NANOSPHERE, INC. 40,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Underwriting Agreements
EX-1.1 2 d810068dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

NANOSPHERE, INC.

40,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

October 22, 2014

Chardan Capital Markets LLC

As Representative of the several Underwriters

c/o Chardan Capital Markets LLC

17 State Street, Suite 1600

New York, NY 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Nanosphere, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters” or each, an “Underwriter”), on a several and not joint basis, an aggregate of 40,000,000 authorized but unissued shares (the “Underwritten Shares”) of Common Stock, par value per $0.01 share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company. The Company has granted the Underwriters the option to purchase an aggregate of up to 6,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares) as may be necessary to cover any over-allotments made in connection with the offering. The Underwritten Shares, the Additional Shares, and the Representative’s Shares (as hereinafter defined) are collectively referred to as the “Shares”. Chardan Capital Markets LLC (“Chardan”) is acting as representative of the several Underwriters and in such capacity is hereinafter referred to as the “Representative” in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

The Company and the Representative hereby confirm their agreement as follows:

1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (File No. 333-183916) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Commission thereunder, such amendments to such registration statement (including post effective amendments) as may have been required to the date of this Agreement and a preliminary prospectus supplement or “red herring” pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. Such registration statement, as amended (including any post effective amendments), has been declared effective by the Commission. Such registration statement, as amended (including post effective amendments thereto), the exhibits and any schedules thereto, the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by Rule 430B under the Securities Act or otherwise pursuant to the Rules and Regulations, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed or files an abbreviated registration statement

 

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pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”). Then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall include such 462 Registration Statement.

The Company is filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act a final prospectus supplement relating to the Shares to a form of prospectus included in the Registration Statement. Such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the “Base Prospectus,” and such final prospectus supplement as filed, together with the Base Prospectus, is hereinafter called the “Final Prospectus.” Each of such Final Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus supplement or “red herring,” in the form in which they shall be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented), is hereinafter called a “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus shall be deemed to include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Prospectus.

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, a Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “described,” “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the subsequent filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that is deemed to be incorporated therein by reference therein or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part thereof.

2. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Offering.

(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5(c) below), except as otherwise indicated, as follows:

(i) At each time of effectiveness, at the date hereof and at the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Time of Sale Disclosure Package (as defined in Section 2(a)(iv)(A)(1)

 

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below) as of the date hereof and at the Closing Date, and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the time of filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and at the Closing Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package, or any Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 8(f). The Registration Statement (including each document incorporated by reference therein) contains all exhibits and schedules required to be filed by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

(ii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and any Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and, to the extent then applicable, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including, in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder, were filed on a timely basis with the Commission and none of such documents, when they were filed (or, if amendments to such documents were filed, when such amendments were filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company certifications required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that are contained in the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and any Prospectus complied with such laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(iii) The Company has not distributed any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Marketing Materials, as defined in Section 8(a) [and other materials permitted by the Securities Act to be distributed by the Company].

(iv) The Company has provided a copy to the Representative of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) used in the sale of the Shares. The Company has filed any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses (as defined below) required to

 

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be so filed with the Commission, and no order suspending the effectiveness of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use therein or in the preparation thereof. As used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Agreement:

(1) “Time of Sale Disclosure Package” means the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus most recently filed with the Commission before the time of this Agreement, including any preliminary prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and any description of the final terms of the transaction and related information provided by the Underwriters and set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “Transaction Description”).

(2) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Shares that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) or (d)(8) under the Securities Act, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.

(B) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or an “excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Securities Act.

(C) Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus satisfied, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the Prospectus Delivery Period, all other conditions as may be applicable to its use as set forth in Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act, including any legend, record-keeping or other requirements.

(v) The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements or schedules are required under the Securities Act to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final

 

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Prospectus. To the Company’s knowledge, Deloitte & Touche LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules filed as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus is an independent public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(vi) All statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(vii) The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is included or approved for inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market. On October 23, 2014, the listing of the Common Stock will be transferred to the Nasdaq Capital Market. Except, in each case, as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action pending by the Company or the Nasdaq Capital Market to delist the Common Stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market nor has the Company receive any notification that the Nasdaq Capital Market is contemplating terminating such listing. When issued, the Shares will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market

(viii) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(ix) The Company is not and during the past three years neither the Company nor any predecessor was: (A) a blank check company as defined in Rule 419(a)(2) under the Securities Act, (B) a shell company, other than a business combination shell company, each as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, or (C) an issuer for an offering of penny stock as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act.

