier of (i) registration for resale of the Underlying Shares or (ii) Rule 144 becoming available, the Company shall (A) deliver to the transfer agent for the Common Stock (the “Transfer Agent”) irrevocable instructions that the Transfer Agent shall reissue a certificate representing shares of Common Stock without legends upon receipt by such Transfer Agent of the legended certificates for such shares, together with either (1) a customary representation by the Investor that Rule 144(k) applies to the shares of Common Stock represented thereby or (2) a statement by the Investor that such Investor has sold the shares of Common Stock represented thereby in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the registration statement and, if applicable, in accordance with any prospectus delivery requirements, and (B) cause its counsel to deliver to the Transfer Agent one or more blanket opinions to the effect that the removal of such legends in such circumstances may be effected under the 1933 Act. From and after the earlier of such dates, upon an Investor’s written request, the Company shall promptly cause certificates evidencing the Investor’s Securities to be replaced with certificates which do not bear such restrictive legends, and Underlying Shares subsequently issued upon due exercise of the Warrant or conversion of the Debenture shall not bear such restrictive legends provided the provisions of either clause (i) or clause (ii) above, as applicable, are satisfied with respect to such Underlying Shares. When the Company is required to cause unlegended certificates to replace previously issued legended certificates, if unlegended certificates are not delivered to Investor within three (3) Business Days of submission by Investor of legended certificate(s) to the Transfer Agent as provided above (or to the Company, in the case of the Warrant or Debenture), the Company shall be liable to the Investor for liquidated damages in an amount equal to 3% of the aggregate purchase price of the Securities evidenced by such certificate(s) for each thirty (30) day period (or portion thereof) beyond such three (3) Business Day that the unlegended certificates have not been so delivered.
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7.8 Prohibited Transactions. From the date hereof until the date the Debenture is repaid in full, the Company shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any subsequent financing involving a “Variable Rate Transaction”. The term “Variable Rate Transaction” shall mean a transaction in which the Company issues or sells (i) any debt or equity securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive additional shares of Common Stock either (A) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity securities, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock or (ii) enters into any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit, whereby the Company may sell securities at a future determined price.
7.9 Other Negative Covenants. Unless such transaction is approved in writing by the Investor, the Company hereby further covenants and agrees that it will not:
(i) Sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets;
(ii) Dissolve, liquidate, or wind up its business;
(iii) Conduct its business other than in its ordinary and usual course;
(iv) Issue any debt obligations in excess of $1,000,000, unless all of the obligations of the Debenture are retired with such proceeds;
(v) Pay any dividend or make any other distributions of cash or property to any of the holders of its capital stock;
(vi) Merge or consolidate with another entity; or
(vii) Enter into any transaction with an affiliate other than in the ordinary course.
8. Survival and Indemnification.
8.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
8.2 Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorney fees and disbursements and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim or proceeding, pending or threatened and the costs of enforcement thereof) (collectively, “Losses”) to which such Person may become subject as a result of any breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by or to be performed on the part of the Company under the Transaction Documents, and will reimburse any such Person for all such amounts as they are incurred by such Person.
8.3 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 8.2, such Indemnified Person shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, and shall assume 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 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; or (ii) in the reasonable judgment of counsel to such Indemnified Person representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by reason of such settlement or judgment. Without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Company shall not effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such proceeding.
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9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto without the prior written consent of the Company or the Investor, as applicable, provided, however, that an Investor may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder in whole or in part to an Affiliate or to a third party acquiring some or all of its Securities in a private transaction without the prior written consent of the Company, after notice duly given by Investor to the Company provided, that no such assignment or obligation shall affect the obligations of Investor hereunder. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. 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.
9.2 Counterparts; Faxes. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile, which shall be deemed an original.
9.3 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
9.4 Notices. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given as hereinafter described (i) if given by personal delivery, then such notice shall be deemed given upon such delivery, (ii) if given by telex or telecopier, then such notice shall be deemed given upon receipt of confirmation of complete transmittal, (iii) if given by mail, then such notice shall be deemed given upon the earlier of (A) receipt of such notice by the recipient or (B) three days after such notice is deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, and (iv) if given by an internationally recognized overnight air courier, then such notice shall be deemed given one Business Day after delivery to such carrier. All notices shall be addressed to the party to be notified at the address as follows, or at such other address as such party may designate by ten days’ advance written notice to the other party:
If to the Company:
Arkanova Energy Corp.
2635 Crescent Ridge Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
Attention: Pierre Mulacek
Facsimile: ###-###-####
With a copy to:
Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP
61 Broadway
New York, NY 10006
Attention: Thomas A. Rose, Esq.
Facsimile: ###-###-####
If to the Investor, to the address set forth on the signature page.
9.5 Expenses. The parties hereto shall pay their own costs and expenses in connection herewith, except that the Company shall pay $5,000 of the fees and expenses of Brewer & Pritchard; it being understood that Brewer & Pritchard has only rendered legal advice to the Investor and not to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that the Company has relied for such matters on the advice of its own respective counsel. Such expenses shall be paid not later than the Closing. The Company shall reimburse the Investor upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Investor, including without limitation reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and disbursements, in connection with any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents. In the event that legal proceedings are commenced by any party to this Agreement against another party to this Agreement in connection with this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the party or parties which do not prevail in such proceedings shall severally, but not jointly, pay their pro rata share of the reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in such proceedings.
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9.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of any Securities purchased under this Agreement at the time outstanding, each future holder of all such Securities, and the Company.
9.7 Publicity. Except as set forth below, no public release or announcement concerning the transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by the Company or the Investor without the prior consent of the Company (in the case of a release or announcement by the Investor) or the Investor (in the case of a release or announcement by the Company) (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld), except as such release or announcement may be required by law or the applicable rules or regulations of any securities exchange or securities market, in which case the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, shall allow the Investor or the Company, as applicable, to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances, reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance. By 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the trading day immediately following the Closing Date, the Company shall issue a press release, reviewed and approved by the Investor, disclosing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No later than the third trading day following the Closing Date, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, reviewed and approved by the Investor, attaching the press release described in the foregoing sentence as well as copies of the Transaction Documents. In addition, the Company will make such other filings and notices in the manner and time required by the SEC.
9.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
9.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and the Disclosure Schedules, and the other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereof with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
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9.10 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.
9.11 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Texas without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Texas located in Harris County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
The Company: | ARKANOVA ENERGY CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ PIERRE MULACEK | |
Name: Pierre Mulacek | |||
Title: CEO | |||
The Investor: | JOHN THOMAS BRIDGE & OPPORTUNITY FUND | ||
Date | By: | /s/ GEORGE R. JARKESY, JR | |
Name: George R. Jarkesy, Jr. | |||
Title: Managing Member of the General Partner | |||
Aggregate Purchase Price: $500,000
Principal Amount of Debenture: $500,000
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