Exhibit 10.6
Execution Copy
STANDBY EQUITY
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT dated as of the
2nd day of November 2006 (the “ Agreement
”) between CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP , a Delaware
limited partnership (the “ Investor ”), and
VIASPACE 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 Investor, from time
to time as provided herein, and the Investor shall purchase from
the Company up to Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
“ Common Stock ”); and
WHEREAS , such investments
will be made in reliance upon the provisions of Regulation D
(“ Regulation D ”) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the
“ Securities Act ”), 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
to be made hereunder.
WHEREAS , the Company has
engaged Newbridge Securities Corporation (the “
Placement Agent ”), to act as the Company’s
exclusive placement agent in connection with the sale of the
Company’s Common Stock to the Investor hereunder pursuant to
the Placement Agent Agreement dated the date hereof by and among
the Company, the Placement Agent and the Investor (the “
Placement Agent Agreement ”).
NOW , THEREFORE , the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
Certain
Definitions
Section 1.1. “
Advance ” shall mean the portion of the Commitment
Amount requested by the Company in the Advance Notice.
Section 1.2. “ Advance
Date ” shall mean the first (1 st ) Trading
Day after expiration of the applicable Pricing Period for each
Advance.
Section 1.3. “ Advance
Notice ” shall mean a written notice in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto to the Investor executed by an
officer of the Company and setting forth the Advance amount that
the Company requests from the Investor.
Section 1.4. “ Advance
Notice Date ” shall mean each date the Company delivers
(in accordance with Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement) to the
Investor an Advance Notice requiring the Investor to advance funds
to the Company, subject to the terms of this Agreement. No Advance
Notice Date shall be less than five (5) Trading Days after the
prior Advance Notice Date.
Section 1.5. “ Bid
Price ” shall mean, on any date, the closing bid price
(as reported by Bloomberg L.P.) of the Common Stock on the
Principal Market or if the Common Stock is not traded on a
Principal Market, the highest reported bid price for the Common
Stock, as furnished by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
Section 1.6. “
Closing ” shall mean one of the closings of a purchase
and sale of Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.3.
Section 1.7. “
Commitment Amount ” shall mean the aggregate amount of
up to Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) which the Investor has
agreed to provide to the Company in order to purchase the
Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.
Section 1.8. “
Commitment Period ” shall mean the period commencing
on the earlier to occur of (i) the Effective Date, or
(ii) such earlier date as the Company and the Investor may
mutually agree in writing, and expiring on the earliest to occur of
(x) the date on which the Investor shall have made payment of
Advances pursuant to this Agreement in the aggregate amount of the
Commitment Amount, (y) the date this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 10.2 or (z) the date occurring thirty six
(36) months after the Effective Date, provided that by the
date that is twenty four (24) months after the Effective Date,
the Company files either an amendment to the then effective
Registration Statement or a new registration statement is declared
effective.
.Section 1.9. “ Common
Stock ” shall mean the Company’s common stock, par
value $0.001 per share.
Section 1.10. “
Condition Satisfaction Date ” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7.2.
Section 1.11. “
Damages ” shall mean any loss, claim, damage,
liability, costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorney’s fees and disbursements and costs and
expenses of expert witnesses and investigation).
Section 1.12. “
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
Section 7.2(a).
Section 1.13. “
Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
Section 1.14. “
Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean any condition,
circumstance, or situation that would prohibit or otherwise
materially interfere with the ability of the Company to enter into
and perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or the
Registration Rights Agreement in any material respect.
Section 1.15. “ Market
Price ” shall mean the lowest daily VWAP of the Common
Stock during the Pricing Period.
Section 1.16. “ Maximum
Advance Amount ” shall be One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) per Advance Notice.
Section 1.17. “
NASD ” shall mean the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
Section 1.18. “
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 1.19. “
Placement Agent ” shall mean Newbridge Securities
Corporation, a registered broker-dealer.
Section 1.20. “ Pricing
Period ” shall mean the five (5) consecutive Trading
Days after the Advance Notice Date.
Section 1.21. “
Principal Market ” shall mean the Nasdaq Global
Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the American Stock Exchange, the
OTC Bulletin Board or the New York Stock Exchange, whichever is at
the time the principal trading exchange or market for the Common
Stock.
Section 1.22. “
Purchase Price ” shall be set at ninety seven percent
(97%) of the Market Price during the Pricing Period.