(x) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(xi) The Company was at the time of filing the Registration Statement, and at the date hereof, remains eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The conditions for use of Form S-3 set forth in the General Instructions thereto have been satisfied.

(b) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to the Representative’s counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Representative as to the matters covered thereby.

 

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3. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Company.

(a) The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with, the Underwriters, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as follows:

(i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have or is reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect upon the business, prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company or in its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement (“Material Adverse Effect”).

(ii) The Company has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and to authorize, issue and sell the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.

(iii) Intentionally Omitted.

(iv) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (A) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any law, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, (B) result in any violation or 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 right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, lease, credit facility, debt, note, bond, mortgage, indenture or other instrument (the “Contracts”) or obligation or other understanding to which the Company is a party of by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, or (C) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, except in the case of (A) and (B) above for such breach, violation or default as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(v) The Company is not (A) in violation, breach or default under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other equivalent organizational or governing documents or (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any of Contract, except with respect to subsection (B), as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(vi) All consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings required on the part of the Company in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement have been obtained or made, other than such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings the failure of which to make or obtain is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. Except for (A) the Common Stock Purchase Agreement entered into on March 18, 2014 with respect to the proposed issuance and sale of up to $30,000,000 of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, to Aspire Capital Fund, LLC, (the “Common Stock Purchase Agreement”) which Common Stock Purchase Agreement was terminated as of October 21, 2014 and (B) the issuances of warrants, options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business, since the respective dates as of which information is provided in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, the Company has not entered into or granted any convertible or exchangeable securities, options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company. The Underwritten Shares and the Representative’s Shares, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(vii) Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) there are no outstanding rights (contractual or otherwise), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, or agreements or understandings with respect to the sale or issuance of, any shares of capital stock of or other equity interest in the Company and (B) there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act or otherwise register any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”.

(viii) The Company does not have any subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other ownership interest in any partnership, corporation, business trust, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity.

 

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(ix) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), and such controls and procedures are designed to ensure that (A) all material information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and (B) all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(x) The Company has implemented and maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including, without limitation, that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (D) 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 is currently in compliance with Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the internal controls of the Company.

(xi) The Company has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company, other than any which the Company is contesting in good faith. The Company has no knowledge of any proposed liability for any tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of the Company for which there is not an adequate reserve reflected in the Company’s financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters, there is no pending dispute with any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company. The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed in respect to taxes.

 

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(xii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, (A) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (B) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; (C) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company (other upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the issuance of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units under the Company’s existing stock awards plan or the issuance of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units under the Company’s existing stock awards plan, or any new grants thereof in the ordinary course of business), (D) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt, and (E) there has not been the occurrence of any event or series of events that has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xiii) There is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company is the subject before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator or mediator, which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xiv) The Company (A) is and at all times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the Company and to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company (“Applicable Laws”), except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (B) has not received any FDA Form 483, notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other federal, state or foreign governmental authority having authority over the Company (“Governmental Authority”) alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”); (C) possesses all material Authorizations and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Authority or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (E) has not received notice that any Governmental Authority has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Authority is considering such action; and (F) has filed, obtained,

 

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maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission).

(xv) The Company holds, and is in compliance in all material respects with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates and orders (“Permits”) of any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory agency, authority or body required for the conduct of its business, and all such Permits are in full force and effect, in each case except where the failure to hold, or comply with, any of them is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permit or has reason to believe that any such Permit will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where the failure to renew such Permit would not reasonable be expected individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xvi) The Company has good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as being owned by them that are material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects, except those that are not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, the property held under lease by the Company is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company.

