SECURITIESPURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of August 25, 2009, by and among Pacific Financial Corporation, a Washington corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.           The Company is raising approximately $12,750,000 in capital through the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Offering”) and has prior to or concurrent with the date of this Agreement sold a total of $10,091,619 in such securities, including 2,242,582 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase an additional 560,642 shares of Common Stock, in three prior closings.

 

B.           The Company and each Purchaser is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.

 

C.           Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate number of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, set forth below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement (which aggregate amount for all Purchasers together shall be 556,000 shares of Common Stock and shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Shares”) and (ii) a warrant, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, a “Warrant” and, collectively, the “Warrants”), to acquire up to that number of additional shares of Common Stock set forth below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement (which aggregate number of shares underlying the Warrants for all Purchasers together shall be 139,000 shares of Common Stock and such shares shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Warrant Shares”).  The Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

 

D.           The Company has engaged McAdams Wright Ragen, Inc. as its exclusive placement agent (the “Placement Agent”) for a portion of the Offering.

 

E.           Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws.

 

                NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

                1.1          Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

 

                 “Action” means any action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing against the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or any officer, director or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary acting in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee before or by any federal, state, county, local or foreign court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency, regulatory authority, stock market, stock exchange or trading facility.

 

                “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act. With respect to a Purchaser, any investment fund or managed account that is managed on a discretionary basis by the same investment manager as such Purchaser will be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Purchaser.

 

                “Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

 

                “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.

 

                “Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares and Warrants pursuant to this Agreement.

 

                “Closing Date” means the Trading Day when all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 5.1 and 5.2 hereof are satisfied, or such other date as the parties may agree.

 

                “Commission” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

                “Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals, and also includes any securities into which the Common Stock may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

                “Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock or other securities that entitle the holder to receive, directly or indirectly, Common Stock.

 

                “Company Counsel” means Miller Nash LLP.

 

                “Company Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

                “Company’s Knowledge” means with respect to any statement made to the knowledge of the Company, that the statement is based upon the actual knowledge of the executive officers of the Company having responsibility for the matter or matters that are the subject of the statement.

 

                “Control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” or “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

                “Disclosure Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).

 

                “Effective Date” means the date on which the initial Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

                “Environmental Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(l).

 

                “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

                “GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as applied by the Company.

 

                “Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(b).

 

                “Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(r).

 

                “Lien” means any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restrictions of any kind.

 

                “Material Adverse Effect” means any of (i) a material and adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document , (ii) a material and adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, properties, business or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) any adverse impairment to the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document, except that any of the following, either alone or in combination, shall not be deemed a Material Adverse Effect: (A) effects caused by changes or circumstances affecting general market conditions in the U.S. economy or which are generally applicable to the industry in which the Company operates, which do not affect the Company in a materially disproportionate manner, (B) effects resulting from or relating to the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Securities or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (C) effects caused by any event, occurrence or condition resulting from or relating to the taking of any action in accordance with the Transaction Documents.

 

                “Material Contract” means any contract of the Company that was filed as an exhibit to the SEC Reports pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 

                “Material Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p).

 

“Offering Memorandum” means that certain Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, dated as of June 15, 2009, relating to the Company’s sale of Common Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock.

 

                “Outside Date” means the tenth day following the date of this Agreement; provided that if such day is not a Business Day, the first day following such day that is a Business Day.

 

                “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

 

“Placement Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

                “Principal Trading Market” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on and quoted for trading, which, as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, shall be the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

                “Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

                “Purchaser Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

 

                “Purchaser Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).

 

                “Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

                “Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale by the Purchasers of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

 

“Regulation D” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

                “Required Approvals” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).

 

                “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

                “SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).

 

                “Secretary’s Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(vi).

 

“Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

                “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

                “Subscription Amount” means with respect to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Shares and Warrants purchased hereunder as indicated on such Purchaser’s signature page to this Agreement next to the heading “Aggregate Purchase Price (Subscription Amount)”.

 

                “Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns sufficient capital stock or holds a sufficient equity or similar interest such that it is consolidated with the Company in the financial statements of the Company.

 

                “Trading Day” means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not quoted on any Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided , that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

 

                “Trading Market” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market or the OTC Bulletin Board on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

 

                “Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Warrants and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

                “Transfer Agent” means BNY Mellon Shareholder Services, or any successor transfer agent for the Company.

 

“Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Warrant Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

ARTICLE II.

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1          Closing.

