COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT STERLING MINING COMPANY

EX-4.2 3 dex42.htm FORM OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant

Exhibit 4.2

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS 4 MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE LATER OF (i) AUGUST 2, 2007, AND (ii) THE DATE THE ISSUER BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS COVERING SUCH SECURITIES, OR THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY STATING THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE CANNOT BE THE SUBJECT OF HEDGING TRANSACTIONS UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “1933 ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE EXERCISED BY OR ON BEHALF OF A U.S. PERSON OR PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES UNLESS THIS WARRANT AND SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE 1933 ACT AND THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF ANY SUCH STATE OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IS AVAILABLE. “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” ARE AS DEFINED BY REGULATION S UNDER THE 1933 ACT

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

STERLING MINING COMPANY

 

Warrants:                     

  Initial Issuance Date: August 2, 2007

THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received,              (the “Holder”), is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the Initial Issuance Date and on or prior to the close of business on August 2, 2009 (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Sterling Mining Company, an Idaho corporation (the “Company”), up to              shares (the “Warrant Shares”) of common stock, par value $.05 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).

 

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Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”), dated August 2, 2007, among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto.

Section 2. Exercise.

a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed facsimile copy of the Notice of Exercise Form annexed hereto (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company); and, within three Business Days of the date said Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company, the Company shall have received payment of the aggregate Exercise Price of the shares thereby purchased by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States or Canadian bank. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three Business Days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise Form within one Business Day of receipt of such notice. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, the records of the Company shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of the Common Stock under this Warrant shall be U.S.$4.10, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).

c) Cashless Exercise. If at any time after a Registration Statement covering the Warrant Shares has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) there is no effective Registration Statement registering, or no current prospectus available for, the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, then this Warrant may also be exercised at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

(A)    =    the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such election on the trading market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, based on a Business Day from 9:30 a.m. New York City time to 4:02 p.m. New York City time (“VWAP);

 

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(B)    =    the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted; and
(X)    =    the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

d) Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2(c) or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates (as such term is defined under Rule 144 of the Securities Act), and any other person or entity acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates), as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(d), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by a Holder that the Company is not representing to such Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and such Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(d) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which a portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of a Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be each Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to such aggregate percentage limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and

 

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regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(d), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Company’s most recent Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) any other notice by the Company or the Company’s transfer agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two Business Days confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by such Holder or its Affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(d) may be waived by such Holder, at the election of such Holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company to change the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant, and the provisions of this Section 2(d) shall continue to apply. Upon such a change by a Holder of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation from such 4.99% limitation to such 9.99% limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation may not be further waived by such Holder. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(d) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

e) Mechanics of Exercise.

i. Authorization of Warrant Shares. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

ii. Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise. Certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be delivered by the transfer agent of the Company to the Holder to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise within 3 Business Days from the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise Form, surrender of this Warrant (if required) and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (“Warrant Share Delivery Date”). This Warrant shall be

 

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deemed to have been exercised on the date the Exercise Price is received by the Company. The Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised by payment to the Company of the Exercise Price (or by cashless exercise, if permitted) and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(e)(vii) prior to the issuance of such shares, have been paid.

iii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

iv. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause its transfer agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to this Section 2(e)(iv) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

v. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause its transfer agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (1) pay in cash to the Holder the amount by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (B) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (2) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price

 

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giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (1) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

vi. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

vii. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event certificates for Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder; and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.

viii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

ix. Exercise Mechanics if Registration Statement Not Effective: Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, if the issuance of Warrant Shares upon the exercise of Warrants requires the maintenance of an effective Registration Statement, with respect to such Warrant Shares under the Securities Act, in no event shall such Warrant Shares be issued unless the Warrant Shares are registered under the Securities Act pursuant to an effective Registration Statement; provided, however, that if the Registration Statement ceases to be effective, prior to the Termination Date and for so long as the Registration Statement is not effective, subject to applicable law, a holder of any Warrant may only exercise the right to purchase Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants the circumstances noted below:

 

