Common Stock and Warrants Purchase Agreement between Bionutrics, Inc. and Investors (September 20, 2000)

Summary

This agreement is between Bionutrics, Inc. and certain investors, dated September 20, 2000. Under the agreement, the investors will purchase $500,000 worth of Bionutrics' common stock and receive warrants to buy additional shares. The transaction is subject to specific conditions and relies on exemptions from SEC registration requirements. The agreement outlines key terms, including the purchase price, closing conditions, and the registration of shares for resale. Both parties have defined obligations regarding the issuance, purchase, and potential resale of the securities involved.

EX-10.35 3 p64455ex10-35.txt EX-10.35 1 Exhibit 10.35 COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BIONUTRICS, INC. AND THE INVESTORS SIGNATORY HERETO COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of September 20, 2000 (the "Agreement"), between the Investors signatory hereto (each an "Investor" and together the "Investors") and Bionutrics, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (the "Company"). WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, the Company shall issue and sell to the Investors, and the Investors shall purchase (i) Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) of Common Stock (as defined below) and (ii) Warrants (as defined below) to purchase shares of the Common Stock on the Closing Date. WHEREAS, such investments will be made in reliance upon the provisions of Section 4(2) and/or 4(6) of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and/or Regulation D ("Regulation D") and the other rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and/or upon such other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act as may be available with respect to any or all of the investments in securities to be made hereunder. NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS Section 1.1. "Bid Price" shall mean the closing bid price (as reported by Bloomberg L.P.) of Common Stock on the Principal Market on the date in question. Section 1.2. "Capital Shares" shall mean the Common Stock and any shares of any other class of common stock whether now or hereafter authorized, having the right to participate in the distribution of earnings and assets of the Company. Section 1.3. "Capital Shares Equivalents" shall mean any securities, rights, or obligations that are convertible into or exchangeable for or give any right to subscribe for any Capital Shares of the Company or any warrants, options or other rights to subscribe for or purchase Capital Shares or any such convertible or exchangeable securities. 2 Section 1.4. "Closing" shall mean each closing of the purchase and sale of the Common Stock and Warrants pursuant to Section 2.1. Section 1.5. "Closing Date" shall mean the date on which all conditions to the Closing have been satisfied (as defined in Section 2.1 (b) hereto) and such Closing shall have occurred. Section 1.6. "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share. Section 1.7. "Damages" shall mean any loss, claim, damage, judgment, penalty, deficiency, liability, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and disbursements and reasonable costs and expenses of expert witnesses and investigation). Section 1.8. "Effective Date" shall mean the date on which the SEC first declares effective a Registration Statement registering the resale of the Registrable Securities as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. Section 1.9. "Escrow Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement. Section 1.10. "Escrow Agreement" shall mean the Escrow Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto executed and delivered contemporaneously with this Agreement. Section 1.11. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Section 1.12. "Legend" shall mean the legend set forth in Section 9.1. Section 1.13. "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, prospects or financial condition of the Company that is material and adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, taken as a whole, and/or any condition, circumstance, or situation that would prohibit or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Company to enter into and perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or the Warrants in any material respect. Section 1.14. "Outstanding" when used with reference to shares of Common Stock or Capital Shares (collectively the "Shares"), shall mean, at any date as of which the number of such Shares is to be determined, all issued and outstanding Shares, and shall include all such Shares issuable in respect of outstanding scrip or any certificates representing fractional interests in such Shares; provided, however, that "Outstanding" shall not mean any such Shares then directly or indirectly owned or held by or for the account of the Company. Section 1.15. "Person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof. Section 1.16. "Principal Market" shall mean the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ National or SmallCap Markets or 2 3 the OTC Bulletin Board, whichever is at the time the principal trading exchange or market for the Common Stock, based upon share volume. Section 1.17. "Purchase Price" shall mean $1.00 per share of Common Stock. Section 1.18. "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Shares and the Warrant Shares until (i) the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, and all Shares and Warrant Shares have been disposed of pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Shares and Warrant Shares have been sold under circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") are met, (iii) all Shares and Warrant Shares have been otherwise transferred to holders who may trade such shares without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such time as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, all Shares and Warrant Shares may be sold without any time, volume or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act. Section 1.19. "Registration Rights Agreement" shall mean the agreement regarding the filing of the Registration Statement for the resale of the Registrable Securities, entered into between the Company and the Investors as of the Closing Date in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B. Section 1.20. "Registration Statement" shall mean a registration statement on Form S-3 (or on such other form promulgated by the SEC for which the Company then qualifies and which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate, and which form shall be available for the resale by the Investors of the Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and in accordance with the intended method of distribution of such securities), for the registration of the resale by the Investors of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act. Section 1.21. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission. Section 1.22. "Securities Act" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement. Section 1.23. "SEC Documents" shall mean the Company's latest Form 10-K or 10-KSB as of the time in question, all Forms 10-Q or 10-QSB and 8-K filed thereafter, and the Proxy Statement for its latest fiscal year as of the time in question until such time as the Company no longer has an obligation to maintain the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. Section 1.24. "Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to this Agreement. Section 1.25. "Trading Day" shall mean any day during which the Principal Market shall be open for business. Section 1.26. "Warrants" shall mean the Warrants to purchase up to 50,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price equal to the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately prior to the 3 4 Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C to be issued to the Investors at the Closing hereunder. Section 1.27. "Warrant Shares" shall mean all shares of Common Stock or other securities issued or issuable pursuant to exercise of the Warrants. ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS Section 2.1. Investment. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell, and the Investors, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase the Shares, together with the Warrants. Upon satisfaction by the Company of the Closing conditions set forth in Section 2.1(b), the Investors shall purchase five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) of Common Stock at the Purchase Price. The Investors shall deliver to the Escrow Agent immediately available funds in the amounts set forth next to their signatures hereto and the Company shall deliver the Common Stock certificates representing the shares of Common Stock so purchased and the applicable number of Warrants for each Investor to the Escrow Agent, each to be held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement. Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.1(b), the Closing shall occur at the offices of the Escrow Agent at which the Escrow Agent (x) shall release the Shares and the Warrants to the Investors and (y) shall release the Purchase Price (after all fees have been paid as set forth in the Escrow Agreement), pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement. (b) The Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the party sought to be benefited thereby of the following conditions: (i) acceptance and execution by the Company and by the Investors, of this Agreement and all Exhibits hereto; (ii) delivery into escrow by each Investor of immediately available funds in the amount of the Purchase Price of the Common Stock and the Warrants as more fully set forth in the Escrow Agreement; (iii) all representations and warranties of the Investors contained herein shall remain true and correct as of the Closing Date (as a condition to the Company's obligations); (iv) all representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall remain true and correct as of the Closing Date (as a condition to the Investors' obligations); 4 5 (v) the Company shall have obtained all permits and qualifications required by any state for the offer and sale of the Common Stock and Warrants, or shall have the availability of exemptions therefrom; (vi) the sale and issuance of the Common Stock and Warrants hereunder, and the proposed issuance by the Company to the Investors of the Common Stock underlying the Common Stock and Warrants upon the conversion or exercise thereof shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Investors and the Company are subject and there shall be no ruling, judgment or writ of any court prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (vii) delivery of the applicable original fully executed Common Stock certificates and the Warrant certificates to the Escrow Agent; (viii) delivery to the Escrow Agent of an opinion of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, counsel to the Company, in the form of Exhibit D; (ix) delivery to the Escrow Agent of the Irrevocable Instructions to Transfer Agent in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E; and (x) delivery to the Escrow Agent of the Registration Rights Agreement. Section 2.2. Liquidated Damages. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the sums payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall constitute liquidated damages and not penalties. The parties further acknowledge that (a) the amount of loss or damages likely to be incurred is incapable or is difficult to precisely estimate, (b) the amounts specified in such Sections bear a reasonable proportion and are not plainly or grossly disproportionate to the probable loss likely to be incurred by the Investors in connection with the failure by the Company to timely cause the registration of the Registrable Securities and (c) the parties are sophisticated business parties and have been represented by sophisticated and able legal and financial counsel and negotiated this Agreement at arm's length. ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH INVESTOR Each Investor, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company that: Section 3.1. Intent. The Investor is entering into this Agreement for its own account and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the Common Stock. The Investor has no present arrangement (whether or not legally binding) at any time to sell the Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares to or through any person or entity; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, the Investor does not agree to hold such securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Shares and Warrant Shares at any time in accordance with federal and state securities laws applicable to such disposition. 5 6 Section 3.2. Sophisticated Investor. The Investor is a sophisticated investor (as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation D) and an accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D), and Investor has such experience in business and financial matters that it has the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with this transaction and is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Common Stock and Warrants. The Investor acknowledges that an investment in the Common Stock is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Section 3.3. Authority. This Agreement and each agreement attached as an Exhibit hereto which is required to be executed by Investor has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Investor and is a valid and binding agreement of the Investor enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors' rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application. Section 3.4. Not an Affiliate. The Investor is not an officer, director or "affiliate" (as that term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) of the Company. Section 3.5. Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each agreement which is attached as an Exhibit hereto and executed by the Investor in connection herewith, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance with the requirements hereof and thereof by the Investor, will not violate any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on Investor or (a) violate any provision of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which Investor is a party or is subject, or by which Investor or any of its assets is bound; (b) conflict with or constitute a material default thereunder; (c) result in the creation or imposition of any lien pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement, or constitute a breach of any fiduciary duty owed by Investor to any third party; or (d) require the approval of any third-party (which has not been obtained) pursuant to any material contract, agreement, instrument, relationship or legal obligation to which Investor is subject or to which any of its assets, operations or management may be subject. Section 3.6. Disclosure; Access to Information. The Investor has received all documents, records, books and other publicly available information pertaining to Investor's investment in the Company that have been requested by the Investor. The Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and the Investor has reviewed copies of all SEC Documents deemed relevant by Investor. Section 3.7. Manner of Sale. At no time was Investor presented with or solicited by or through any leaflet, public promotional meeting, television advertisement or any other form of general solicitation or advertising. 6 7 ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES Section 4.1. Representation and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Investors: (a) Organization, Good Standing and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and has all requisite corporate authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company does not have any subsidiaries and does not own more than fifty percent (50%) of or control any other business entity except as set forth in the SEC Documents. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, other than those in which the failure so to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company's financial condition. (b) Authorization, Enforcement. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and the Warrants and to issue the Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares pursuant to their respective terms, (ii) the execution, issuance and delivery of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Common Stock certificates and the Warrants by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no further consent or authorization of the Company or its Board of Directors or stockholders is required, and (iii) this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Common Stock certificates representing the Shares and the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and at each Closing shall constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, receivership or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors' rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application. The Company has duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance shares of Common Stock sufficient in number for the issuance of the Warrant Shares. (c) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 45,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 20,936,252 shares are issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2000 and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which are outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock have been duly and validly authorized and are fully-paid and non-assessable, except as set forth in the SEC Documents. Except as set forth in this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and as set forth in the SEC Documents, or on Schedule 4.1(c) hereto, no shares of Common Stock are entitled to 7 8 preemptive rights or registration rights and 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, any shares of capital stock of the Company. Furthermore, except as set forth in this Agreement and as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(c), there are no contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of the capital stock of the Company or options, securities or rights convertible into shares of capital stock of the Company. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(c), the Company is not a party to any agreement granting registration rights to any person with respect to any of its equity or debt securities. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(c), the Company is not a party to, and it has no knowledge of, any agreement restricting the voting or transfer of any shares of the capital stock of the Company. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(c) hereto, the offer and sale of all capital stock, convertible securities, rights, warrants, or options of the Company issued prior to the Closing complied with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and no stockholder has a right of rescission or damages with respect thereto which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company's financial condition or operating results. The Company has made available to the Investors true and correct copies of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation as in effect on the date hereof (the "Articles"), and the Company's Bylaws as in effect on the date hereof (the "Bylaws"). The Company has not received any notice from the Principal Market questioning or threatening the continued inclusion of the Common Stock on such market. (d) Exemption from Registration; Valid Issuances Subject to the accuracy of the Investors' representations in Article III, the sale of the Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares will not require registration under the Securities Act and/or any applicable state securities law. When issued and paid for in accordance with the Warrants, the Warrant Shares will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and non assessable. The Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares shall not subject the Investors to personal liability to the Company or its creditors by reason of the possession thereof. (e) No Conflicts. The sale of the Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and the Warrants by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein and therein do not and will not (i) violate any provision of the Company's Articles or Bylaws, (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, mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, note, bond, license, lease agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Company is a party, (iii) create or impose a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property of the Company under any agreement or any commitment to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or by which any of its respective properties or assets are bound, or (iv) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or other foreign statute, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including any federal or state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries are bound or affected, except, in all cases, for such conflicts, defaults, termination, amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The business of the 8 9 Company and its subsidiaries is not being conducted in violation of any laws, ordinances or regulations of any governmental entity, except for possible violations which singularly or in the aggregate do not and will not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not required under any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement, or issue and sell the Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof (other than any filings which may be required to be made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or state securities administrators subsequent to the Initial Closing and any registration statement which may be filed pursuant hereto); provided that, for purpose of the representation made in this sentence, the Company is assuming and relying upon the accuracy of the relevant representations and agreements of the Investors herein. (f) Commission Documents, Financial Statements. The Common Stock of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and, except as disclosed in the Commission Documents or on Schedule 4.1(f) hereto, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, including material filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (all of the foregoing including filings incorporated by reference therein being referred to herein as the "Commission Documents"). The Company has delivered or made available to the Investors true and complete copies of the Commission Documents filed with the SEC since October 31, 1999. The Company has not provided to the Investors any information which, according to applicable law, rule or regulation, should have been disclosed publicly by the Company but which has not been so disclosed, other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As of their respective filing dates, the Commission Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such documents, and, as of their respective filing dates, none of the Commission Documents 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. The financial statements of the Company included in the Commission Documents comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC or other applicable rules and regulations with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements), and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of 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). (g) No Integrated Offering. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(g), other than pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or pursuant to the issuance or exercise of employee stock options, or pursuant to its discussion with the Investors in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company has not issued, offered or 9 10 sold its Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock within the six-month period next preceding the date hereof, and the Company shall not permit any of its directors, officers or affiliates directly or indirectly to take, any action (including, without limitation, any offering or sale to any Person of the Shares or Warrants), so as to make unavailable the exemption from Securities Act registration being relied upon by the Company for the offer and sale to Investors of the Shares or the Warrants (and the Warrant Shares) as contemplated by this Agreement. (h) Subsidiaries. The SEC Documents or Schedule 4.1(h) hereto sets forth each subsidiary of the Company, showing the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and showing the percentage of each person's ownership of the outstanding stock or other interests of such subsidiary. For the purposes of this Agreement, "subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (absolutely or contingently) for the election of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time owned directly or indirectly by the Company and/or any of its other subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. There are no outstanding preemptive, conversion or other rights, options, warrants or agreements granted or issued by or binding upon any subsidiary for the purchase or acquisition of any shares of capital stock of any subsidiary or any other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the rights to subscribe for any shares of such capital stock. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is subject to any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of the capital stock of any subsidiary or any convertible securities, rights, warrants or options of the type described in the preceding sentence. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is a party to, nor has any knowledge of, any agreement restricting the voting or transfer of any shares of the capital stock of any subsidiary. (i) No Material Adverse Effect. Since April 30, 2000 no Material Adverse Effect has occurred or exists with respect to the Company, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(i) hereof. (j) No Misleading or Untrue Communication. The Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, any person representing the Company, have not made, at any time, any oral communication in connection with the offer or sale of the same which contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. (k) Material Non-Public Information. Other than information which the Company shall disclose in the Registration Statement, the Company has not disclosed to the Investors any material non-public information that (i) if disclosed, would reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the price of the Common Stock or (ii) according to applicable law, rule or regulation, should have been disclosed publicly by the Company prior to the date hereof but which has not been so disclosed. 10 11 (l) No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(l) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liabilities, obligations, claims or losses (whether liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) that would be required to be disclosed on a balance sheet of the Company or any subsidiary (including the notes thereto) in conformity with GAAP which are not disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company's or its subsidiaries' respective businesses since such date and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or its subsidiaries. (m) No Undisclosed Events or Circumstances. Since April 30, 2000, no event or circumstance has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its businesses, properties, prospects, operations or financial condition, that, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or announcement prior to the date hereof by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed in the SEC Documents. (n) Indebtedness. The SEC Documents or Schedule 4.1(n) hereto sets forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary, or for which the Company or any subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Indebtedness" shall mean (A) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $250,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (B) all guaranties, endorsements and contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company's balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (C) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $250,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness. (o) Title to Assets. Each of the Company and the subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of its real and personal property reflected in the SEC Documents, free of any mortgages, pledges, charges, liens, security interests or other encumbrances, except for those indicated in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(o) hereto or such that do not cause a Material Adverse Effect on the Company's financial condition or operating results. All said leases of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and in full force and effect. (p) Actions Pending. There is no action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any subsidiary which questions the validity of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or to be taken pursuant hereto or thereto. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(p) hereto, there is no action, suit, claim, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or involving the Company, any subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets. There are no outstanding orders, judgments, injunctions, awards or decrees of any court, arbitrator or governmental or regulatory body against the Company or any subsidiary. 11 12 (q) Compliance with Law. The business of the Company and the subsidiaries has been and is presently being conducted in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local governmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances, except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(q) hereto or such that do not cause a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have all franchises, permits, licenses, consents and other governmental or regulatory authorizations and approvals necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now being conducted by them unless the failure to possess such franchises, permits, licenses, consents and other governmental or regulatory authorizations and approvals, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. (r) Taxes. The Company and each subsidiary has filed all Tax Returns which it is required to file under applicable laws; all such Tax Returns are true and accurate and have been prepared in compliance with all applicable laws; the Company has paid all Taxes due and owing by it or any subsidiary (whether or not such Taxes are required to be shown on a Tax Return) and have withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities all Taxes which it is required to withhold from amounts paid or owing to any employee, stockholder, creditor or other third parties; and since October 31, 1999, the charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes with respect to the Company (including any provisions for deferred income taxes) reflected on the books of the Company are adequate to cover any Tax liabilities of the Company if its current tax year were treated as ending on the date hereof. No claim has been made by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file tax returns that the Company or any subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no foreign, federal, state or local tax audits or administrative or judicial proceedings pending or being conducted with respect to the Company or any subsidiary; no information related to Tax matters has been requested by any foreign, federal, state or local taxing authority; and, except as disclosed above, no written notice indicating an intent to open an audit or other review has been received by the Company or any subsidiary from any foreign, federal, state or local taxing authority. There are no material unresolved questions or claims concerning the Company's Tax liability. The Company (A) has not executed or entered into a closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Internal Revenue Code or any predecessor provision thereof or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law; and (B) has not agreed to or is required to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law by reason of a change in accounting method initiated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has any knowledge that the IRS has proposed any such adjustment or change in accounting method, or has any application pending with any taxing authority requesting permission for any changes in accounting methods that relate to the business or operations of the Company. The Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company has not made an election under Section 341(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company is not liable for the Taxes of another person that is not a subsidiary of the 12 13 Company under (A) Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law), (B) as a transferee or successor, (C) by contract or indemnity or (D) otherwise. The Company is not a party to any tax sharing agreement. The Company has not made any payments, is not obligated to make payments nor is it a party to an agreement that could obligate it to make any payments that would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. For purposes of this Section 4.1(r): "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service. "Tax" or "Taxes" means federal, state, county, local, foreign, or other income, gross receipts, ad valorem, franchise, profits, sales or use, transfer, registration, excise, utility, environmental, communications, real or personal property, capital stock, license, payroll, wage or other withholding, employment, social security, severance, stamp, occupation, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated and other taxes of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, deficiencies, penalties, additions to tax, and interest attributable thereto) whether disputed or not. "Tax Return" means any return, information report or filing with respect to Taxes, including any schedules attached thereto and including any amendment thereof. (s) Certain Fees. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.1(s) hereto, no brokers, finders or financial advisory fees or commissions will be payable by the Company or any subsidiary with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (t) Disclosure. To the best of the Company's knowledge, neither this Agreement or the Schedules hereto nor any other documents, certificates or instruments furnished to the Investors by or on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made herein or therein, not misleading. (u) Operation of Business. The Company and each of the subsidiaries owns or possesses all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and authorizations as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(u) hereto, and all rights with respect to the foregoing, which are necessary for the conduct of its business as now conducted without any conflict with the rights of others. (v) Regulatory Compliance. The Company has all necessary licenses, registrations and permits to conduct its business as now being conducted in all states where the Company conducts its business. (w) Books and Records. The records and documents of the Company and its subsidiaries accurately reflect in all material respects the information relating to the business of the Company and the subsidiaries, the location and collection of their assets, and the nature of all 13 14 transactions giving rise to the obligations or accounts receivable of the Company or any subsidiary. (x) Material Agreements. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, or on Schedule 4.1(x) hereto, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is a party to any written or oral contract, instrument, agreement, commitment, obligation, plan or arrangement, a copy of which would be required to be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a registration statement on Form S-1 or other applicable form (collectively, "Material Agreements") if the Company or any subsidiary were registering securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(x), the Company and each of its subsidiaries has in all material respects performed all the obligations required to be performed by them to date under the foregoing agreements, have received no notice of default and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, are not in default under any Material Agreement now in effect, the result of which could cause a Material Adverse Effect. No written or oral contract, instrument, agreement, commitment, obligation, plan or arrangement of the Company or of any subsidiary limits or shall limit the payment of dividends on the Company's Common Stock. (y) Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(y) hereto, there are no loans, leases, agreements, contracts, royalty agreements, management contracts or arrangements or other continuing transactions exceeding $100,000 between (A) the Company, any subsidiary or any of their respective customers or suppliers on the one hand, and (B) on the other hand, any officer, employee, consultant or director of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, or any person owning any capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary or any member of the immediate family of such officer, employee, consultant, director or stockholder or any corporation or other entity controlled by such officer, employee, consultant, director or stockholder, or a member of the immediate family of such officer, employee, consultant, director or stockholder. (z) Securities Laws. The Company has complied and will comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with the offer, issuance and sale of the Shares hereunder. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf, directly or indirectly, has or will sell, offer to sell or solicit offers to buy the Shares or similar securities to, or solicit offers with respect thereto from, or enter into any preliminary conversations or negotiations relating thereto with, any person (other than the Investors), so as to bring the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares under the registration provisions of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares. (aa) Employees. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has any collective bargaining arrangements or agreements covering any of its employees, except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(aa) hereto. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or on Schedule 4.1(aa) hereto, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in breach of any employment contract, agreement regarding proprietary information, noncompetition agreement, nonsolicitation agreement, confidentiality agreement, or any other similar contract or restrictive 14 15 covenant, relating to the right of any officer, employee or consultant to be employed or engaged by the Company or such subsidiary. Since the date of the October 31, 1999, Form 10-K, no officer, consultant or key employee of the Company or any subsidiary whose termination, either individually or in the aggregate, could have a Material Adverse Effect, has terminated or, to the knowledge of the Company, has any present intention of terminating his or her employment or engagement with the Company or any subsidiary. (bb) Absence of Certain Developments. Except as provided in SEC Documents or in Schedule 4.1(bb) hereto, since April 30, 2000, neither the Company nor any subsidiary has: (i) issued any stock, bonds or other corporate securities or any rights, options or warrants with respect thereto; (ii) borrowed any amount or incurred or become subject to any liabilities (absolute or contingent) except current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business which are comparable in nature and amount to the current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business during the comparable portion of its prior fiscal year, as adjusted to reflect the current nature and volume of the Company's or such subsidiary's business; (iii) discharged or satisfied any lien or encumbrance or paid any obligation or liability (absolute or contingent), other than current liabilities paid in the ordinary course of business; (iv) declared or made any payment or distribution of cash or other property to stockholders with respect to its stock, or purchased or redeemed, or made any agreements so to purchase or redeem, any shares of its capital stock; (v) sold, assigned or transferred any other tangible assets, or canceled any debts or claims, except in the ordinary course of business; (vi) sold, assigned or transferred any patent rights, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets or other intangible assets or intellectual property rights, or disclosed any proprietary confidential information, to any person except to customers in the ordinary course of business or to the Investors or their representatives; (vii) suffered any substantial losses or waived any rights of material value, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, or suffered the loss of any material amount of prospective business; (viii) made any changes in employee compensation except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices; (ix) made capital expenditures or commitments therefor that aggregate in excess of $500,000; 15 16 (x) entered into any other material transaction, whether or not in the ordinary course of business; (xi) suffered any material damage, destruction or casualty loss, whether or not covered by insurance; (xii) experienced any material problems with labor or management in connection with the terms and conditions of their employment; or (xiii) effected any two or more events of the foregoing kind which in the aggregate would be material to the Company or its subsidiaries. (cc) Use of Proceeds. The proceeds from the sale of the Shares will be used by the Company and its subsidiaries for general corporate purposes. (dd) Acknowledgment Regarding Investors' Purchase of Shares. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Investors are acting solely in the capacity of arm's length purchaser with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder. The Company further acknowledges that the Investors are not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder and any advice given by the Investors or any of their representatives or agents in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder is merely incidental to the Investors' purchase of the Shares. The Company further represents to the Investors that the Company's decision to enter into this Agreement has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its own representatives and counsel. ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF EACH INVESTOR Each Investor, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company that: Section 5.1. Compliance with Law. The Investor's trading activities with respect to shares of the Company's Common Stock will be in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws, rules and regulations and rules and regulations of the Principal Market on which the Company's Common Stock. 