Exhibit 4.5
Unless this certificate is
presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the issuer
or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and
any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co.
or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or
to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF
FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as
the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.
NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE
SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED
OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE
FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II)
UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN
CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR
FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF
THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING
SECTIONS 3(c)(iii) AND 19(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE
UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON
THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS
NOTE.
CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE
SUBORDINATED NOTE
|
Date: December 15, 2005
|
|
Principal: Up to an Aggregate Amount of U.S.
$50,000,000
|
CUSIP: 26882D AB 5
FOR VALUE RECEIVED,
EPIQ SYSTEMS, INC., a Missouri
corporation (the “Company” ), hereby promises to
pay to the order of CEDE & CO. or registered assigns (
“Holder” ) the amount set out above as the
Principal (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to
redemption, conversion or otherwise, the
“Principal” ) when due, whether upon
the
1
Maturity Date (as defined below), acceleration,
redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms
hereof) and to pay interest ( “Interest” ) on
any outstanding Principal at the rate of 4.00% per annum, subject
to periodic adjustment pursuant to Section 2 (the
“Interest Rate” ), from the date set out above
as the Issuance Date (the “Issuance Date” )
until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon an Interest
Date (as defined below), the Maturity Date, acceleration,
conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance
with the terms hereof). This Contingent Convertible Subordinated
Note (including all Contingent Convertible Subordinated Notes
issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this
“Note” ) is one of an issue of Contingent
Convertible Subordinated Notes (collectively, the
“Notes” and such other Contingent Convertible
Subordinated Notes, the “Other Notes” ) issued
on the Issuance Date pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement
(as defined below). Certain capitalized terms are defined in
Section 29.
(1)
MATURITY . On the Maturity Date, the Holder shall surrender
this Note to the Company and the Company shall pay to the Holder an
amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and
unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges, if any. The
“Original Maturity Date” shall be June 15, 2007,
as may be extended in accordance with Section 8 hereof or as
extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for
so long as, an Event of Default (as defined in Section 4(a)) shall
have occurred and be continuing or any event shall have occurred
and be continuing which with the passage of time and the failure to
cure would result in an Event of Default and (ii) through the date
that is ten days after the consummation of a Change of Control (as
defined in Section 5(a)) in the event that a Change of Control is
publicly announced or a Change of Control Notice (as defined in
Section 5(a)) is delivered prior to the Maturity Date (as may be
extended, the “Maturity Date” ).
(2)
INTEREST; INTEREST RATE . Interest on this Note shall
commence accruing on the Issuance Date and shall be computed on the
basis of a 365-day year and actual days elapsed and shall be
payable in arrears on the first day of each Calendar Quarter and on
the Maturity Date during the period beginning on the Issuance Date
and ending on, and including, the Maturity Date (each, an
“Interest Date” ) with the first Interest Date
being July 1, 2004. Interest shall be payable on each Interest Date
in cash. From and after the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
Interest Rate shall be increased to 11%. In the event that such
Event of Default is subsequently cured, the adjustment referred to
in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the
date of such cure; provided that the Interest as calculated at such
increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default
shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after
the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the
date of cure of such Event of Default.
(3)
CONVERSION OF NOTES . This Note shall be convertible into
shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the “Common Stock” ), on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Section 3.
(a)
Conversion Right . (i) Subject to the provisions of
Section 3(d), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date,
the Holder shall be entitled to convert any portion of the
outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount (as defined below) in
increments of at least $100,000 of Principal (or such lesser amount
if such amount represents the remaining
2
Principal amount) into fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section
3(c), at the Conversion Rate (as defined below). The Company shall
not issue any fraction of a share of Common Stock upon any
conversion. If the issuance would result in the issuance of a
fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round such
fraction of a share of Common Stock up to the nearest whole share.
The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp or similar taxes
that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of
Common Stock upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.
(b)
Conversion Rate . The number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount pursuant to
Section 3(a) shall be determined by dividing (x) such Conversion
Amount by (y) the Conversion Price (as defined below) (the
“Conversion Rate” ).