(xvii) The Company owns, possesses, can acquire on reasonable terms, or has valid, binding enforceable and sufficient licenses or other rights to the patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, technology, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary rights) and other intellectual property necessary to conduct its business in the manner in which it is being conducted and in the manner in which it is contemplated as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Company Intellectual Property”); to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, the Company Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable and the U.S. patents are entitled to a statutory presumption of validity, and none of the patents owned or licensed by the Company are unenforceable or invalid; the Company, and to the Company’s knowledge its patent counsel, have complied with the duty of candor and good faith in dealing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and any similar duties in dealing with similar foreign intellectual property office (collectively, the “Patent Offices”); there are no material defects in the preparation and filing of any of the Company’s owned or licensed patents and patent applications; there are no liens recorded with the USPTO as of the date of this Agreement, which have been filed against any of the patents or patent applications owned by Company, or exclusively licensed to

 

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Company; to the knowledge of the Company, maintenance fees (or their equivalents) are current for the Company Intellectual Property and have been paid and will be paid to avoid abandonment of the Company Intellectual Property; the Company has not infringed (or would infringe) or otherwise violated (or would violate) any intellectual property rights of any third person by conducting its business in the manner in which it is contemplated as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the Company has not breached any contract in connection with which any Company Intellectual Property is provided to the Company; the Company is not obligated to pay a royalty, grant a license, or provide other consideration to any third party in connection with the Company Intellectual Property other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or commercially available off-the-shelf software purchased in the ordinary course of business; no person has asserted or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to assert any claim against, or notified, the Company that (A) the Company has infringed or otherwise violated any intellectual property rights of any third person, (B) the Company is in breach or default of any contract under which any Company Intellectual Property is provided, (C) such person will terminate a contract described in clause (B) or adversely alter the scope of the rights provided thereunder or (D) otherwise adversely affects the ownership, enforceability, validity, scope, registerability, interference, use or the right to use, any Company Intellectual Property (other than a patent office review of pending applications in the ordinary course); to the knowledge of the Company no third party is infringing or otherwise violating any of the Company Intellectual Property.

(xviii) All preclinical and clinical studies conducted by or on behalf of the Company that are material to the Company are or have been adequately described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in all material respects. The clinical and preclinical studies conducted by or on behalf of the Company that are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus were and, if still ongoing, are being conducted in material compliance with all laws and regulations applicable thereto in the jurisdictions in which they are being conducted and with all laws and regulations applicable to preclinical and clinical studies from which data will be submitted to support marketing approval. The descriptions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of the results of such studies are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such studies, and the Company has no knowledge of, or reason to believe that, any large well-controlled clinical study the aggregate results of which are inconsistent with or otherwise call into question the results of any clinical study conducted by or on behalf of the Company that are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus exist. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notices or statements from the FDA (U.S. or foreign), the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) or any other Governmental Authority imposing, requiring, requesting or suggesting a clinical hold, termination, suspension, revocation or material modification

 

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for or of any clinical or preclinical studies that are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(xix) The Company has complied with, is not in violation of, and have not received any notice of violation relating to any law, rule or regulation relating to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its property and assets, including, without limitation, (A) the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, or any money laundering laws, rules or regulations, (B) any laws, rules or regulations related to health, safety or the environment, including those relating to the regulation of hazardous substances, (C) the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (D) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (E) the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules and regulations thereunder, in each case except where the failure to be in compliance is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xx) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, representative, agent or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(xxi) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company has (A) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (B) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee; (C) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (D) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(xxii) The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

(xxiii) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent, in each case that is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiv) No supplier, customer, distributor or sales agent of the Company has notified the Company that it intends to discontinue or decrease the rate of business done with the Company, except where such decrease is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxv) Other than the Underwriters, no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, there are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the nature of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee with respect to the introduction of the Company to the Representative or the sale of the Shares hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuances with respect to the Company that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA. None of the net proceeds of the offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or any affiliate or associate of any participating FINRA member, except as specifically authorized herein

(xxvi) Except as disclosed to the Representative in writing, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, investing fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who provided capital to the Company, (ii) any FINRA member, or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member within the 12-month period prior to the date of this agreement.

(xxvii) To the Company’s knowledge, no (i) officer or director of the Company, (ii) owner of 5% or more of the Company’s securities other than William Blair & Company LLC or (iii) owner of any amount of the Company’s unregistered securities acquired within the 180-day period prior to the date hereof has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member. The Company will advise the Representative and its counsel if it becomes aware that any officer, director or stockholder of the Company is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the offering.