 

(a)           Purchase of Securities.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing the Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser shall, severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company, (i) the number of Shares set forth below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement and (ii) a Warrant to acquire the number of Warrant Shares set forth below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Closing.  The Closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares and Warrants shall take place at the offices of Miller Nash LLP, 111 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 3400, Portland, Oregon, on the Closing Date or at such other locations or remotely by facsimile transmission or other electronic means as the parties may mutually agree.

 

(c)           Form of Payment.  Unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and a Purchaser (as to itself only), on the Closing Date, (1) the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser (A) one or more stock certificates, evidencing the number of Shares set forth on such Purchaser’s signature page to this Agreement and (B) a Warrant to acquire the number of Warrant Shares set forth on such Purchaser’s signature page to this Agreement, in all cases duly executed by the Company and registered in the name of such Purchaser or its designee, and (2) upon receipt thereof, each Purchaser shall wire its Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, in accordance with the Company’s written wire transfer instructions.

 

2.2          Closing Deliveries.

 

(a)           At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall issue, deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following (the “Company Deliverables”):

 

 

 

 

 

(v)        the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

 

 

(b)          At or prior to the Closing, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following (the “Purchaser Deliverables”):

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

                3.1           Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date), to each of the Purchasers that:

 

                                (a)           Subsidiaries. The Company has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries other than those listed in the SEC Reports. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or comparable equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any and all Liens, and all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or comparable equity interest of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

 

                                (b)           Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of its “Significant Subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (as applicable), with the requisite power and authority to own or lease and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not in the reasonable judgment of the Company be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.  Each of the Company’s depository institution Subsidiaries’ deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due. The Company has conducted its business in compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, orders, judgments, decrees, rules, regulations and applicable stock exchange requirements, including all laws and regulations restricting activities of bank holding companies and banking organizations, except for any noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                                (c)           Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder, including, without limitation, to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The Company’s execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, but not limited to, the sale and delivery of the Shares and Warrants and the reservation for issuance and the issuance of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further corporate action is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders in connection therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. Each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and is, or when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law. Except for Material Contracts, there are no stockholder agreements, voting agreements, or other similar arrangements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the Company’s Knowledge, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

 

                                (d)           No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares and the reservation for issuance of the Warrant Shares) do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provisions of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or otherwise result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would result in a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations, assuming the correctness of the representations and warranties made by (A) the Purchasers in this Agreement and (B) other purchasers that have participated or will participate in the Offering), or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) such as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                                (e)           Filings, Consents and Approvals. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares and the reservation for issuance of the Warrant Shares), other than (i) the filing with the Commission of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (iii) the filing of a Notice of Sale of Securities on Form D with the Commission under Regulation D of the Securities Act, (iv) the filings required in accordance with Section 4.6 of this Agreement and (v) those that have been made or obtained prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

                                (f)            Issuance of the Securities. The issuance of the Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and the Shares and Warrant Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights.   Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers in this Agreement and other purchasers that have participated or will participate in the Offering, the Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

                                (g)           Capitalization. The number of shares and type of all authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock, options and other securities of the Company (whether or not presently convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company) has been set forth in the SEC Reports and has changed since the date of such SEC Reports only due to stock grants or other equity awards or stock option and warrant exercises that do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the issued and outstanding capital stock, options and other securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase any capital stock of the Company. Except as specified in the SEC Reports or elsewhere in this Agreement: (i) no shares of the Company’s outstanding capital stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights; (ii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company, other than those issued or granted pursuant to Material Contracts or equity or incentive plans or arrangements described in the SEC Reports; (iii) there are no material outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing indebtedness of the Company or by which the Company is bound; (iv) except for the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the Securities Act; (v) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company; (vi) the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (vii) the Company has no liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Reports but not so disclosed, which, individually or in the aggregate, will have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities.

 

                                (h)           SEC Reports; Disclosure Materials. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the twelve months preceding the date hereof (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports” and together with this Agreement, the Schedules to this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, the “Disclosure Materials”), on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective filing dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

                                (i)            Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments.

 

                                (j)            Tax Matters. The Company (i) has prepared and filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith, with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on the books of the Company and (iii) has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, where the failure to so file or pay any such tax, assessment, charge or return would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                                (k)           Material Changes. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as disclosed in subsequent SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, (i) there have been no events, occurrences or developments that have had or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to be disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered materially its method of accounting or the manner in which it keeps its accounting books and records, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock (other than in connection with repurchases of unvested stock issued to employees of the Company), (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except Common Stock issued pursuant to existing Company stock option or stock purchase plans or executive and director arrangements disclosed in the SEC Reports and (vi) there has not been any material change or amendment to, or any waiver of any material right by the Company under, any Material Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or subject. Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability or development has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective business, properties, operations or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

 

                                (l)            Environmental Matters. To the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (ii) owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is in violation of any Environmental Laws, or (iii) is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws; in each case, which violation, contamination or liability has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no pending or threatened investigation that might lead to such a claim.

