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EX-10.20 19 o55928exv10w20.htm EX-10.20 exv10w20
FISCAL ADVISORY FEE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is dated as of the 29th day of June, 2009 among VUZIX CORPORATION (the “Corporation”) and CANACCORD CAPITAL CORPORATION and BOLDER INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LTD. (together, the “Advisors”).
WHEREAS the Advisors, each of whom is a registered dealer under the securities laws of certain provinces of Canada, have provided and continue to provide, to the Corporation certain fiscal advisory services as more particularly described in Schedule “A” hereto (the “Services”), including, without limitation, providing advice to the Corporation regarding debt and equity financing strategies for the Corporation;
AND WHEREAS the Corporation is now proposing to conduct an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of its securities in Canada and the United States;
AND WHEREAS the parties now wish to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which the Corporation will agree to provide to the Advisors additional compensation for providing the Services;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises set out herein and such other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.   Concurrent with closing of the IPO and provided that this agreement has not terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company agrees that it will, as a fiscal advisory fee (the “Fiscal Advisory Fee”) in respect of the Services, issue to the Advisors, such number of shares (the “Payment Shares”) of its common stock as is equal to the lesser of (a) the Fee Rate (as determined pursuant to Section 2 hereof) multiplied by the aggregate number of shares of the Corporation’s common stock outstanding as of such date, including all such shares issued pursuant to the IPO, and (b) such number as may be acceptable to all applicable regulatory authorities (including approval of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s shares of common stock are proposed to be listed). Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) no Payment Shares shall be issuable to an Advisor unless such Advisor is, at the time of closing of the IPO, a member of the syndicate of investment dealers formed in connection with the IPO; and (ii) to the extent that no Proceeds (as defined below) are raised from the sale of securities pursuant to the IPO, then no Fiscal Advisory Fee shall be payable.
 
2.   For purposes of this Agreement, the “Fee Rate” shall be determined based on the total gross proceeds raised from the sale of securities of the Corporation pursuant to the IPO (the “Proceeds”). In the event that the Proceeds are (a) less than Cdn$8,000,000, then the Fee Rate shall be 1.00%; (b) Cdn$8,000,000 to Cdn$9,999,999, then the Fee Rate shall be 1.25%; (c) Cdn$10,000,000 to Cdn$12,499,999, then the Fee Rate shall be 1.50%; and (d) Cdn$12,500,000 or more, then the Fee Rate shall be 2.00%.


 

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3.   In the event that the IPO closes in more than one tranche, the Fee Rate and the number of Payment Shares shall be recalculated at each such closing and the Corporation shall issue to the Advisors in accordance with this Agreement such additional number of shares of its common stock as is equal to the number of Payment Shares so recalculated, less any Payment Shares issued to the Advisors on prior closings.
 
4.   Each of the Advisors will be entitled to receive 25% of the Payment Shares. In addition, the Corporation shall either allocate all of the remaining 50% of the Payment Shares between the Advisors in such proportions as the Corporation may deem to be most equitable, based on the performance of the Advisors in connection with the IPO, or cancel that remaining portion of the Fiscal Advisory Fee.
 
5.   Each Advisor represents and warrants to the Corporation that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106. The Payment Shares to be issued to each of the Advisors shall be registered in the name or names or for the benefit of the respective Advisor may direct and shall be delivered to or to the direction of the respective Advisors concurrent with closing of the IPO.
 
6.   The Corporation is relying on the representations and warranties contained herein, along with filings made by the Advisors with applicable regulatory authorities to determine each Advisor’s eligibility to be issued the Payment Shares under applicable securities laws. Each Advisor hereby severally agrees to indemnify the Corporation and each of its directors and officers against all losses, claims, costs, expenses, damages or liabilities which any of them may suffer or incur as a result of or arising from reliance thereon.
 
7.   The Corporation hereby represents and warrants to the Advisors that this Agreement has been authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Corporation and is a legal and binding agreement enforceable against it.
 
8.   This Agreement supersedes, terminates and cancels any and all previous agreements, representations or warranties, written or oral, between the parties relating to the Fiscal Advisory Fee and the Payment Shares.
 
9.   Each Advisor hereby irrevocably agrees that the Payment Shares will be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable securities laws and the rules of any stock exchange on which the Corporation’s shares of common stock are proposed to be listed and will be subject to further resale restrictions for a period of one year following the date of issuance pursuant to the Advisors’ form of lock-up agreement.
 
10.   This Agreement will terminate and be of no further force or effect without further action by any party, on October 31, 2009, provided that if the first tranche of the IPO has closed prior to such date, this Agreement will continue to apply to subsequent closings of the IPO after such date.


 

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11.   This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the parties attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario for the resolution of all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.
 
12.   This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts (including by fax), each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall have the same force and effect as an original and such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed and delivered this agreement as of the date first written above
         
       
 
VUZIX CORPORATION
 
   
Per:    /s/ Paul J. Travers      
    Authorized Signatory     
 
       
 
CANACCORD CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
   
Per:    /s/ David Rentz      
    Authorized Signatory     
 
       
 
BOLDER INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LTD.
 
   
Per:    /s/ Paul Woodward      
    Authorized Signatory     
 


 

 

SCHEDULE “A”
The Advisors will render financial advisory services that are typical for an engagement of this type. It is contemplated that the Advisors will assist the Corporation in the following manner:
  (a)   assisting and advising the Corporation with respect to capital markets strategies;
 
  (b)   facilitating introductions of the Corporation to prospective providers of debt and equity capital, including venture capital;
 
  (c)   assisting the Corporation in its development of an investor relations strategy and communications with existing investors;
 
  (d)   assisting and advising the Corporation with respect to negotiating the form, structure, terms and price of a proposed financing;
 
  (e)   identifying, approaching and conducting discussions with prospective investors;
 
  (f)   assisting the Corporation in the preparation of any confidential information memorandum or other documents appropriate for the solicitation of expressions of interest from third parties;
 
  (g)   assisting and advising the Corporation with respect to negotiating the form, structure, terms and price of a proposed financing;
 
  (h)   providing the Corporation with analysis and advice as to the financial implications of a proposed financing;
 
  (i)   together with the Corporation’s counsel, assisting in negotiating documentation necessary to complete a proposed financing; and
 
  (j)   providing such other financial advisory services as the Corporation and the Advisors agree are appropriate in the circumstances.