Principal Amount: $1,540,000.00 Purchase Price: $1,400,000.00 Issue Date: September 14, 2009 SECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Note Agreements
EX-10.4 5 exhibit4.htm EX-10.4 EX-10.4

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.

     
Principal Amount: $1,540,000.00
Purchase Price: $1,400,000.00
  Issue Date: September 14, 2009

SECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, CONVERTED ORGANICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to IROQUOIS MASTER FUND LTD., 641 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Fax: (212)  ###-###-#### (the “Holder”) or order, without demand, the sum of One Million Five Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars ($1,540,000) (“Principal Amount”), with interest accruing thereon, on March   , 2010 (the “Maturity Date”), if not sooner paid.

This Note has been entered into pursuant to the terms of a subscription agreement between the Borrower and the Holder dated at or about the date hereof (the “Subscription Agreement”), and shall be governed by the terms of such Subscription Agreement. Unless otherwise separately defined herein, all capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the same meaning as is set forth in the Subscription Agreement. The following terms shall apply to this Note:

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1 Payment Grace Period. The Borrower shall have a five (5) day grace period to pay any monetary amounts due under this Note, after which grace period a default interest rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum shall apply during the pendency of the default.

1.2 Conversion Privileges. The Conversion Privileges set forth in Article II shall remain in full force and effect immediately from the date hereof and until the Note is paid in full regardless of the occurrence of an Event of Default. The Note shall be payable in full on the Maturity Date, unless previously converted into Common Stock in accordance with Article II hereof.

1.3 Mandatory Repayment. Upon any sale and issuance by the Borrower and/or a Subsidiary of Borrower of Debt and/or Equity in a single or series of offerings of such debt and/or equity, at the election of Lender, the Principal and all other sums due under and in connection with this Note and the Transaction Documents shall be immediately due and payable up to an amount equal to 100% of the net proceeds.

ARTICLE II

CONVERSION RIGHTS

The Holder shall have the right to convert the principal due under this Note into Shares of the Borrower’s Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) as set forth below.

2.1. Conversion into the Borrower’s Common Stock.

(a) The Holder shall have the right from and after the date of the issuance of this Note and then at any time until this Note is fully paid, to convert any outstanding and unpaid principal portion of this Note at the election of the Holder (the date of giving of such notice of conversion being a “Conversion Date”) into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as such stock exists on the date of issuance of this Note, or any shares of capital stock of Borrower into which such Common Stock shall hereafter be changed or reclassified, at the conversion price as defined in Section 2.1(b) hereof (the “Fixed Conversion Price”), determined as provided herein. Upon delivery to the Borrower of a completed Notice of Conversion, a form of which is annexed hereto as Exhibit A, Borrower shall issue and deliver to the Holder within three (3) business days after the Conversion Date (such third day being the “Delivery Date”) that number of shares of Common Stock for the portion of the Note converted in accordance with the foregoing. At the election of the Holder, the Borrower will deliver accrued but unpaid interest on the Note, if any, through the Conversion Date directly to the Holder on or before the Delivery Date. The number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon each conversion of this Note shall be determined by dividing that portion of the principal of the Note and interest, if any, to be converted, by the Conversion Price.

(b) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.1(c) hereof, the fixed conversion price per share shall be equal to $1.54 (“Fixed Conversion Price”).

(c) The Fixed Conversion Price and number and kind of shares or other securities to be issued upon conversion determined pursuant to Section 2.1(a), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time upon the happening of certain events while this conversion right remains outstanding, as follows:

A. Merger, Sale of Assets, etc. If (A) the Borrower effects any merger or consolidation of the Borrower with or into another entity, (B) the Borrower effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (C) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Borrower or another entity) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, (D) the Borrower consummates a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more persons or entities whereby such other persons or entities acquire more than the 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by such other persons or entities making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other persons or entities making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination), (E) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate Common Stock of the Borrower, or (F) the Borrower effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (in any such case, a “Fundamental Transaction”), this Note, as to the unpaid principal portion thereof and accrued interest thereon, shall thereafter be deemed to evidence the right to convert into such number and kind of shares or other securities and property as would have been issuable or distributable on account of such Fundamental Transaction, upon or with respect to the securities subject to the conversion right immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction. The foregoing provision shall similarly apply to successive Fundamental Transactions of a similar nature by any such successor or purchaser. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the anti-dilution provisions of this Section shall apply to such securities of such successor or purchaser after any such Fundamental Transaction.