 

                                (m)          Litigation. There is no Action which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Shares or (ii) except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate, if there were an unfavorable decision. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty.  There has not been, and to the Company’s Knowledge there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.  The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.

 

                                (n)           Employment Matters. No material labor dispute exists or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company which would have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and each Subsidiary believes that its relationship with its employees is good. To the Company’s Knowledge, no executive officer is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of a third party, and to the Company’s Knowledge, the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any Subsidiary to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company is in compliance with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                                (o)           Compliance. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under), nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries received written notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any Material Contract (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of which the Company has been made aware in writing of any court, arbitrator or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties or assets, or (iii) is in violation of, or in receipt of written notice that it is in violation of, any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority applicable to the Company, or which would have the effect of revoking or limiting FDIC deposit insurance, except in each case as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                                (p)           Regulatory Permits. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess or have applied for all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted and as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits, individually or in the aggregate, has not and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice in writing of proceedings relating to the revocation or material adverse modification of any such Material Permits and (ii) the Company is unaware of any facts or circumstances that would give rise to the revocation or material adverse modification of any Material Permits.

 

                                (q)           Title to Assets. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and tangible personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all Liens except such as do not materially affect the value of such property or do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

                                (r)            Patents and Trademarks. The Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, inventions, trade secrets, technology, Internet domain names, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted in the SEC Reports except where the failure to own, possess, license or have such rights would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports and except where such violations or infringements would not have or reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property; (b) there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (c) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; (d) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; and (e) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company and/or any Subsidiary infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others.

 

                                (s)           Insurance. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses and locations in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation of any such insurance.

 

                                (t)            Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports and other than the grant of stock options or other equity awards that are not individually or in the aggregate material in amount, none of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge, none of the employees of the Company, is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or to a presently contemplated transaction (other than for services as employees, officers and directors) that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

                                (u)           Internal Accounting Controls. The Company maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) designed 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.

 

                                (v)           Sarbanes-Oxley; Disclosure Controls. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all of the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which are applicable to it. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act).

 

                                (w)          Certain Fees. No person or entity will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or a Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company, other than the Placement Agent with respect to the offer and sale of the Shares and Warrants (which placement agent fees are being paid by the Company). The Company shall indemnify, pay, and hold each Purchaser harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such right, interest or claim.

 

                                (x)           Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, the accuracy of the information disclosed in the Accredited Investor Questionnaires and the accuracy of the representations made by all other purchasers participating in the Offering, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Purchasers under the Transaction Documents.  The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Principal Trading Market.

 

                                (y)           Registration Rights. Other than each of the Purchasers, no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company other than those securities which are currently registered on an effective registration statement on file with the Commission.

 

                                (z)           No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 and the accuracy of the representations made by all other purchasers participating in the Offering, none of the Company, its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its Affiliates or any Person acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, at any time within the past six months, made any offers or sales of any Company security or solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that would eliminate the availability of the exemption from registration under Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale by the Company of securities in the Offering.

 

                                (aa)         Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Company’s Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received written notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market.

 

                                (bb)         Investment Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to be registered as, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

                                (cc)         Questionable Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any directors, officers, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, employees, agents or other Persons acting at the direction of or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company: (a) directly or indirectly, used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to foreign or domestic political activity; (b) made any direct or indirect unlawful payments to any foreign or domestic governmental officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; (c) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (d) made any other unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other material unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.

 

                                (dd)        Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreements. The Company has not adopted any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company.  The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s articles of incorporation or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or otherwise which is or could become applicable to any Purchaser solely as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Purchaser’s ownership of the Securities.

 

                                (ee)         Disclosure. The Company confirms that neither it nor any of its officers or directors nor any other Person acting on its or their behalf has provided, and it has not authorized the Placement Agent to provide, any Purchaser or its respective agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information except insofar as the existence, provisions and terms of the Transaction Documents and the proposed transactions hereunder may constitute such information, all of which will be disclosed by the Company in the Press Release(s) as contemplated by Section 4.6 hereof. The Company understands and confirms that each of the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, operations or financial conditions, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed, except for the announcement of this Agreement and related transactions and as may be disclosed on the Form 8-K filed pursuant to Section 4.6.

 

                                (ff)          Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company (or any Subsidiary) and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings and is not so disclosed and would have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                                (gg)        Acknowledgment Regarding Purchasers’ Purchase of Shares.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Purchasers is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchasers’ purchase of the Securities. 