(xxviii) With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company (the “Company Stock Plans”) that are currently outstanding and not exercised, (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with generally

 

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accepted accounting principles in the United States in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its results of operations or prospects.

(xxix) New customer placements for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014 were 30. Total new customer placements during 2014 through September 30, 2014 were 115. Total new customer placements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 were 161.

4. Sale of Underwritten Shares. Upon the authorization by the Representative of the release of the Underwritten Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Underwritten Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

5. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree to purchase the Underwritten Shares. The purchase price for each Underwritten Share shall be $0.47 per share (the “Per Share Price”). The Per Share Price represents a 6% discount from the public offering price.

(b) The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the option to purchase all or any portion of the Additional Shares and, upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all or any portion of the Additional Shares at the Per Share Price , in each case, as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. This option may be exercised by the Representative at any time (but not more than once) on or before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company (the “Option Notice”). The Option Notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the “Option Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date (as defined below) nor earlier than the first business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised unless the Company and the Representative otherwise agree. Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of the Additional Shares shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Underwritten Shares as set forth in subparagraph (c) below.

(c) The Underwritten Shares will be delivered by the Company to the Underwriters against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Chardan Capital Markets LLC, 17 State

 

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Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10004, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on the third (or if the Underwritten Shares are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the fourth) full business day following the date hereof, or at such other time and date as the Representative and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, or, in the case of the Additional Shares, at such date and time set forth in the Option Notice. The time and date of delivery of the Underwritten Shares or the Additional Shares, as applicable, is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” Delivery of the Underwritten Shares or the Additional Shares, as applicable, shall be made on the applicable Closing Date through the electronic DWAC facilities of Depository Trust Company and such Underwritten Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names, and shall be in such denominations, as instructed by the Representative.

(d) The Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative as partial compensation for its services hereunder shares of Common Stock in an amount equal to one percent (1.0%) of the total number of Underwritten Shares and Additional Shares sold in the Offering (the “Representative’s Shares”). The Company shall issue to the Representative, 400,000 Representative’s Shares on the Closing Date. The Company shall issue to the Representative on each Option Closing Date, Representative’s Shares equal to one percent (1.0%) of the total number of Additional Shares sold on such Option Closing Date. Delivery of the Representative’s Shares shall be made on the applicable Closing Date through the electronic DWAC facilities of Depository Trust Company and such Representative’s Shares shall be registered in such name or names, and shall be in such denominations, as instructed by the Representative.

6. Covenants.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters as follows:

(i) During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as determined by the Representative the Final Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, including the any Rule 462 Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review and comment a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

(ii) From the date of this Agreement until the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing (A) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (B) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (C) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, and (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order

 

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suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) of the Securities Act).

(iii) (A) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act, as now and hereafter amended, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs the result of which the Final Prospectus (or if the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Representative or its counsel to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus (or if the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any document that would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representative, allow the Representative a chance to provide reasonable comments on such amendment, prospectus supplement or document, and amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus (or if the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

(B) If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development the result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or promptly will notify the Representative and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

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(iv) The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified, to execute a general consent to service of process in any state or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject.

(v) The Company will furnish or make available to the Representative and counsel for the Representative copies of the Registration Statement, each Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request.

(vi) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

(vii) The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all actual and out of pocket expenses incurred by the Representative in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including but not limited to reasonable and documented travel expenses and the reasonable legal fees of Representative’s counsel up to a maximum of $150,000 for all such expenses less the Advance (as hereinafter defined) previously paid, (B) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Shares, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (C) all reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of Representative counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Underwriters or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions that the Representative shall designate, (D) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (E) all filing fees incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares, (F) listing fees, (F) all costs and expenses associated with the Company’s roadshow, (G) all accounting fees and expenses associated with this offering, and (H) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein The Company and the Representative acknowledge that the Company has previously paid to the Representatives an advance in an amount of $25,000 (the

 

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Advance”) against the Representative’s actual out-of pocket expenses. The Advance received by the Representative will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C).

(viii) The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares to be sold by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Final Prospectus.