B. Reclassification, etc. If the Borrower at any time shall, by reclassification or otherwise, change the Common Stock into the same or a different number of securities of any class or classes that may be issued or outstanding, this Note, as to the unpaid principal portion thereof, shall thereafter be deemed to evidence the right to purchase an adjusted number of such securities and kind of securities as would have been issuable as the result of such change with respect to the Common Stock immediately prior to such reclassification or other change.

C. Stock Splits, Combinations and Dividends. If the shares of Common Stock are subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares of Common Stock, or if a dividend is paid on the Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price shall be proportionately reduced in case of subdivision of shares or stock dividend or proportionately increased in the case of combination of shares, in each such case by the ratio which the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event bears to the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(d) Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 2.1(c) above, the Borrower shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

(e) During the period the conversion right exists, Borrower will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock not less than an amount of Common Stock equal to 150% of the amount of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full conversion of this Note. Borrower represents that upon issuance, such shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Borrower agrees that its issuance of this Note shall constitute full authority to its officers, agents, and transfer agents who are charged with the duty of executing and issuing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Note.

2.2 Method of Conversion. This Note may be converted by the Holder in whole or in part as described in Section 2.1(a) hereof and the Subscription Agreement. Upon partial conversion of this Note, a new Note containing the same date and provisions of this Note shall, at the request of the Holder, be issued by the Borrower to the Holder for the principal balance of this Note and interest which shall not have been converted or paid.

2.3. Maximum Conversion. The Holder shall not be entitled to convert on a Conversion Date that amount of the Note in connection with that number of shares of Common Stock which would be in excess of the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates on a Conversion Date, (ii) any Common Stock issuable in connection with the unconverted portion of the Note, and (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Note with respect to which the determination of this provision is being made on a Conversion Date, which would result in beneficial ownership by the Holder and its affiliates of more than 4.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Borrower on such Conversion Date. For the purposes of the provision to the immediately preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Regulation 13d-3 thereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the Holder shall not be limited to aggregate conversions of 4.99%. The Holder shall have the authority and obligation to determine whether the restriction contained in this Section 2.3 will limit any conversion hereunder and to the extent that the Holder determines that the limitation contained in this Section applies, the determination of which portion of the Notes are convertible shall be the responsibility and obligation of the Holder. The Holder may waive the conversion limitation described in this Section 2.3, in whole or in part, upon and effective after 61 days prior written notice to the Borrower to increase such percentage to up to 9.99%. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Holder agrees that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon any and all exercises of this Note are subject to the Numeric Limitation (as defined in the Subscription Agreement).

ARTICLE III

EVENT OF DEFAULT

The occurrence of any of the following events of default (“Event of Default”) shall, at the option of the Holder hereof, make all sums of principal and interest then remaining unpaid hereon and all other amounts payable hereunder immediately due and payable, upon demand, without presentment, or grace period, all of which hereby are expressly waived, except as set forth below:

3.1 Failure to Pay Principal. The Borrower fails to pay any principal, or other sum due under this Note when due.

3.2 Breach of Covenant. The Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower breaches any material covenant or other material term or condition of the Subscription Agreement or this Note in any material respect and such breach, if subject to cure, continues for a period of five (5) business days after written notice to the Borrower or any such Subsidiary of Borrower from the Holder.

3.3 Breach of Representations and Warranties. Any material representation or warranty of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower made herein, in any Transaction Document, or in any agreement, statement or certificate given in writing pursuant hereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be false or misleading in any material respect as of the date made and as of the Closing Date.