 

                                (hh)        Regulation M Compliance.  In the last thirty days, the Company has not, and to the Company’s Knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the securities of the Company or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) compensation paid to the Placement Agent in connection with the placement of the Securities.

 

                                (ii)           OFAC. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or Person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary 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 knowingly directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person or entity, towards any sales or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar or any other country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

                                (jj)           Money Laundering Laws. The operations of each of the Company and any Subsidiary are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with the money laundering statutes of applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any applicable governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and to the Company’s Knowledge, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company and/or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

 

(kk)     No Additional Agreements. The Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.

 

(ll)       Reports, Registrations and Statements.  Since December 31, 2008, the Company and each Subsidiary have filed all material reports, registrations and statements, together with any required amendments thereto, that it was required to file with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), and any other applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities, except where the failure to file any such report, registration or statement would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such reports and statements filed with any such regulatory body or authority are collectively referred to herein as the “Company Reports.” As of their respective dates, the Company Reports complied as to form in all material respects with all the rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve, the OCC and any other applicable foreign, federal or state securities or banking authorities, as the case may be.

 

(mm)   Adequate Capitalization.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s Subsidiary insured depository institutions meet or exceed the standards necessary to be considered “adequately capitalized” under the Federal Deposit Insurance Company’s regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

(nn)        Agreements with Regulatory Agencies; Compliance with Certain Banking Regulations.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any cease-and-desist or other similar order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any capital directive by, or since December 31, 2007, has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any governmental entity that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its liquidity and funding policies and practices, its credit, risk management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its operations or business (each item in this sentence, a “Regulatory Agreement”), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary been advised since December 31, 2007 by any governmental entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement.

To the Company’s Knowledge, there are no facts or circumstances, and the Company has no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, that would cause any of its Subsidiary banking institutions: (i) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state banking regulators of lower than “satisfactory”; (ii) to be deemed to be operating in violation, in any material respect, of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (iii) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance, in any material respect, with all applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy laws and regulations as well as the provisions of all information security programs adopted by the Subsidiaries.

(oo)        No General Solicitation or General Advertising.  Neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Securities.

(pp)        Mortgage Banking Business.  Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(i)            To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied with, and all documentation in connection with the origination, processing, underwriting and credit approval of any mortgage loan originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries satisfied, (A) all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations with respect to the origination, insuring, purchase, sale, pooling, servicing, subservicing, or filing of claims in connection with mortgage loans, including all laws relating to real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit protection, truth in lending laws, usury limitations, fair housing, transfers of servicing, collection practices, equal credit opportunity and adjustable rate mortgages, (B) the responsibilities and obligations relating to mortgage loans set forth in any agreement between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Agency, Loan Investor or Insurer, (C) the applicable rules, regulations, guidelines, handbooks and other requirements of any Agency, Loan Investor or Insurer and (D) the terms and provisions of any mortgage or other collateral documents and other loan documents with respect to each mortgage loan; and

(ii)           No Agency, Loan Investor or Insurer has (A) claimed in writing that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has violated or has not complied with the applicable underwriting standards with respect to mortgage loans sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a Loan Investor or Agency, or with respect to any sale of mortgage servicing rights to a Loan Investor, (B) imposed in writing restrictions on the activities (including commitment authority) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) indicated in writing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that it has terminated or intends to terminate its relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for poor performance, poor loan quality or concern with respect to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ compliance with laws,

For purposes of this Section 3(pp):  (A) “Agency” means the Federal Housing Administration, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Farmers Home Administration (now known as Rural Housing and Community Development Services), the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Rural Housing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any other federal or state agency with authority to (i) determine any investment, origination, lending or servicing requirements with regard to mortgage loans originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) originate, purchase, or service mortgage loans, or otherwise promote mortgage lending, including state and local housing finance authorities; (B) “Loan Investor” means any person (including an Agency) having a beneficial interest in any mortgage loan originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or a security backed by or representing an interest in any such mortgage loan; and (C) “Insurer” means a person who insures or guarantees for the benefit of the mortgagee all or any portion of the risk of loss upon borrower default on any of the mortgage loans originated, purchased or serviced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the Federal Housing Administration, the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Rural Housing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and any private mortgage insurer, and providers of hazard, title or other insurance with respect to such mortgage loans or the related collateral.

(qq)        ERISA.  To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (herein called “ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan”; or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “Pension Plan” for which the Company would have liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

   (rr)          Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1).