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  A. exercise such Warrants, if the holder is a purchaser who is not (A) a resident of the United States or (B) a U.S. Person (a “U.S. Purchaser”) and the holder delivers a duly completed and executed Notice of Exercise (If Registration Statement Not Effective) certifying that the holder: (A)(1) is not in the United States; (2) is not a U.S. Person and is not exercising the Warrants for, or on behalf or benefit of, a U.S. Person or person in the United States; (3) did not execute or deliver the Warrant exercise form in the United States; (4) agrees not to engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Common Shares prior to the expiration of the one-year distribution compliance period set forth in Rule 903(b)(3) of Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”); (5) acknowledges that the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act and upon the issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or applicable U.S. state laws and regulations, the certificates representing the Warrant Shares will bear a restrictive legend; and (6) acknowledges that the Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Warrant Shares not made in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S, pursuant to registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the 1933 Act; and (B) neither the Corporation nor the holder has engaged in any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States; or

 

  B. exercise such Warrants in a transaction that does not require registration under the Securities Act or any applicable U.S. state laws and regulations and the holder has (A) delivered a duly completed and executed Notice of Exercise (If Registration Statement Not Effective) certifying that the holder is exercising the Warrants pursuant to such exemptions and (B) furnished to the Company, prior to such exercise, an opinion of counsel of recognized standing in form and substance satisfactory to the Company to such effect.

x. Legending if Registration Statement Not Effective: Unless the Warrant is exercised pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, the certificate representing the Warrant Shares is issued upon exercise of the Warrant will bear

 

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legends restricting the transfer without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and restricting transfer under the Toronto Stock Exchange, substantially in the form set forth below:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS COVERING SUCH SECURITIES, OR THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY STATING THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE CANNOT BE THE SUBJECT OF HEDGING TRANSACTIONS UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.”

If the Common Shares are also then listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange or the TSX Venture Exchange certificates representing the Common Shares will also bear the following legend

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE LISTED ON THE [TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE (“TSX”)][TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE (“TSX-V”)]; HOWEVER, THE SAID SECURITIES CANNOT BE TRADED THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF [TSX][TSX-V] SINCE THEY ARE NOT FREELY TRANSFERABLE, AND CONSEQUENTLY ANY CERTIFICATE REPRESENTING SUCH SECURITIES IS NOT “GOOD DELIVERY” IN SETTLEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS ON [TSX][TSX-V].”

xi. Suspensions of Registration Statement, etc,…: If any Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants require the maintenance of a current Registration Statement, with respect to such Warrant Shares under the Securities Act, the Company shall have the authority to suspend the exercise of any or all Warrants while such registration statement is not current. Similarly, a Holder residing in a state where a required registration or governmental approval of issuance of the Warrant Shares is not in effect as of or has not been obtained within a reasonable time after the surrender date of the

 

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Warrant Certificate for exercise shall not be entitled to exercise Warrants, unless in the opinion of counsel to the Company such registration or approval in such state shall not be required or the Company otherwise authorizes the issuance. In such event, the Holder shall be entitled to transfer the Warrants to others, but only prior to the Termination Date for the Warrants being transferred. If no Registration Statement is effective at any time when any Warrant is exercised, such Holder shall be notified forthwith by the transfer agent that such Holder is entitled, at his or her option, to exercise the Warrant only in accordance with the conditions set forth in Sections 2(e)(ix)(A) and (B) and upon delivery of a Notice of Exercise (If Registration Statement Not Effective) to the Company.

Section 3. Certain Adjustments.

a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (A) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (B) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (C) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

b) Subsequent Equity Sales. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, shall sell or grant any option to purchase, or sell or grant any right to reprice its securities, or otherwise dispose of or issue (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any Common Stock or equivalent securities (“Common Stock Equivalents”) entitling any Person to acquire shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”), at an effective price per share less than the then Exercise Price (such lower price, the “Base Share Price” and such issuances collectively, a “Dilutive Issuance”) (if the holder of the Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents so issued shall at any time, whether by operation of purchase price adjustments, reset provisions, floating conversion, exercise or exchange prices or otherwise, or due to warrants, options or rights per share which are issued in connection with such issuance, be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock at an effective price per share which is less than the Exercise Price, such issuance shall be deemed to have occurred for less than the Exercise Price

 