16 17 ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY Section 6.1. Registration Rights. The Company shall cause the Registration Rights Agreement to remain in full force and effect and the Company shall comply in all material respects with the terms thereof and shall use best efforts to timely prepare and file the Registration Statement. Section 6.2. Reservation of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue the Shares at the Closing and Warrant Shares pursuant to any exercise of the Warrants. The number of shares so reserved from time to time, as theretofore increased or reduced as hereinafter provided, may be reduced by the number of shares actually delivered pursuant to any exercise of the Warrants by an Investor and the number of shares so reserved shall be increased or decreased to reflect potential increases or decreases in the Common Stock that the Company may thereafter be obligated to issue by reason of adjustments to the Warrants or adjustments to the Investor's rights to demand Shares. Section 6.3. Listing of Common Stock. The Company hereby agrees to maintain the listing of the Common Stock on a Principal Market, and as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing to list the Shares and the Warrant Shares on the Principal Market. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Principal Market, it will include in such application the Shares and the Warrant Shares, and will take such other action as is necessary or desirable in the opinion of the Investors to cause the Shares and the Warrant Shares to be listed on such other Principal Market as promptly as possible. The Company will take all action to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on a Principal Market and will comply in all respects with the Company's reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Principal Market and shall provide Investors with copies of any correspondence to or from such Principal Market which questions or threatens delisting of the Common Stock, within three (3) Trading Days of the Company's receipt thereof, until the Investors have disposed of all of their Registrable Securities. Section 6.4. Exchange Act Registration. The Company will cause its Common Stock to continue to be registered under Section 12(b) or (g) of the Exchange Act, will use its best efforts to comply in all respects with its reporting and filing obligations under the Exchange Act, and will not take any action or file any document (whether or not permitted by the Exchange Act or the rules thereunder) to terminate or suspend such registration or to terminate or suspend its reporting and filing obligations under said Act until the Investors have disposed of all of their Registrable Securities. Section 6.5. Legends. The certificates evidencing the Registrable Securities shall be free of legends, except as set forth in Article IX. If the Transfer Agent requires an opinion of counsel from the Company's counsel pursuant to the Instructions to Transfer Agent attached hereto to issue new certificates free of a legend to an Investor and the Investor has complied with the 17 18 Instructions to the Transfer Agent and Company's counsel fails to deliver such opinion within ten (10) Trading Days from such a request from the Transfer Agent, then the Company will pay such Investor (pro rated on a daily basis), as liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty, ten percent (10%) per month of the market value of the shares of Common Stock purchased from the Company and surrendered by the Investor to the Transfer Agent for removal of the legend until such opinion is provided or such securities are issued without legends, notwithstanding the fact that the Company has instructed the Transfer Agent to accept such an opinion from such Investor's counsel. Section 6.6. Corporate Existence; Conflicting Agreements. The Company will take all steps necessary to preserve and continue the corporate existence of the Company. The Company shall not enter into any agreement, the terms of which agreement would restrict or impair the right or ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other agreements attached as exhibits hereto. Section 6.7. Consolidation; Merger. The Company shall not, at any time after the date hereof, effect any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into, or a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to, another entity (a "Consolidation Event") unless the resulting successor or acquiring entity (if not the Company) assumes by written instrument or by operation of law the obligation to deliver to the Investors such shares of stock and/or securities as the Investors are entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement. Section 6.8. Issuance of Common Stock and Warrant Shares. The sale of the Shares and the Warrants and the issuance of the Warrant Shares pursuant to exercise of the Warrants shall be made in accordance with the provisions and requirements of Section 4(2), 4(6) or Regulation D and any applicable state securities law. The Company shall make any necessary SEC and "blue sky" filings required to be made by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Investors as required by all applicable laws, and shall provide a copy thereof to the Investors promptly after such filing. ARTICLE VII SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION Section 7.1. Survival. The representations, warranties and covenants made by each of the Company and each Investor in this Agreement, the annexes, schedules and exhibits hereto and in each instrument, agreement and certificate entered into and delivered by them pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive Closing and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby until the Investor no longer holds any of the Common Stock. In the event of a breach or violation of any of such representations, warranties or covenants, the party to whom such representations, warranties or covenants have been made shall have all rights and remedies for such breach or violation available to it under the provisions of this Agreement, irrespective of any investigation made by or on behalf of such party on or prior to the Closing Date. Section 7.2. Indemnity. (a) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investors, their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners and 18 19 members (collectively, the "Investor Indemnitees"), from and against any and all Damages, and agrees to reimburse the Investor Indemnitees for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), in each case promptly as incurred by the Investor Indemnitees and to the extent arising out of or in connection with: (i) any misrepresentation, omission of fact or breach of any of the Company's representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, the annexes, schedules or exhibits hereto or any instrument, agreement or certificate entered into or delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement; or (ii) any failure by the Company to perform in any material respect any of its covenants, agreements, undertakings or obligations set forth in this Agreement, the annexes, schedules or exhibits hereto or any instrument, agreement or certificate entered into or delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement; or (iii) any action instituted against the Investors, or any of them, by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of an Investor, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (b) Each Investor, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, partners and members (collectively, the "Company Indemnitees"), from and against any and all Damages, and agrees to reimburse the Company Indemnitees for reasonable all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), in each case promptly as incurred by the Company Indemnitees and to the extent arising out of or in connection with any misrepresentation, omission of fact, or breach of any of the Investor's representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, the annexes, schedules or exhibits hereto or any instrument, agreement or certificate entered into or delivered by the Investor pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Investor shall not be liable under this Section 7.2(b) for any amount in excess of the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. Section 7.3. Notice. Promptly after receipt by either party hereto seeking indemnification pursuant to Section 7.2 (an "Indemnified Party") of written notice of any investigation, claim, proceeding or other action in respect of which indemnification is being sought (each, a "Claim"), the Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the party from whom indemnification pursuant to Section 7.2 is being sought (the "Indemnifying Party") of the commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any liability that it otherwise may have to