AMENDED AND RESTATED VOTING AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Operations - Voting Agreements
EX-10.3 4 dex103.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED VOTING AGREEMENT Amended and Restated Voting Agreement

Exhibit 10.3

AMENDED AND RESTATED VOTING AGREEMENT

AMENDED AND RESTATED VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of May 16, 2011 (this “Agreement”), by and among Marshall Edwards, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Novogen Limited, as majority stockholder of the Company (the “Stockholder”).

WHEREAS, the Company and certain investors (each, an “Investor”, and collectively, the “Investors”) have entered into an Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2011 (the “Amended Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company has agreed to issue and sell to the Investors and the Investors have agreed to purchase, (i) shares (the “Common Shares”) of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.00000002 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) two (2) series of warrants which will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock.

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder owns 5,240,829 shares of Common Stock, which represent in the aggregate approximately 65.1 % of the total issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company; and

WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of the Investors to enter into the Amended Purchase Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby (collectively, the “Transaction”), the Investors have required that the Stockholder agrees, and in order to induce the Investors to enter into the Amended Purchase Agreement, the Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement with respect to all the Common Stock now owned and which may hereafter be acquired by the Stockholders and any other securities, if any, which such Stockholder is currently entitled to vote, or after the date hereof, becomes entitled to vote, including but not limited to the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock”), at any meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Other Securities”).

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

ARTICLE I

VOTING AGREEMENT OF THE STOCKHOLDER

SECTION 1.01. Voting Agreement. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 1.01, the Stockholder hereby agrees that at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, and in any action by written consent of the Company’s stockholders, the Stockholder shall vote the Common Stock and the Other Securities: (a) in favor of the Stockholder Approval (as defined in the Amended Purchase Agreement) as described in Section 4(p) of the Amended Purchase Agreement; and (b) against any proposal or any other corporate action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Amended Purchase Agreement or which could result in any of the conditions to the Company’s obligations under the Amended Purchase Agreement not being fulfilled. The Stockholder acknowledges receipt and review of a copy of the Amended Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (as


defined in the Amended Purchase Agreement). The obligations of the Stockholder under this Section 1.01 shall terminate immediately following the occurrence of the Stockholder Approval.

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDER

The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to each of the Investors as follows:

SECTION 2.01. Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Stockholder has all necessary legal capacity, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ and other obligees’ rights, (b) where the remedy of specific performance or other forms of equitable relief may be subject to certain equitable defenses and principles and to the discretion of the court before which the proceeding may be brought, and (c) where rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited by applicable law and public policy.

SECTION 2.02. No Conflict. (a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder shall not, (i) conflict with or violate any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Stockholder or by which the Common Stock or the Other Securities owned by the Stockholder are bound or affected or (ii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or encumbrance on any of the Common Stock or the Other Securities owned by the Stockholder pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder or the Common Stock or Other Securities owned by the Stockholder are bound.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder shall not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any governmental entity by the Stockholder.

SECTION 2.03. Title to the Stock. As of the date hereof, the Stockholder is the owner of the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite its name on Appendix A attached hereto, entitled to vote, without restriction, on all matters brought before holders of capital stock of the Company, which Common Stock represent on the date hereof the percentage of the outstanding stock and voting power of the Company set forth on such Appendix. Such Common Stock, together with 1,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, are all the securities of the Company owned, either of record or beneficially, by the Stockholder. Such Common Stock are owned free and clear of all security interests, liens,

 

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claims, pledges, options, rights of first refusal, agreements, limitations on the Stockholder’s voting rights, charges and other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever. The Stockholder has not appointed or granted any proxy, which appointment or grant is still effective, with respect to the Common Stock or Other Securities owned by the Stockholder.

SECTION 2.04. No Voting Rights. Holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote any shares of such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS

SECTION 3.01. No Disposition or Encumbrance of Stock. The Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that, until the Stockholder Approval has been obtained, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not offer or agree to sell, transfer, tender, assign, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, grant a proxy or power of attorney with respect to, or create or permit to exist any security interest, lien, claim, pledge, option, right of first refusal, agreement, limitation on such Stockholder’s voting rights, charge or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever (“Encumbrance”) with respect to the Common Stock or Other Securities, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit or encourage any person to take actions which could reasonably be expected to lead to the occurrence of any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the Stockholder may assign, sell or transfer any Common Stock or Other Securities provided that any such recipient of the Common Stock or Other Securities has delivered to the Company and each Investor a written agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Investors that the recipient shall be bound by, and the Common Stock and/or Other Securities so transferred, assigned or sold shall remain subject to this Agreement.

SECTION 3.02. Company Cooperation. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that it will not, and the Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally acknowledges and agrees that the Company will not (and waives any rights against the Company in relation thereto), recognize any Encumbrance or agreement on any of the Common Stock or Other Securities subject to this Agreement unless the provisions of Section 3.01 have been complied with. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that at any time in which any Stockholder Approval is required pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the Amended Purchase Agreement, it will cause holders of Common Stock or Other Securities representing the percentage of outstanding capital stock required to vote in favor of the Transaction in order for the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 3.1(a) of the Amended Purchase Agreement to become party to and bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Common Stock and Other Securities held by such holders to be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 4.01. Further Assurances. The Stockholder will execute and deliver such further documents and instruments and take all further action as may be reasonably necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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SECTION 4.02. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that any Investor (without being joined by any other Investor) shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity. Any Investor shall be entitled to its reasonable attorneys’ fees in any action brought to enforce this Agreement in which it is the prevailing party.

SECTION 4.03. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Company and the Stockholder with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Company and the Stockholder with respect to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 4.04. Amendment. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended or waived, nor may this Agreement be terminated by the Company other than pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.07.

SECTION 4.05. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

SECTION 4.06. Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The parties hereby agree that all actions or proceedings arising directly or indirectly from or in connection with this Agreement shall be litigated only in the Supreme Court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York located in New York County, New York. The parties consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the foregoing courts and consent that any process or notice of motion or other application to any of said courts or a judge thereof may be served inside or outside the State of New York or the Southern District of New York by registered mail, return receipt requested, directed to the party being served at its address set forth on the signature ages to this Agreement (and service so made shall be deemed complete three (3) days after the same has been posted as aforesaid) or by personal service or in such other manner as may be permissible under the rules of said courts. Each of the Company and the Stockholder irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action, or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that suit, action, or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each Stockholder hereby appoints Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, with offices at 101 Park

 

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Avenue, New York, NY 10178, as its agent for service of process in the United States. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

SECTION 4.07. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate immediately following the occurrence of the Stockholder Approval.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Stockholder and the Company have duly executed this Agreement.

 

  THE COMPANY:
  MARSHALL EDWARDS, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Daniel P. Gold

      Name:   Daniel P. Gold
      Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Dated: May 16, 2011      
  Address:  

Marshall Edwards Inc.

11975 El Camino Real

Suite 101

San Diego, CA 92130


  STOCKHOLDER:
  NOVOGEN LIMITED
  By:  

/s/ William D. Rueckert

      Name:   William D. Rueckert
      Title:   Chairman
Dated: May 16, 2011      
  Address:  

140 Wicks Road

North Ryde, New South Wales

Australia


APPENDIX A

 

Stockholder

   Common Stock
Owned
     Percentage of Stock
Outstanding
    Voting Percentage
of Stock
Outstanding
 

Novogen Limited

     5,240,829         65.1     65.1