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on such date of the Dilutive Issuance), then the Exercise Price shall be reduced to a price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price then in effect by a fraction (i) the numerator of which shall be (A) the number of Common Shares deemed outstanding (as determined below) immediately prior to such issue or sale, plus (B) the number of Common Shares that the aggregate Base Share Price amount received by the Company for the total number of Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued would purchase at such Exercise Price, and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares deemed outstanding (as defined below) immediately prior to such issue or sale plus the total number of Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued. Such adjustment shall be made whenever such Additional Shares are issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustments shall be made, paid or issued under this Section 3(b) in respect of any issuance under or pursuant to: (i) shares of Common Stock or options issued to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan adopted by the Board of Directors on September 28, 2006, and pursuant to any other stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors, (ii) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any securities issued hereunder and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise, exchange or conversion price of such securities, (iii) securities issuable upon obligations or instruments outstanding on the date of this Agreement, and (iv) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided any such issuance shall only be to a Person which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, a company in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and in which the Company receives benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities. The Company shall notify the Holder in writing, no later than the Business Day following the issuance of any Additional Shares subject to this Section 3(b), indicating therein the applicable issuance price, or applicable reset price, exchange price, conversion price and other pricing terms (such notice the “Dilutive Issuance Notice”). Upon the expiration or other termination without being exercised, exchanged, or converted of Common Stock Equivalents that triggered any adjustment under this Section 3(b), the number of Common Shares deemed to be outstanding pursuant to this Section 3(b) shall be reduced by the number of shares as to which the Common Stock Equivalents shall have expired or terminated unexercised, and the Exercise Price then in effect shall forthwith be readjusted and thereafter be the price that it would have been had adjustment been made on the basis of the issuance only of the Common Shares actually issued. For purposes of this Section 3(b), the number of Common Shares deemed to be outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of (x) the number of Common Shares actually outstanding, (y) the number of Common Shares for which this Warrant could be exercised on the day immediately preceding the given date, and (z) the number of Common Shares which could be obtained through the exercise or conversion of all other rights, options and convertible securities outstanding on the day immediately preceding the given date.

 

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c) Pro Rata Distributions. If the Company, at any time prior to the Termination Date, shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to the Holders of the Warrants) evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including cash and cash dividends) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any security other than the Common Stock (which shall be subject to Section 3(a) or 3(b) as applicable), then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the VWAP as of the Business Day immediately prior to the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator shall be such VWAP as of the Business Day immediately prior to such record date less the then per share fair market value at such record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one outstanding share of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith. In either case the adjustments shall be described in a statement provided to the Holder of the portion of assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or such subscription rights applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made and shall become effective immediately after the record date mentioned above.

d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (A) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (B) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (C) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, or (D) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (in any such case, a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder, (a) upon exercise of this Warrant, the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable upon or as a result of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or disposition of assets by a Holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event or (b) if the Company is acquired in an all cash transaction, cash equal to the value of this Warrant as determined in accordance with the Black-Scholes option pricing formula. For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the

 

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securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Company or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall issue to the Holder a new warrant consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to exercise such warrant into Alternate Consideration. The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Fundamental Transaction is effected shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 3(e) and insuring that this Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to a Fundamental Transaction.

e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

f) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. The Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company.

g) Notice to Holder.

i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock; (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock; (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights; (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property; (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company; then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date

 

12


hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. The Holder is entitled to exercise this Warrant during the 20-day period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.

Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.

a) Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 4(d) hereof, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. A Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice.

c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

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d) Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that (i) the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, furnish to the Company a written opinion of counsel (which opinion shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions) to the effect that such transfer may be made without registration under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and (ii) the Holder or transferee execute and deliver to the Company an investment letter in form and substance acceptable to the Company, and (iii) the transferee be an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) and (a)(7) promulgated under the Securities Act.

Section 5. Miscellaneous.

a) No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(e)(ii).

b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.

c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

d) Authorized Shares.

The Company covenants that during the period the Warrant remains outstanding it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such

 

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reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the trading market upon which the Common Stock may be listed.

Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of the Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (a) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (b) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (c) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof as may be necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

e) Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Agreement.

f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered and qualified by a prospectus in Canada, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state, provincial and federal securities laws, as the case may be.

g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of the Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies, notwithstanding the fact that all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date. If the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

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h) Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Subscription Agreement.

i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by any such Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.

l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.

m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

o) Counterparts and Facsimile. This Warrant may be executed in any number of counterparts and by facsimile, each of which so executed shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall form one and the same Warrant.