(i)
“Conversion Amount” means the portion of the
Principal to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to
which this determination is being made.
(ii)
“Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion
Date (as defined below) or other date of determination, and subject
to adjustment as provided herein, $17.50.
(c)
Mechanics of Conversion .
(i)
Optional Conversion . To convert any Conversion Amount into
shares of Common Stock on any date (a “Conversion
Date” ), the Holder shall (A) transmit by facsimile (or
otherwise deliver), for receipt on or prior to 4:59 p.m., New York
Time, on such date, a copy of a duly executed and completed notice
of conversion in good order in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit I (the “Conversion Notice” ) to
the Company and (B) if required by Section 3(c)(iii), surrender
this Note to a common carrier for delivery to the Company as soon
as practicable on or following such date (or an indemnification
undertaking in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Company with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or
destruction). On or before the first Business Day following the
date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall transmit
by facsimile a confirmation of receipt of such Conversion Notice to
the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “
Transfer Agent ”). On or before the third Business Day
following the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice (the
“Share Delivery Date” ), the Company shall (X)
credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the
Holder shall be entitled to the Holder’s or its
designee’s balance account with Depository Trust Company
(“ DTC ”) through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent
Commission system or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating
in DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and
deliver to the address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a
certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee,
for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall
be entitled. If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion
as required by Section 3(c)(iii) and the outstanding Principal of
this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion
Amount being converted, then the Company shall as soon as
practicable and in no event later than three Business Days after
receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to
the holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 19(d))
representing the outstanding
3
Principal not converted. The Person
or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as
the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on the
Conversion Date.
(ii)
Company’s Failure to Timely Convert . If the Company
shall fail to issue a certificate to the Holder or credit the
Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of
Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon conversion of any
Conversion Amount on or prior to the date which is three Trading
Days after the Conversion Date, and if after such third Trading Day
the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise)
shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the
Holder of the shares of Common Stock that the Holder anticipated
receiving from the Company pursuant hereto (a “
Buy-In” ), then the Company shall, within three
Trading Days after the Holder’s request and in the
Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an
amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including
brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so
purchased (the “ Buy-In Price” ), at which point
the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to
issue such Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor
its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or
certificates representing such Common Stock and pay cash to the
Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In
Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common
Stock, times (B) the Closing Sale Price on the date of the event
giving rise to the Company’s obligation to deliver such
certificate. If the Company shall fail to issue a certificate to
the Holder or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC
for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is
entitled upon conversion of any Conversion Amount on or prior to
the date which is five Business Days after the Conversion Date (a
“Conversion Failure” ), then (A) the Company
shall pay damages to the Holder for each date of such Conversion
Failure in an amount equal to 1.0% of the product of (I) the sum of
the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or
prior to the Share Delivery Date and to which the Holder is
entitled, and (II) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on
the Share Delivery Date and (B) the Holder, upon written notice to
the Company, may void its Conversion Notice with respect to, and
retain or have returned, as the case may be, any portion of this
Note that has not been converted pursuant to such Conversion
Notice; provided that the voiding of a Conversion Notice shall not
affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments which
have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to this
Section 3(c)(ii) or otherwise.
(iii)
Book-Entry . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein, upon conversion of any portion of this Note in
accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required
to physically surrender this Note to the Company unless (A) the
full Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted
or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written
notice (which notice may be included in a Conversion Notice)
requesting physical surrender and reissue of this Note. The Holder
and the Company shall maintain records showing the Principal,
Interest and Late Charges converted and the dates of such
conversions or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory
to the Holder and the Company, so as not to require physical
surrender of this Note upon conversion.