 

                3.2           Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. Each Purchaser hereby, for itself and for no other Purchaser, represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:

 

                                (a)           Organization; Authority. If such Purchaser is an entity, it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the applicable Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. If such purchaser is an entity, the execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if such Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of such Purchaser. If such Purchaser is an entity, each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

 

                                (b)           No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Purchaser (if such Purchaser is an entity), (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Purchaser is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

                                (c)           Investment Intent. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to, or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Purchaser does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum period of time and reserves the right, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under an exemption from such registration and in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser does not presently have any agreement, plan or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute or effect any distribution of any of the Securities (or any securities which are derivatives thereof) to or through any person or entity.

 

                                (d)           Purchaser Status. At the time such Purchaser was offered the Shares and Warrants, it was, and at the date hereof it is, an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act.

 

                                (e)           General Solicitation. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general advertisement.

 

                                (f)           Experience of Such Purchaser. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

 

                                (g)           Access to Information. Such Purchaser acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the Disclosure Materials and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and the Subsidiaries and their respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of such Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth and accuracy of the Company’s representations and warranties contained in the Transaction Documents. Such Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary or appropriate to make an informed decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

 

                                (h)           Brokers and Finders. Other than the Placement Agent with respect to the Company, no Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or any Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Purchaser.

 

                                (i)            Independent Investment Decision. Such Purchaser has independently evaluated the merits of its decision to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser confirms that it has not relied on the advice of any other Purchaser’s business and/or legal counsel in making such decision. Such Purchaser understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Securities constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. Such Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of the Securities. Such Purchaser understands that the Placement Agent has acted solely as the agent of the Company in this placement of the Shares and Warrants and such Purchaser has not relied on the business or legal advice of the Placement Agent or any of its agents, counsel or Affiliates in making its investment decision hereunder, and confirms that none of such Persons has made any representations or warranties to such Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

                               (j)             Reliance on Exemptions. Such Purchaser understands that the Securities being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of U.S. federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire the Securities.

 

                                (k)           No Governmental Review. Such Purchaser understands that no U.S. federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

                                (l)            Residency. Such Purchaser’s residence (if an individual) or office in which its investment decision with respect to the Securities was made (if an entity) are located at the address immediately below such Purchaser’s name on its signature page hereto.

 

The Company and each of the Purchasers acknowledge and agree that no party to this Agreement has made or makes any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Article III and the Transaction Documents.

 

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

                4.1           Transfer Restrictions.

 

                                (a)           Compliance with Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, each Purchaser covenants that the Securities may be disposed of only pursuant to an effective registration statement under, and in compliance with the requirements of, the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable state, federal or foreign securities laws.  In connection with any transfer of the Securities other than (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) to the Company or (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 (provided that the transferor provides the Company with reasonable assurances (in the form of seller and broker representation letters) that such securities may be sold pursuant to such rule), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company and the Transfer Agent, at the transferor’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Transfer Agent, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act.  As a condition of transfer (other than pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence), any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such transferred Securities.

 

                                (b)           Legends. Certificates or other instruments evidencing the Securities shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form, until such time as they are not required under Section 4.1(c) or applicable law:

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (B) AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS TRANSFER AGENT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (PROVIDED THAT THE TRANSFEROR PROVIDES THE COMPANY WITH REASONABLE ASSURANCES (IN THE FORM OF SELLER AND BROKER REPRESENTATION LETTERS) THAT THE SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO SUCH RULE).  NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE BY THE ISSUER AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT FOR RESALES OF THESE SECURITIES.

 

                                (c)           Removal of Legends. Certificates or other instruments evidencing the Securities shall not be required to contain the restrictive legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) above if (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act, (ii) such Securities are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 (if the transferor is not an Affiliate of the Company), or (iii) such Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such securities and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions.  If a legend is not required pursuant to the foregoing, the Company will, as soon as practicable following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent (with notice to the Company) of a legended certificate or instrument representing such Securities (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer) and an opinion of counsel to the extent required by Section 4.1(a), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate or instrument (as the case may be) representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive legends.  In connection therewith, the Company shall instruct the Transfer Agent to remove the legend from the Securities and shall cause its counsel to issue any legend removal opinion required by the Transfer Agent.  The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 4.1(b).  Certificates for Shares and Warrant Shares free from all restrictive legends may be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to a Purchaser by electronic delivery by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) as directed by such Purchaser.

A:	Form of Warrant
B:	Form of Registration Rights Agreement
C-1:	Accredited Investor Questionnaire
C-2:	Stock Certificate and Warrant Questionnaire
D:	Form of Opinion of Company Counsel
E:	Form of Secretary’s Certificate
F:	Form of Officer’s Certificate