the Indemnified Party, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such omission or delay. In connection with any Claim as to which both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party are parties, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof. Notwithstanding the assumption of the defense of any Claim by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate legal counsel and to participate in the defense of such Claim, and the Indemnifying Party shall bear the reasonable fees, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of such separate legal counsel to the 19 20 Indemnified Party if (and only if): (x) the Indemnifying Party shall have agreed to pay such fees, out-of-pocket costs and expenses, (y) the Indemnified Party reasonably shall have concluded that representation of the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party by the same legal counsel would not be appropriate due to actual or, as reasonably determined by legal counsel to the Indemnified Party, potentially differing interests between such parties in the conduct of the defense of such Claim, or if there may be legal defenses available to the Indemnified Party that are in addition to or disparate from those available to the Indemnifying Party, or (z) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed to employ legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of such Claim. If the Indemnified Party employs separate legal counsel in circumstances other than as described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) above, the fees, costs and expenses of such legal counsel shall be borne exclusively by the Indemnified Party. Except as provided above, the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any Claim in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of legal counsel for the Indemnified Party (together with appropriate local counsel). The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld), settle or compromise any Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment that does not include an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liabilities with respect to such Claim or judgment. All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable costs of defense and investigation in a manner not inconsistent with this Section and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten (10) Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). Section 7.4. Direct Claims. In the event one party hereunder should have a claim for indemnification that does not involve a claim or demand being asserted by a third party, the Indemnified Party promptly shall deliver notice of such claim to the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnified Party disputes the claim, such dispute shall be resolved by mutual agreement of the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or by binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the procedures and rules of the American Arbitration Association as set forth in Article X. Judgment upon any award rendered by any arbitrators may be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction thereof. ARTICLE VIII DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW; NON-DISCLOSURE OF NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION. Section 8.1. Due Diligence Review. Subject to Section 8.2, the Company shall make available for inspection and review by the Investors, advisors to and representatives of the Investors (who may or may not be affiliated with the Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the 20 21 Company), any underwriter participating in any disposition of the Registrable Securities on behalf of the Investors pursuant to the Registration Statement, any such registration statement or amendment or supplement thereto or any blue sky, Principal Market or other filing, all SEC Documents and other filings with the SEC, and all other publicly available corporate documents and properties of the Company as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all such publicly available information reasonably requested by the Investors or any such representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with such Registration Statement (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the Investors and such representatives, advisors and underwriters and their respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of the Registration Statement. Section 8.2. Non-Disclosure of Non-Public Information. (a) The Company shall not disclose material non-public information to the Investors, advisors to or representatives of the Investors unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being non-public information and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such non-public information for review. Other than disclosure of any comment letters received from the SEC staff with respect to the Registration Statement, the Company may, as a condition to disclosing any non-public information hereunder, require the Investors' advisors and representatives to enter into a confidentiality agreement in form and content reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Investors. (b) Nothing herein shall require the Company to disclose material non-public information to the Investors or their advisors or representatives, and the Company represents that it does not disseminate material non-public information to any investors who purchase stock in the Company in a public offering, to money managers or to securities analysts, provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will, as hereinabove provided, promptly notify the advisors and representatives of the Investors and, if any, underwriters, of any event or the existence of any circumstance (without any obligation to disclose the specific event or circumstance) of which it becomes aware, constituting material non-public information (whether or not requested of the Company specifically or generally during the course of due diligence by such persons or entities), which, if not disclosed in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement would cause such prospectus to include a material misstatement or to omit a material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements, therein in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. Nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall be construed to mean that such persons or entities other than the Investors (without the written consent of the Investors prior to disclosure of such information as set forth in Section 8.2(a)) may not obtain non-public information in the course of conducting due diligence in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and nothing herein shall prevent any such persons or entities from notifying the Company of their opinion that based on such due diligence by such persons or entities, that the Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact required to be stated in the 21 22 Registration Statement or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. ARTICLE IX LEGENDS; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS Section 9.1. Legends. Unless otherwise provided below, each certificate representing Registrable Securities will bear the following legend or equivalent (the "Legend"): THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO A TRANSACTION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION. Section 9.2. Transfer Agent Instructions. Upon the execution and delivery hereof, the Company is issuing to the transfer agent for its Common Stock (and to any substitute or replacement transfer agent for its Common Stock upon the Company's appointment of any such substitute or replacement transfer agent) instructions substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto. Such instructions shall be irrevocable by the Company from and after the date hereof or from and after the issuance thereof to any such substitute or replacement transfer agent, as the case may be. Section 9.3. No Other Legend or Stock Transfer Restrictions. No legend other than the one specified in Section 9.1 has been or shall be placed on the share certificates representing the Registrable Securities and no instructions or "stop transfer orders," "stock transfer restrictions," or other restrictions have been or shall be given to the Company's transfer agent with respect thereto other than as expressly set forth in this Article IX. Section 9.4. Investors' Compliance. Nothing in this Article shall affect in any way each Investor's obligations to comply with all applicable securities laws upon resale of the Common Stock. 22 23 ARTICLE X CHOICE OF LAW Section 10.1. Governing Law/Arbitration. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York City and without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute under this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration under the American Arbitration Association (the "AAA") in New York City, New York, and shall be finally and conclusively determined by the decision of a board of arbitration consisting of three (3) members (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Arbitration") selected according to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of Arbitration shall meet on consecutive business days in New York City, New York, and shall reach and render a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of the members of the Board of Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any, which the losing party is required to pay to the other party in respect of a claim filed. In connection with rendering its decisions, the Board of Arbitration shall adopt and follow the laws of the State of New York unless the matter at issue is the corporation law of the company's state of incorporation, in which event the corporation law of such jurisdiction shall govern such issue. To the extent practical, decisions of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no more than thirty (30) calendar days following commencement of proceedings with respect thereto. The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be delivered to all parties involved in the dispute. Any decision made by the Board of Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty (30) calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties to the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Board of Arbitration shall be authorized and is hereby directed to enter a default judgment against any party failing to participate in any proceeding hereunder within the time periods set forth in the AAA rules. The prevailing party shall be awarded its costs, including attorneys' fees, from the non-prevailing party as part of the arbitration award. Any party shall have the right to seek injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any case where such relief is available. The prevailing party in such injunctive action shall be awarded its costs, including attorney's fees, from the non-prevailing party. ARTICLE XI ASSIGNMENT Section 11.1. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights of the Investors or the Company hereunder may be assigned by either party to any other person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, any permitted transferee of any of the Shares or Warrants purchased or acquired by any Investor hereunder with respect to the Shares or Warrants held by such person, and (b) upon the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, each Investor's interest in this Agreement may be assigned at any time, in whole or in part, to any other person or entity (including any Affiliate of the Investor) who agrees to make the representations and warranties of such Investor contained in Article III and who agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any such transfers shall be in minimum denominations of 50,000 shares of Common Stock or for 10,000 Warrant Shares. 23 24 ARTICLE XII NOTICES Section 12.1. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) hand delivered, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by facsimile, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the initial business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the first business day following the date of sending by reputable courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or (c) upon actual receipt of such mailing, if mailed. The addresses for such communications shall be: If to the Company: 2425 E. Camelback Road, Suite 650 Phoenix, AZ 85016 Attn: Ronald Lane, Ph.D. Tel: (602) 508-0112 Fax: (602) 508-0115 with a copy to (shall not Greenberg Traurig, LLP constitute notice): 1 East Camelback Suite 1100 Phoenix, Arizona 85012 Attn: Jean E. Harris, Esq. Telephone: (602) 263-2512 Facsimile: (602) 263-2350 if to the Investor: As set forth on the signature pages hereto with a copy to: Robert F. Charron, Esq. (shall not constitute notice) Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. 250 Park Avenue New York, New York Telephone: (212) 351-3771 Facsimile: (212) 661-0989 Either party hereto may from time to time change its address or facsimile number for notices under this Section 11.1 by giving written notice of such changed address or facsimile number to the other party hereto as provided in this Section 11.1. 24 25 ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS Section 13.1. Counterparts/ Facsimile/ Amendments. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which may be executed by less than all of the parties and shall be deemed to be an original instrument which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Except as otherwise stated herein, in lieu of the original documents, a facsimile transmission or copy of the original documents shall be as effective and enforceable as the original. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing executed by all parties. Section 13.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the agreements attached as Exhibits hereto, which, include but are not limited to the Warrants, the Escrow Agreement, and the Registration Rights Agreement, set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations and understandings between the parties, both oral and written relating to the subject matter hereof. The terms and conditions of all Exhibits to this Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference and shall constitute part of this Agreement as is fully set forth herein. Section 13.3. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that such severability shall be ineffective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party. Section 13.4. Number and Gender. There may be one or more Investors parties to this Agreement, which Investors may be natural persons or entities. All references to plural Investors shall apply equally to a single Investor if there is only one Investor, and all references to an Investor as "it" shall apply equally to a natural person. Section 13.5. Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. Section 13.6. Replacement of Certificates. Upon (i) receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a certificate representing the Shares or Warrants or any Warrant Shares and (ii) in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, upon delivery of an indemnity agreement or security reasonably satisfactory in form to the Company (which shall not include the positing of any bond) or (iii) in the case of any such mutilation, on surrender and cancellation of such certificate, the Company at its expense will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new certificate of like tenor. Section 13.7. Fees and Expenses. Each of the Company and the Investors agree to pay its own expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, except that the Company shall pay 10,000 shares of Common Stock, in the aggregate, issued to the Investors for the fees, expenses and disbursements of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., counsel to the Investors, all as set forth in the Escrow Agreement. 25 26 Section 13.8. Brokerage. Each of the parties hereto represents that it has had no dealings in connection with this transaction with any finder or broker who will demand payment of any fee or commission from the other party. The Company on the one hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, agree to indemnify the other against and hold the other harmless from any and all liabilities to any person claiming brokerage commissions or finder's fees on account of services purported to have been rendered on behalf of the indemnifying party in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Section 13.9. Publicity. The Company agrees that it will not issue any press release or other public announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior consent of the Investors, which shall not be unreasonably withheld nor delayed by more than two (2) Trading Days from their receipt of such proposed release. No release shall name the Investors without their express consent. 26 27 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Purchase Agreement to be executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, as of this 20th day of September, 2000. BIONUTRICS, INC. By: /s/ Ronald H. Lane ------------------------------------ Ronald Lane, President & CEO INVESTORS: AMRO INTERNATIONAL, S.A. By: /s/ H. U. Bachofen ------------------------------------ H.U. Bachofen, Director c/o Ultra Finanz AG Grossmuensterplatz 6 Zurich CH-8022, Switzerland Fax: 011 ###-###-#### Aggregate Purchase Price: $500,000 27