4
(iv)
Pro Rata Conversion; Disputes . In the event that the
Company receives a Conversion Notice from more than one holder of
Notes for the same Conversion Date and the Company can convert
some, but not all, of such portions of the Notes submitted for
conversion, the Company, subject to Section 3(d), shall convert
from each holder of Notes electing to have Notes converted on such
date a pro rata amount of such holder’s portion of its Notes
submitted for conversion based on the principal amount of Notes
submitted for conversion on such date by such holder relative to
the aggregate principal amount of all Notes submitted for
conversion on such date. In the event of a dispute as to the number
of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holder in connection with
a conversion of this Note, the Company shall issue to the Holder
the number of shares of Common Stock not in dispute and resolve
such dispute in accordance with Section 24.
(d)
Limitations on Conversions .
(i)
Beneficial Ownership . The Company shall not effect any
conversion of this Note, and the Holder of this Note shall not have
the right to convert any portion of this Note pursuant to Section
3(a), to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion,
the Holder (together with the Holder’s affiliates) would
beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such
conversion. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its
affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of this Note with respect to which the
determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude the
number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A)
conversion of the remaining, nonconverted portion of this Note
beneficially owned by the 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 Notes or warrants) subject to a limitation on
conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein
beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates. Except
as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this
Section 3(d)(i), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in
accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. For purposes of this Section 3(d)(i), in
determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the
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, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or
(z) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting
forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any
reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder,
the Company shall within one Business Day confirm orally and in
writing to the 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
Note, by the Holder or its affiliates since the date as of which
such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was
reported.
5
(ii)
Principal Market Regulation . The Company shall not be
obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock upon conversion of
this Note if the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would
exceed that number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may
issue upon conversion of the Notes without breaching the
Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the
Principal Market (the “Exchange Cap” ), except
that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Company
(A) obtains the approval of its stockholders as required by the
applicable rules of the Principal Market for issuances of Common
Stock in excess of such amount or (B) obtains a written opinion
from outside counsel to the Company that such approval is not
required, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
holders of the Notes representing at least a majority of the
principal amounts of the Notes then outstanding. Until such
approval or written opinion is obtained, no purchaser of the Notes
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the
“Purchasers” ) shall be issued, upon conversion
of Notes, shares of Common Stock in an amount greater than the
product of the Exchange Cap multiplied by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the principal amount of Notes issued to such Purchaser
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Issuance Date
and the denominator of which is the aggregate principal amount of
all Notes issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement on the Issuance Date (with respect to each
Purchaser, the “Exchange Cap Allocation” ). In
the event that any Purchaser shall sell or otherwise transfer any
of such Purchaser’s Notes, the transferee shall be allocated
a pro rata portion of such Purchaser’s Exchange Cap
Allocation, and the restrictions of the prior sentence shall apply
to such transferee with respect to the portion of the Exchange Cap
Allocation allocated to such transferee. In the event that any
holder of Notes shall convert all of such holder’s Notes into
a number of shares of Common Stock which, in the aggregate, is less
than such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation, then the
difference between such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation and
the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder
shall be allocated to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of
the remaining holders of Notes on a pro rata basis in proportion to
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then held by each such
holder.
(iii)
Contingent Convertibility . Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this Note shall only be convertible: (v) during the period
commencing on the Issuance Date and terminating on January 14,
2005, at any time after the arithmetic average of the Weighted
Average Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 110% of the
then applicable Conversion Price for ten (10) consecutive Trading
Days; (w) from and after January 15, 2005, if the Weighted Average
Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 110% of the then
applicable Conversion Price on any five (5) consecutive Trading
Days during any calendar year; (x) from and after the Issuance
Date, if the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock is less
than $10.75 (the “ Minimum Price ”) (subject to
adjustment as provided herein) on any five (5) consecutive Trading
Days; (y) if there shall have occurred (A) the public announcement
of a pending, proposed or intended Change of Control that has not
been abandoned, terminated or consummated, (B) an Event of Default
or (C) an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice,
and assuming it were not cured, would constitute an Event of
Default; or (z) upon receipt of a Mandatory Conversion
Notice.
6
(4)
RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT .
(a)
Event of Default . Each of the following events shall
constitute an “Event of Default” :
(i)
the failure of the applicable Registration Statement required to be
filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to be declared
effective by the SEC on or prior to the date that is 60 days after
the applicable Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement), or, while the applicable
Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective
pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the
effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement lapses for
any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop
order) or is unavailable to any holder of the Notes for sale of all
of such holder’s Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement, and such lapse or unavailability
continues for a period of 10 consecutive Trading Days or for more
than an aggregate of 30 Trading Days in any 365-day period (other
than days during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement));
(ii)
the suspension from trading or failure of the Common Stock to be
listed on the Principal Market or The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
for a period of five consecutive Trading Days or for more than an
aggregate of seven Trading Days in any 365-day period;
(iii)
the Company’s (A) failure to cure a Conversion Failure by
delivery of the required number of shares of Common Stock within
ten (10) Business Days after the applicable Conversion Date or (B)
notice, written or oral, to any holder of the Notes, including by
way of public announcement or through any of its agents, at any
time, of its intention not to comply with a request for conversion
of any Notes into shares of Common Stock that is tendered in
accordance with the provisions of the Notes;
(iv)
at any time following the tenth consecutive Business Day that the
Holder’s Authorized Share Allocation is less than the number
of shares of Common Stock that the Holder would be entitled to
receive upon a conversion of the full Conversion Amount of this
Note (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth in
Section 3(d) or otherwise);
(v)
the Company’s failure to pay to the Holder any amount of
Principal, Interest, Late Charges or other amounts when and as due
under this Note, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement or any other agreement, document,
certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby to which the Holder is
a party, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest, Late
Charges or amount other than Principal when and as due, in which
case only if such failure continues for a period of at least five
Business Days;
7
(vi)
any default under or acceleration prior to maturity of any
Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 3(a) of the Securities Purchase
Agreement) with an unpaid principal amount in excess of $1,000,000
at the time of such acceleration other than with respect to any
Other Notes; provided that in the case of a payment default of such
Indebtedness, such default is not cured within applicable cure
periods; further provided that in the case of a non-payment default
of such Indebtedness that has not resulted in an acceleration of
such Indebtedness prior to its maturity, only upon
acceleration of such Indebtedness;
(vii)
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, pursuant to or within the
meaning of Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal or state law
for the relief of debtors (collectively, “Bankruptcy
Law” ), (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to
the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(C) consents to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, assignee,
liquidator or similar official (a “Custodian”
), (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors or (E) admits in writing that it is generally unable to
pay its debts as they become due;
(viii)
a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under
any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a
Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) orders
the liquidation of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(ix)
a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating
in excess of $1,000,000 are rendered against the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within 60 days after
the entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or
are not discharged within 60 days after the expiration of such
stay; provided, however, that any judgment which is covered by
insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be
included in calculating the $1,000,000 amount set forth above so
long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from
such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall
be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such
judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company
will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within 30
days of the issuance of such judgment;
(x)
the Company materially breaches any representation, warranty,
covenant or other term or condition of the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, this Note, the Other
Notes, or any other agreement, document, certificate or other
instrument delivered in connection with the transactions
contemplated thereby and hereby to which the Holder is a party,
except, in the case of a breach of a covenant or other term or
condition which is curable, only if such breach continues for a
period of at least ten (10) consecutive Business Days;
(xi)
any breach or failure in any respect to comply with Section 15 of
this Note;
(xii)
any Event of Default (as defined in the Other Notes) occurs with
respect to any Other Notes; or
8
(xiii)
either of (x) the Total Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio shall
exceed .60:1.00 or (y) the Total Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall exceed
4.00:1.00.
(b)
Redemption Right . Promptly after the occurrence of an Event
of Default with respect to this Note or any Other Note, the Company
shall deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight
courier (an “Event of Default Notice” ) to the
Holder. At any time after the earlier of the Holder’s receipt
of an Event of Default Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an
Event of Default, the Holder may require the Company to redeem all
or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof
(the “Event of Default Redemption Notice” ) to
the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall
indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to redeem.
Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Company
pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a
price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (x) the Conversion
Amount to be redeemed and (y) the Redemption Premium and (ii) the
product of (A) the Conversion Rate with respect to such Conversion
Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an Event of
Default Redemption Notice and (B) the Closing Sale Price of the
Common Stock on the date immediately preceding such Event of
Default (the “Event of Default Redemption Price”
). Redemptions required by this Section 4(b) shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of Section 12.
(5)
RIGHTS UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL .
(a)
Change of Control . Each of the following events shall
constitute a “Change of Control” :
(i)
the consolidation, merger or other business combination (including,
without limitation, a reorganization or recapitalization) of the
Company with or into another Person (other than (A) a
consolidation, merger, stock transaction or other business
combination (including, without limitation, reorganization or
recapitalization) in which holders of the Company’s voting
power immediately prior to the transaction continue after the
transaction to hold, directly or indirectly, the voting power of
the surviving entity or entities necessary to elect a majority of
the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other
than a corporation) of such entity or entities, or (B) pursuant to
a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the
jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company (any of the foregoing
(A) and (B), a “ Surviving Change
”));
(ii)
the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets; or
(iii)
a purchase, tender or exchange offer made to and accepted by the
holders of more than the 50% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock.
No sooner than 15 days nor later than 10 days
prior to the consummation of a Change of Control, but not prior to
the public announcement of such Change of Control, the Company
shall deliver
9
written notice thereof via facsimile and
overnight courier to the Holder (a “Change of Control
Notice” ).
(b)
Assumption . Prior to the consummation of any Change of
Control, the Company will secure from any Person purchasing the
Company’s assets or Common Stock or any successor resulting
from such Change of Control (in each case, an “Acquiring
Entity” ) a written agreement (in form and substance
satisfactory to the holders of Notes representing at least a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding) to deliver to each holder of Notes in exchange for
such Notes, a security of the Acquiring Entity evidenced by a
written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to
the Notes, including, without limitation, having a principal amount
and interest rate equal to the principal amounts and the interest
rates of the Notes held by such holder, and satisfactory to the
holders of Notes representing at least a majority of the principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding. In the event that an
Acquiring Entity is directly or indirectly controlled by a company
or entity whose common stock or similar equity interest is listed,
designated or quoted on a securities exchange or trading market,
the holders of Notes representing at least a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may elect
to treat such Person as the Acquiring Entity for purposes of this
Section 5(b). In the event of a Surviving Change, the entity
resulting from or succeeding to the Company in such Surviving
Change shall assume the obligations under the Notes on the same
terms and conditions as the Notes and having a principal amount and
interest rate equal to the principal amounts and the interest rates
of the Notes.
(c)
Redemption Right . At any time during the period beginning
after the Holder’s receipt of a Change of Control Notice and
ending on the date of the consummation of such Change of Control
(or, in the event a Change of Control Notice is not delivered at
least 10 days prior to a Change of Control, at any time on or after
the date which is 10 days prior to a Change of Control and ending
10 days after the consummation of such Change of Control), the
Holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this
Note by delivering written notice thereof ( “Change of
Control Redemption Notice” ) to the Company, which Change
of Control Redemption Notice shall indicate the Conversion Amount
the Holder is electing to redeem; provided , however
, that the Company shall not be under any obligation to redeem all
or any portion of this Note or to deliver the applicable Change of
Control Redemption Price unless and until the applicable Change of
Control is consummated. The portion of this Note subject to
redemption pursuant to this Section 5(c) shall be redeemed by the
Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (x)
the Conversion Amount being redeemed and (y) the quotient
determined by dividing (A) the Closing Sale Price of the Common
Stock immediately following the public announcement of such
proposed Change of Control by (B) the Conversion Price and (ii)
110% of the Conversion Amount being redeemed (the “Change
of Control Redemption Price” ). Redemptions required by
this Section 5(c) shall be made in accordance with the provisions
of Section 12 and shall have priority to payments to stockholders
in connection with a Change of Control.