3.4 Liquidation. Any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of Borrower or any operating Subsidiary of Borrower or any substantial portion of its business.

3.5 Cessation of Operations. Any cessation of operations by Borrower or any operating Subsidiary of Borrower for a period of 30 consecutive days.

3.6 Maintenance of Assets. The failure by Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower to maintain any material intellectual property rights, personal, real property or other assets which are necessary to conduct its business (whether now or in the future).

3.7 Receiver or Trustee. The Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver or trustee for it or for a substantial part of its property or business; or such a receiver or trustee shall otherwise be appointed.

3.8 Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings or relief under any bankruptcy law or any law for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower or any such proceeding shall be instituted against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower, which proceedings are not, within sixty (60) days after institution thereof, discharged or stayed pending appeal.

3.9 Delisting. Failure of the Borrower’s Common Stock to be listed for trading or quotation on a Principal Market for ten (10) or more consecutive days.

3.10 Stop Trade. An SEC or judicial stop trade order or Principal Market trading suspension with respect to the Borrower’s Common Stock that lasts for seven (7) or more consecutive trading days.

3.11 Failure to Deliver Common Stock or Replacement Note. Borrower’s failures to timely deliver Common Stock to the Holder pursuant to and in the form required by this Note and Sections 7 and 11 of the Subscription Agreement, or, if required, a replacement Note.

3.12 Reservation Default. The failure by the Borrower to have reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrant at the exercise price in effect at such time the number of shares of Common Stock as required in the Subscription Agreement.

3.13 Event Described in Subscription Agreement. The occurrence of an Event of Default as described in the Subscription Agreement that, if susceptible to cure, is not cured during any designated cure period.

3.14 Material Adverse Effect. The occurrence of any Material Adverse Effect as defined in the Subscription Agreement as to Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower.

3.15 Financial Statement Restatement. A restatement of any financial statements filed by the Borrower with the Securities and Exchange Commission for any date or period from two years prior to the Issue Date of this Note and until this Note is no longer outstanding, if the result of such restatement would, by comparison to the unrestated financial statements, have constituted a Material Adverse Effect.

3.16 Reverse Splits. The Borrower effectuates a reverse split of its Common Stock without twenty (20) days prior written notice to the Holder.

3.17 Material Breach of Security Agreement. Any default by Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower of any of its material obligations pursuant to the Security Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

SECURITY INTEREST

4. Security Interest/Waiver of Automatic Stay. This Note is secured by a security interest granted to the Holder pursuant to a Security Agreement and Guaranty, as delivered by Borrower to Holder. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that should a proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law be commenced by or against the Borrower, or if any of the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) should become the subject of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, then the Holder should be entitled to, among other relief to which the Holder may be entitled under the Transaction Documents and any other agreement to which the Borrower and Holder are parties (collectively, “Loan Documents”) and/or applicable law, an order from the court granting immediate relief from the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 362 to permit the Holder to exercise all of its rights and remedies pursuant to the Loan Documents and/or applicable law. THE BORROWER EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE BENEFIT OF THE AUTOMATIC STAY IMPOSED BY 11 U.S.C. SECTION 362. FURTHERMORE, THE BORROWER EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT NEITHER 11 U.S.C. SECTION 362 NOR ANY OTHER SECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE OR OTHER STATUTE OR RULE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 11 U.S.C. SECTION 105) SHALL STAY, INTERDICT, CONDITION, REDUCE OR INHIBIT IN ANY WAY THE ABILITY OF THE HOLDER TO ENFORCE ANY OF ITS RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS AND/OR APPLICABLE LAW. The Borrower hereby consents to any motion for relief from stay that may be filed by the Holder in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding initiated by or against the Borrower and, further, agrees not to file any opposition to any motion for relief from stay filed by the Holder. The Borrower represents, acknowledges and agrees that this provision is a specific and material aspect of the Loan Documents, and that the Holder would not agree to the terms of the Loan Documents if this waiver were not a part of this Note. The Borrower further represents, acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made, that neither the Holder nor any person acting on behalf of the Holder has made any representations to induce this waiver, that the Borrower has been represented (or has had the opportunity to he represented) in the signing of this Note and the Loan Documents and in the making of this waiver by independent legal counsel selected by the Borrower and that the Borrower has discussed this waiver with counsel.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder hereof 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. All rights and remedies existing hereunder are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

5.2 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or facsimile, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the first business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be:

(i) if to Borrower, to:

Converted Organics, Inc.