Section 1.23. “
Registrable Securities ” shall mean the shares of
Common Stock to be issued hereunder (i) in respect of which
the Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the
SEC, (ii) which have not been sold under circumstances meeting
all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar
provision then in force) under the Securities Act (“ Rule
144 ”) or (iii) which have not been otherwise
transferred to a holder 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.
Section 1.24. “
Registration Rights Agreement ” shall mean the
Registration Rights Agreement dated the date hereof, regarding the
filing of the Registration Statement for the resale of the
Registrable Securities, entered into between the Company and the
Investor.
Section 1.25. “
Registration Statement ” shall mean a registration
statement on Form S-1 or SB-2 (if use of such form is then
available to the Company pursuant to the rules of the SEC and, if
not, 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 of
the Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement, and in accordance with the intended
method of distribution of such securities), for the registration of
the resale by the Investor of the Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act.
Section 1.26. “
Regulation D ” shall have the meaning set forth
in the recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.27. “ SEC
” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Section 1.28. “
Securities Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in
the recitals of this Agreement.
Section 1.29. “ SEC
Documents ” shall mean Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB, Current Reports on Form 8-K and
Proxy Statements of the Company as supplemented to the date hereof,
filed by the Company for a period of at least twelve
(12) months immediately preceding the date hereof or the
Advance Date, as the case may be, 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 1.30. “ Trading
Day ” shall mean any day during which the New York Stock
Exchange shall be open for business.
Section 1.31. “
VWAP ” shall mean the volume weighted average price of
the Company’s Common Stock as quoted by Bloomberg, LP.
ARTICLE II.
Advances
Section 2.1. Advances
.
Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions of
Article VII hereof), the Company, at its sole and exclusive
option, may issue and sell to the Investor, and the Investor shall
purchase from the Company, shares of the Company’s Common
Stock by the delivery, in the Company’s sole discretion, of
Advance Notices. The number of shares of Common Stock that the
Investor shall purchase pursuant to each Advance shall be
determined by dividing the amount of the Advance by the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares shall be issued. Fractional shares
shall be rounded to the next higher whole number of shares. The
aggregate maximum amount of all Advances that the Investor shall be
obligated to make under this Agreement shall not exceed the
Commitment Amount.
Section 2.2. Mechanics
.
Advance Notice . At any time
during the Commitment Period, the Company may require the Investor
to purchase shares of Common Stock by delivering an Advance Notice
to the Investor, subject to the conditions set forth in
Section 7.2; provided, however, the amount for each Advance as
designated by the Company in the applicable Advance Notice shall
not be more than the Maximum Advance Amount and the aggregate
amount of the Advances pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed
the Commitment Amount. The Company acknowledges that the Investor
may sell shares of the Company’s Common Stock corresponding
with a particular Advance Notice after the Advance Notice is
received by the Investor. There shall be a minimum of five
(5) Trading Days between each Advance Notice Date.
Date of Delivery of Advance
Notice . An Advance Notice shall be deemed delivered on
(i) the Trading Day it is received by facsimile or otherwise
by the Investor if such notice is received prior to 5:00 pm Eastern
Time, or (ii) the immediately succeeding Trading Day if it is
received by facsimile or otherwise after 5:00 pm Eastern Time on a
Trading Day or at any time on a day which is not a Trading Day. No
Advance Notice may be deemed delivered on a day that is not a
Trading Day.
Section 2.3. Closings .
On each Advance Date (i) the Company shall deliver irrevocable
instructions to its transfer agent directing the issuance, by not
later than one (1) business day following the date of such
instructions, to the Investor such number of shares of the Common
Stock registered in the name of the Investor as shall equal
(x) the amount of the Advance specified in such Advance Notice
pursuant to Section 2.1 herein, divided by (y) the
Purchase Price and (ii) upon receipt of such shares, the
Investor shall deliver to the Company the amount of the Advance
specified in the Advance Notice by wire transfer of immediately
available funds. In addition, on or prior to the Advance Date, each
of the Company and the Investor shall deliver to the other all
documents, instruments and writings required to be delivered by
either of them pursuant to this Agreement in order to implement and
effect the transactions contemplated herein. To the extent the
Company has not paid the fees, expenses, and disbursements of the
Investor in accordance with Section 12.4, the amount of such
fees, expenses, and disbursements may be deducted by the Investor
(and shall be paid to the relevant party) directly out of the
proceeds of the Advance with no reduction in the amount of shares
of the Company’s Common Stock to be delivered on such Advance
Date.
|
|
(a)
|
|
Company’s Obligations Upon Closing.
|
(i) The Company shall deliver
to the Investor the shares of Common Stock applicable to the
Advance in accordance with Section 2.3. The certificates
evidencing such shares shall be free of restrictive legends.