10
(6)
RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS AND OTHER CORPORATE
EVENTS .
(a)
Purchase Rights . If at any time the Company grants, issues
or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase
stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the all
or substantially all record holders of Common Stock (the
“Purchase Rights” ), then the Holder will be
entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase
Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have
acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common
Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without
taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the
convertibility of this Note) immediately before the date on which a
record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase
Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the
record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant,
issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.
(b)
Other Corporate Events . Prior to the consummation of any
recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, merger, spin-off
or other business combination (other than a Change of Control)
pursuant to which all or substantially all holders of Common Stock
are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to
or in exchange for Common Stock (a “Corporate
Event” ), the Company shall make appropriate provision to
insure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive
upon a conversion of this Note, (i) in addition to the shares of
Common Stock receivable upon such conversion, such securities or
other assets to which the Holder would have been entitled with
respect to such shares of Common Stock had such shares of Common
Stock been held by the Holder upon the consummation of such
Corporate Event or (ii) in lieu of the shares of Common Stock
otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other
assets received by the holders of Common Stock in connection with
the consummation of such Corporate Event in such amounts as the
Holder would have been entitled to receive had this Note initially
been issued with conversion rights for the form of such
consideration (as opposed to shares of Common Stock) at a
conversion rate for such consideration commensurate with the
Conversion Rate. Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the holders of
Notes representing at least a majority of the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes then outstanding.
(7)
RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF OTHER SECURITIES .
(a)
Adjustment of Conversion Price and Minimum Price upon
Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock . If the Company at
any time subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares,
the Conversion Price and Minimum Price in effect immediately prior
to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. If the Company
at any time combines (by combination, reverse stock split or
otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price and
Minimum Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will
be proportionately increased.
(b)
Other Events . If any event occurs of the type contemplated
by the provisions of this Section 7 but not expressly provided for
by such provisions (including, without
11
limitation, the granting of stock appreciation
rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features),
then the Company’s Board of Directors will make an
appropriate adjustment in the Conversion Price and Minimum Price so
as to protect the rights of the Holder under this Note; provided
that no such adjustment will increase the Conversion Price or
Minimum Price as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section
7.
(8)
EXTENSION OF MATURITY DATE AT HOLDER’S OPTION . The
holders of Notes representing at least a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have the
right, in their sole discretion, to require that the Original
Maturity Date of all then outstanding Notes be extended for a
period not to exceed three years from the Original Maturity Date,
without the action of any other Person, by delivering written
notice thereof (a “ Holder Maturity Date Extension
Notice ”) to the Company at any time prior to the
Original Maturity Date, which Holder Maturity Date Extension Notice
shall indicate the Maturity Date, as so extended, of this Note.
Within two Business Days of receipt of a Holder Maturity Date
Extension Notice, the Company shall inform all other holders of
Notes that such a notice has been received by the
Company.
(9)
COMPANY’S RIGHT OF MANDATORY CONVERSION AND OPTIONAL
REDEMPTION . (a) Mandatory Conversion . If at any time
from and after June 10, 2007, the Weighted Average Price of the
Common Stock exceeds 200% of the Conversion Price as of the
Issuance Date (subject to appropriate adjustments for stock splits,
stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions
after the Issuance Date) for each of any 20 consecutive Trading
Days (the “Mandatory Conversion Measuring
Period” ) and the Conditions to Mandatory Conversion (as
set forth in Section 9(c)) are satisfied or waived in writing by
the Holder, the Company shall have the right to require the Holder
to convert all or any such portion of the Conversion Amount of this
Note designated in the Mandatory Conversion Notice into fully paid,
validly issued and nonassessable shares of Common Stock in
accordance with Section 3(c) hereof at the Conversion Rate as
of the Mandatory Conversion Date (as defined below) (a “
Mandatory Conversion ”). The Company may exercise its
right to require conversion under this Section 9(a) by delivering
within not more than two Trading Days followin