7A Commercial Wharf West

Boston, MA 02110

Attn: Edward J. Gildea, CEO and President

Fax: (617)  ###-###-####

With a copy by facsimile only to:

Cozen O’Connor

1900 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Attn: Cavas Pavri, Esq.

Fax: (215)  ###-###-####

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.

666 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Kenneth R. Koch, Esq.

Fax: (212)  ###-###-####

(ii) if to the Holder, to:

the address and fax number indicated on the front page of this Note

With an additional copy by fax only to:

Grushko & Mittman, P.C.

551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1601

New York, New York 10176

Fax: (212)  ###-###-####

5.3 Amendment Provision. The term “Note” and all reference thereto, as used throughout this instrument, shall mean this instrument as originally executed, or if later amended or supplemented, then as so amended or supplemented.

5.4 Assignability. This Note shall be binding upon the Borrower and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder and its successors and assigns. The Borrower may not assign its obligations under this Note.

5.5 Cost of Collection. If default is made in the payment of this Note, Borrower shall pay the Holder hereof reasonable costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

5.6 Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. Any action brought by either party against the other concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement must be brought only in the civil or state courts of New York or in the federal courts located in the State and county of New York. Both parties and the individual signing this Agreement on behalf of the Borrower agree to submit to the jurisdiction of such courts. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Note is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or unenforceability of any other provision of this Note. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Borrower in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Borrower’s obligations to Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other decision in favor of the Holder. This Note shall be deemed an unconditional obligation of Borrower for the payment of money and, without limitation to any other remedies of Holder, may be enforced against Borrower by summary proceeding pursuant to New York Civil Procedure Law and Rules Section 3213 or any similar rule or statute in the jurisdiction where enforcement is sought. For purposes of such rule or statute, any other document or agreement to which Holder and Borrower are parties or which Borrower delivered to Holder, which may be convenient or necessary to determine Holder’s rights hereunder or Borrower’s obligations to Holder are deemed a part of this Note, whether or not such other document or agreement was delivered together herewith or was executed apart from this Note.

5.7 Maximum Payments. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, any payments in excess of such maximum rate shall be credited against amounts owed by the Borrower to the Holder and thus refunded to the Borrower.

5.8 Non-Business Days. Whenever any payment or any action to be made shall be due on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday under the laws of the State of New York, such payment may be due or action shall be required on the next succeeding business day and, for such payment, such next succeeding day shall be included in the calculation of the amount of accrued interest payable on such date.

5.9 Redemption. This Note may not be redeemed or called without the consent of the Holder except as described in this Note or the Subscription Agreement.

5.10 Shareholder Status. The Holder shall not have rights as a shareholder of the Borrower with respect to unconverted portions of this Note. However, the Holder will have the rights of a shareholder of the Borrower with respect to the Shares of Common Stock to be received after delivery by the Holder of a Conversion Notice to the Borrower.

1

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be signed in its name by an authorized officer as of the 14 day of September, 2009.

CONVERTED ORGANICS, INC.

By:      
Name:
Title:

WITNESS:

      

2

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

(To be executed by the Registered Holder in order to convert the Note)

The undersigned hereby elects to convert $      of the principal and $      of the interest due on the Note issued by CONVERTED ORGANICS, INC. on September 14, 2009 into Shares of Common Stock of CONVERTED ORGANICS, INC. (the “Borrower”) according to the conditions set forth in such Note, as of the date written below.

Date of Conversion:      

Conversion Price:      

Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned on the Conversion Date: Less than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of CONVERTED ORGANICS, INC.

Shares To Be Delivered:      

Signature:      

Print Name:      

Address:      

      

3