(ii) the Company’s
Registration Statement with respect to the resale of the shares of
Common Stock delivered in connection with the Advance shall have
been declared effective by the SEC;
(iii) the Company shall have
obtained all material permits and qualifications required by any
applicable state for the offer and sale of the Registrable
Securities, or shall have the availability of exemptions therefrom.
The sale and issuance of the Registrable Securities shall be
legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which the Company
is subject;
(iv) the Company shall have
filed with the SEC in a timely manner all reports, notices and
other documents required of a “reporting company” under
the Exchange Act and applicable Commission regulations; and
(v) the fees as set forth in
Section 12.4 below shall have been paid or can be withheld as
provided in Section 2.3.
(b) Investor’s
Obligations Upon Closing . Upon receipt of the shares
referenced in Section 2.3(a)(i) above and provided the Company
is then in compliance with its obligations in Section 2.3, the
Investor shall deliver to the Company the amount of the Advance
specified in the Advance Notice by wire transfer of immediately
available funds.
Section 2.4. Lock Up
Period . On the date hereof, the Company shall obtain from each
officer and director a lock-up agreement, as defined below, in the
form annexed hereto as Schedule 2.4.
Section 2.5. Hardship .
In the event the Investor sells shares of the Company’s
Common Stock after receipt of an Advance Notice and the Company
fails to perform its obligations as mandated in Section 2.3,
and specifically the Company fails to deliver to the Investor on
the Advance Date the shares of Common Stock corresponding to the
applicable Advance pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(i), the Company
acknowledges that the Investor shall suffer financial hardship and
therefore shall be liable for any and all losses, commissions,
fees, or financial hardship caused to the Investor.
ARTICLE III.
Representations and
Warranties of Investor
Investor hereby represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, the Company that the following are
true and correct as of the date hereof and as of each Advance
Date:
Section 3.1. Organization and
Authorization . The Investor is duly incorporated or organized
and validly existing in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization and has all requisite power and authority to purchase
and hold the securities issuable hereunder. The decision to invest
and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Investor,
the performance by such Investor of its obligations hereunder and
the consummation by such Investor of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized and requires no other proceedings
on the part of the Investor. The undersigned has the right, power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all other
instruments (including, without limitations, the Registration
Rights Agreement), on behalf of the Investor. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the Investor and, assuming the
execution and delivery hereof and acceptance thereof by the
Company, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance
with its terms.
Section 3.2. Evaluation of
Risks . The Investor has such knowledge and experience in
financial, tax and business matters as to be capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of, and bearing the economic risks entailed
by, an investment in the Company and of protecting its interests in
connection with this transaction. It recognizes that its investment
in the Company involves a high degree of risk.
Section 3.3. No Legal Advice
From the Company . The Investor acknowledges that it had the
opportunity to review this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement with his or its own legal counsel
and investment and tax advisors. The Investor is relying solely on
such counsel and advisors and not on any statements or
representations of the Company or any of its representatives or
agents for legal, tax or investment advice with respect to this
investment, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
securities laws of any jurisdiction.
Section 3.4. Investment
Purpose . The shares of Common Stock to be issued hereunder
(the “ Securities ”) are being purchased by the
Investor for its own account, and for investment purposes. The
Investor agrees not to assign or in any way transfer the
Investor’s rights to the Securities or any interest therein
and acknowledges that the Company will not recognize any purported
assignment or transfer except in accordance with applicable Federal
and state securities laws. No other person has or will have a
direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Securities. The
Investor agrees not to sell, hypothecate or otherwise transfer the
Securities unless the Securities are registered under Federal and
applicable state securities laws or unless, in the opinion of
counsel satisfactory to the Company, an exemption from such laws is
available.
Section 3.5. Accredited
Investor . The Investor is an “ Accredited
Investor ” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3)
of Regulation D of the Securities Act.