(ix) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or that has constituted, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(x) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, and the Representative represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectus. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied or will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record-keeping.

(xi) The Company hereby grants the Representative a right of participation for a period of twelve (12) months from the Closing Date to act as lead or co-lead managing underwriter and joint bookrunner on any future public offering of the Company’s securities on which the Company elects to engage or as lead or co-lead placement agent on any future issuance or private placement of the Company’s securities in which the Company elects to engage an underwriter or placement agent, with a minimum, in each case, of 25% of the economics in any such offering or issuance.

(xii) The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date hereof (“Lock-Up Period”), (A) offer, pledge, issue, sell, contract to sell, purchase, contract to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; or (B) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (C) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The restrictions contained in the preceding sentence shall not apply to (1) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (2) the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise

 

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of options or warrants disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) or the Final Prospectus or (3) the issuance of employee stock options not exercisable during the Lock-Up Period and the grant of restricted stock awards, restricted stock units or other equity-based awards pursuant to equity incentive plans described in or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto) and the Final Prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this clause shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless the Representative waives such extension in writing.

7. Conditions of the Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder to purchase the Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and in all material respects at the Closing Date (as if made at the Closing Date), of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the following additional conditions:

(a) If the filing of the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Final Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of any Rule 462 Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereto, or the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; any request of the Commission or the Underwriters for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Representative’s reasonable satisfaction.

(b) The Shares shall have been qualified for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

(c) The Representative shall not have reasonably determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Representative’s reasonable opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Representative’s reasonable opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

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(d) On the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representative the opinion of Seyfarth Shaw LLP, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, substantially to the effect set forth in Schedule II.

(e) Intentionally Omitted.

(f) The Representative shall have received a letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP, on the date hereof and on the Closing Date addressed to the Underwriters, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and confirming, as of the date of each such letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, as of a date not more than five days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters reasonably required by the Representative.

(g) On the Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company, in their capacity as officers of the Company, to the effect that:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of the Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) No stop order or other order (A) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof, (B) suspending the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale, or (C) suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body; and

(iii) There has been no occurrence of any event resulting or reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect during the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date.

(h) On or before the date hereof, the Representative shall have received duly executed “lock-up” agreements, in substantially the form set forth in Schedule III from those persons set forth in Schedule IV.

(i) Intentionally Omitted.

 

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(j) On or before the date hereof, the Company shall have terminated the Common Stock Purchase Agreement and shall have delivered evidence of such termination to the Representative.

(k) On the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative a certificate of good standing from the State of Delaware for the Company.

(l) On the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative, the Representative’s Shares.

(m) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative and its counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as the Representative or its counsel may have reasonably requested.

If any condition specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Date and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that Section 6(a)(vii), Section 8 and Section 9 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Underwriters, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any Underwriter or any such person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, or any amendment thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement), or arise out of or are based upon the omissions or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus), or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the offering of the Common Stock (the “Marketing Materials”), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or in any other materials used in connection with the offering of the Shares, (iii) in whole or in part, any

 

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inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, or (iv) in whole or in part, any material failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law, and will reimburse the Underwriters for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 8(f).

(b) The Underwriters will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of any such Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 8(f), and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the

 

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defense thereof; provided, however, that if (i) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (ii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), or (iii) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent it in any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 8, in which event the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the indemnified party as incurred, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (plus local counsel).

The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is a party or could be named and indemnity was or would be sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability for claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (b) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering and sale of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the

 

23


parties’ relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d). The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim that is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the Underwriters’ commissions referenced in the Final Prospectus actually received by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls the Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the Underwriters may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to the Company, and its officers, directors and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.

(f) For purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriters confirm, and the Company acknowledges, that there is no information concerning the Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for preparation of or inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, other than the statements set forth in the last paragraph on the cover page of the Final Prospectus and the statements set forth in the “Underwriting” section of the Final Prospectus and the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, only insofar as such statements relate to the amount of selling concession and re-allowance or to over-allotment and related activities that may be undertaken by the Underwriters and under the subheadings “Electronic Distribution” and “Price Stabilization, Short Position and Penalty Bids.”

9. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, the agreements of the Underwriters and the Company contained in Section 6(a)(vii) and Section 8 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Underwriters hereunder.

 

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10. Substitution of Underwriters.

(a) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail to take up and pay for the amount of Underwritten Shares agreed by such Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased hereunder, upon tender of such Underwritten Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, and the amount of Underwritten Shares not purchased does not aggregate more than 10% of the total amount of Underwritten Shares set forth in Schedule A hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated to take up and pay for (in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations hereunder as set forth in Schedule A hereto except as may otherwise be determined by you) the Underwritten Shares that the withdrawing or defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail to take up and pay for the amount of Underwritten Shares agreed by such Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased hereunder, upon tender of such Underwritten Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, and the amount of Underwritten Shares not purchased aggregates more than 10% of the total amount of Underwritten Shares set forth in Schedule A hereto, and arrangements satisfactory to you for the purchase of such Underwritten Shares by other persons are not made within 36 hours thereafter, this Agreement shall terminate. In the event of any such termination, the Company shall not be under any liability to any Underwriter (except to the extent provided in Section 6(a)(vii) and Section 8 hereof) nor shall any Underwriter (other than an Underwriter who shall have failed, otherwise than for some reason permitted under this Agreement, to purchase the amount of Underwritten Shares agreed by such Underwriter to be purchased hereunder) be under any liability to the Company (except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof).

If Underwritten Shares to which a default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters or by any other party or parties, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for the sale of the Underwritten Shares for not more than seven business days in order that the necessary changes in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, in the Final Prospectus or in any other documents, as well as any other arrangements, may be effected. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

11. Termination of this Agreement.

(a) The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the Company as hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the Closing Date, if in the discretion of the Representative (i) there has occurred any material adverse change in the securities markets or any event, act or occurrence that has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Representative, will in the future materially disrupt, the securities markets or there shall be such a material adverse change in general financial, political or economic conditions or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, inadvisable or impracticable to market the Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares, (ii) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended

 

25


by the Commission or the Nasdaq Capital Market or trading in securities generally on the Nasdaq Capital Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex shall have been suspended, (iii) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the Nasdaq Capital Market, New York Stock Exchange or NYSE Amex, by such exchange or by order of the Commission or any other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (iv) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal, state authorities, (v) there shall have occurred any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States or other international political, financial or economic conditions or any other calamity or crisis, (vi) the Company suffers any material loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or (vii) there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Final Prospectus, any material adverse change in the assets, properties, condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company considered as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, the effect of which, in each case described in this subsection (a), makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the sale of and payment for the Underwritten Shares and the Additional Shares. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 6(a)(vii) and Section 8 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

(b) If the Representative elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section, the Company shall be notified promptly by the Representative by telephone, confirmed by letter.

12. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if to Chardan, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to Chardan Capital Markets LLC, 17 State Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10004, telecopy number: (646)  ###-###-####, Attention: Managing Director; and if to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to it at Nanosphere, Inc., 4088 Commercial Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois 60062, telecopy number: (847)-400-9000, Attention: Michael K. McGarrity or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

13. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 8. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from the Underwriters.

14. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Underwriters have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company

 

26


and any of the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or is advising the Company on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representative and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Underwriters and their respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that the Underwriters are acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, and not on behalf of the Company.

15. Amendments and Waivers. No supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. The failure of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver of such right or remedy in the future. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver be deemed or constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

16. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or provision.

17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

18. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably (a) submits to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (each a “Proceeding”), (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH PARTY HERETO (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS RESPECTIVE EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND THE PROSPECTUS.

19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission and electronic mail attaching a portable document file (.pdf)) in one or more counterparts and, if executed and delivered in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
NANOSPHERE, INC.
By:  

/s/ J. Roger Moody, Jr.

Name:  

J. Roger Moody, Jr.

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

Accepted as of

the date first above written.

CHARDAN CAPITAL MARKETS LLC

Acting on its own behalf and as

Representative of the several Underwriters

referred to in the foregoing Agreement.

 

By:  

/s/ Jonas Grossman

Name:   Jonas Grossman
Title:   Head of Capital Markets

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE A

 

Name    Number of
Underwritten
Shares to be
Purchased
     Number of
Additional Shares
to be Purchased
 

Chardan Capital Markets LLC

     40,000,000         6,000,000   

 

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SCHEDULE I

Nanosphere, Inc.