********************

REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 

STERLING MINING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

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NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO:   STERLING MINING COMPANY

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase              Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

 

  ¨ in lawful money of the United States; or

 

  ¨ [if permitted] the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).

(3) Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

 

 

 

The Warrant Shares shall be delivered by physical delivery of a certificate to:

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

 

Name of Investing Entity:                                                                                                                                                
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:                                                                                                  
Name of Authorized Signatory:                                                                                                                                       
Title of Authorized Signatory:                                                                                                                                         
Date:                                                                                                                                                                                  


NOTICE OF EXERCISE

(If Registration Statement Not Effective)

 

TO:

  

STERLING MINING COMPANY

The undersigned holder of the within Warrant Certificate, hereby exercises certain Warrants (the “Exercised Warrants”) evidenced thereby and hereby subscribes for a number of Common Shares of Sterling Mining Company equal to such number of Common Shares or number or amount of other securities or property, or combination thereof, to which such exercise entitles him under the provisions of the Warrant at an aggregate price equal to the product of the Exercise Price and the number of Exercised Warrants, and on the terms specified in such Warrant Certificate, and in payment therefor, delivers herewith a bank draft, certified cheque or money order payable to Sterling Mining Company. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the definitions set forth in the Agency Agreement.

The undersigned represents that it (A) has had access to such current public information concerning Sterling Mining Company as it considered necessary in connection with its investment decision and (B) understands that the securities issuable upon exercise hereof have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

The undersigned represents and warrants that it: [CHECK ONE ONLY]

A. is not a U.S. Purchaser and it (1) is not in the United States; (2) is not a U.S. Person and is not exercising the Warrants for, or on behalf or benefit of, a U.S. Person or person in the United States; (3) did not execute or deliver the Subscription Form in the United States; (4) agrees not to engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Common Shares prior to the expiration of the one-year distribution compliance period set forth in Rule 903(b)(3) of Regulation S; (5) acknowledges that the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 of the 1933 Act and upon the issuance thereof, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act or applicable U.S. state laws and regulations, the certificates representing the Common Shares will bear a restrictive legend; and (6) acknowledges that the Company shall refuse to register any transfer of the Common Shares not made in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S, pursuant to registration under the 1933 Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the 1933 Act; and (B) it holder has not engaged in any “directed selling efforts” (as defined in Regulation S) in the United States.

B. the undersigned is delivering a written opinion of United States counsel or a written confirmation from the Company to the effect that the Common Shares to be delivered upon exercise hereof have been registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from registration thereunder.

C. the undersigned elects to exercise its the “cashless” exercise right in accordance with the terms hereof and Section 2(c) of the Warrant Certificate with respect to              Warrants. The undersigned receive that number of Common Shares equal to quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

(A)

   =   the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such election on the trading market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted, based on a Business Day from 9:30 a.m. New York City time to 4:02 p.m. New York City time (“VWAP);

 

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(B)

   =   the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted; and

(X)

   =   the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

Unless Box C above is checked, the undersigned holder understands that the certificate representing the Company’s Common Shares is issued upon exercise of this Warrant will bear a legend restricting the transfer without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws substantially the form set forth in Section 2(e)(x) of the Warrant certificate.

If the holder has checked Box C above, upon exercise of the Warrants pursuant to the cashless exercise provision in Section 2(c) of the Warrant Certificate, the holder must tender the original warrant certificate; the exercise form and this Notice of Exercise directly to Sterling Mining Company.

 

Name:

Please print or type name and address (including postal code)

Address:

Number of Warrants being Exercised:

DATED this day                      of           ,        

 

Signature guaranteed by:

     
  

Name of registered holder (please print)

  
     

 

Signature of or on behalf of registered holder

     

 

Office, Title or other Authorization

(if holder not an individual)

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

(To assign the foregoing warrant, execute

this form and supply required information.

Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [            ] all of or [            ] shares of the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

                                                                                                                                                             whose address is

                                                                                                                                                                                        .

  Dated:                       ,         
Holder’s Signature:  

 

Holder’s Address:  

 

Signature Guaranteed:                                                                          

   

NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.