Pricing Term Sheet

Pricing Term Sheet – October 22, 2014

40,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

This free writing prospectus relates only to the securities described below and should be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated October 21, 2014 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and the accompanying base prospectus dated November 5, 2012, included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-183916) of Nanosphere, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

Issuer:    Nanosphere, Inc.

Issuer Symbol:

   NSPH

Exchange:

   NASDAQ Capital Market

Securities Offered By the Issuer:

   40,000,000 shares of common stock.

Price to the Public:

   $0.50 per share of common stock

Over-Allotment Option:

   The underwriters have a 30-day option beginning October 22, 2014 to purchase up to an additional 6,000,000 shares of common stock solely to cover over-allotments.

Underwriting Discounts and Commission:

   $.03 per share of common stock

Proceeds before expenses (excluding the over-allotment):

   $18.8 million (after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions)

Form of Offering:

   Firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 that was initially filed on September 14, 2012 and declared effective on November 5, 2012

Trade Date:

   October 22, 2014

Settlement Date:

   October 27, 2014

CUSIP:

   63009F 105

Underwriter

   Chardan Capital Markets, LLC

 

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Nanosphere, Inc. filed a registration statement (including a base prospectus and a preliminary prospectus supplement thereto) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest you should read the base prospectus and the preliminary prospectus supplement thereto in that registration statement (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) and other documents Nanosphere, Inc. has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Nanosphere Inc. and this offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR or the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, a written prospectus and accompanying preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering may be obtained from Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, at 17 State Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10004, Attention: Scott Blakeman, Director of Operations, or by telephone at (646)  ###-###-####.

ANY DISCLAIMER OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR AFTER THIS MESSAGE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

 

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SCHEDULE II

[Intentionally Omitted]


SCHEDULE III

Lock-Up Agreement

October     , 2014

Chardan Capital Markets LLC

17 State Street, Suite 1600

New York, NY 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that Chardan Capital Markets LLC (“Chardan” or the “Underwriter”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Nanosphere, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the Underwriter of shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). .

To induce the underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus supplement relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of Chardan which consent may be withheld in Chardan’s sole discretion, (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, in each case other than (a) transfers of shares of Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts; by will or intestacy or to a family member or trusts for the benefit of such family member or (b) if the undersigned is a corporation, company, business trust, association, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership or other entity (collectively, the “Entities” or, individually, the “Entity”), the undersigned may transfer shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of Common Stock to any person or Entity which controls, is directly or indirectly controlled by, or is under common control with the undersigned and, if the undersigned is a partnership or


limited liability company, it may transfer shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock to its partners, or an affiliated partnership (or members or an affiliated limited liability company) managed by the same manager or managing partner (or managing member, as the case may be) or management company, or managed by an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such manager or managing partner (or managing member) or management company in accordance with partnership (or membership) interests; provided that in the case of any such transfer or distribution (x) each transferee, donee or distributee shall execute and deliver to Chardan a lock-up agreement in the form of this agreement, (y) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the 90-day period referred to above) and (z) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value (other than dispositions among related parties that do not result in a change of beneficial ownership of the securities). The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

If (i) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless Chardan waives such extension.

No provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the exercise or exchange by the undersigned of any option or warrant to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock, provided that the undersigned does not transfer the Common Stock acquired on such exercise or exchange during the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this agreement. In addition, no provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a plan in such a manner as to cause the sale of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock within the Lock-Up Period).

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriter are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by November 30, 2014, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this letter agreement.


Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriter. This agreement shall lapse and become null and void (i) upon written notice from the Company to the Underwriter that the Company does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering or (ii) the Public Offering does not commence on or before November 30, 2014.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

(Address)


SCHEDULE IV

Persons Subject to Lock-Up

Sheli Z. Rosenberg

Michael K. McGarrity

Gene Cartwright

André de Bruin

Erik Holmlin

Lorin J. Randall

Michael J. Ward

Kenneth Bahk

Kristopher A. Wood

J. Roger Moody, Jr.