Section 3.6. Information
. The Investor and its advisors (and its counsel), if any, have
been furnished with all materials relating to the business,
finances and operations of the Company and information it deemed
material to making an informed investment decision. The Investor
and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask
questions of the Company and its management. Neither such inquiries
nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such
Investor or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall
modify, amend or affect the Investor’s right to rely on the
Company’s representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement. The Investor understands that its investment involves a
high degree of risk. The Investor is in a position regarding the
Company, which enabled and enables such Investor to obtain
information from the Company in order to evaluate the merits and
risks of this investment. The Investor has sought such accounting,
legal and tax advice, as it has considered necessary to make an
informed investment decision with respect to this transaction.
Section 3.7. Receipt of
Documents . The Investor and its counsel have received and read
in their entirety: (i) this Agreement and the Exhibits annexed
hereto; (ii) all due diligence and other information necessary
to verify the accuracy and completeness of such representations,
warranties and covenants; (iii) the Company’s Form
10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Form 10-QSB
for the periods ended March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006;
and (iv) answers to all questions the Investor submitted to
the Company regarding an investment in the Company; and the
Investor has relied on the information contained therein and has
not been furnished any other documents, literature, memorandum or
prospectus.
Section 3.8. Registration
Rights Agreement . The parties have entered into the
Registration Rights Agreement dated the date hereof.
Section 3.9. No General
Solicitation . 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 of Common Stock
offered hereby.
Section 3.10. Not an
Affiliate . The Investor is not an officer, director or a
person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common
control with the Company or any “ Affiliate ” of
the Company (as that term is defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act).
Section 3.11. Trading
Activities . The Investor’s trading activities with
respect to the Company’s Common Stock shall be in compliance
with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and
regulations and the rules and regulations of the Principal Market
on which the Company’s Common Stock is listed or traded.
Neither the Investor nor its affiliates has an open short position
in the Common Stock of the Company, the Investor agrees that it
shall not, and that it will cause its affiliates not to, engage in
any short sales of or hedging transactions with respect to the
Common Stock, provided that the Company acknowledges and
agrees that upon receipt of an Advance Notice the Investor has the
right to sell the shares to be issued to the Investor pursuant to
the Advance Notice during the applicable Pricing Period.
ARTICLE IV.
Representations and
Warranties of the Company
Except as stated below, on the
disclosure schedules attached hereto or in the SEC Documents (as
defined herein), the Company hereby represents and warrants to, and
covenants with, the Investor that the following are true and
correct as of the date hereof:
Section 4.1. Organization and
Qualification . The Company is duly incorporated or organized
and validly existing in the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization and has all requisite corporate power to own its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it
makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole.
Section 4.2. Authorization,
Enforcement, Compliance with Other Instruments . (i) The
Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into and perform this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements, in
accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Placement Agent Agreement and any related agreements
by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by the
Company’s Board of Directors and no further consent or
authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or
its stockholders, (iii) this Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Placement Agent Agreement and any related
agreements have been duly executed and delivered by the Company,
(iv) this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and
the Placement Agent Agreement and assuming the due execution and
delivery thereof and acceptance by the Investor and any related
agreements constitute the valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general
principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating
to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’
rights and remedies.
Section 4.3.
Capitalization . As of the date hereof, the authorized
capital stock of the Company consists of 800,000,000 shares of
Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par
value per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), of which
291,649,286 shares of Common Stock and no shares of Preferred Stock
are issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares have
been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as
disclosed in the SEC Documents, no shares of Common Stock are
subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any
liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company. Except
as disclosed in the SEC Documents and except as set forth on
Schedule 4.3, as of the date hereof, (i) 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 or any of its subsidiaries, or contracts,
commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional
shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or 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 or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) there are no
outstanding debt securities, (iii) there are no outstanding
registration statements other than on Form S-8 and (iv) there
are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their
securities under the Securities Act (except pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement). There are no securities or
instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that
will be triggered by this Agreement or any related agreement or the
consummation of the transactions described herein or therein. The
Company has furnished to the Investor true and correct copies of
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as
in effect on the date hereof (the “ Certificate of
Incorporation ”), and the Company’s By-laws, as in
effect on the date hereof (the “ By-laws ”), and
the terms of all securities convertible into or exercisable for
Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in
respect thereto.
Section 4.4. No Conflict
. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the
Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations of
any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company or By-laws
or (ii) conflict with or constitute a default (or an event
which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)
under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party, or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation,
order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities
laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Principal
Market on which the Common Stock is quoted) applicable to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or by which any material
property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
bound or affected and which would cause a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, neither the Company nor
its subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under
its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or their organizational
charter or by-laws, respectively, or any material contract,
agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment,
decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to
the Company or its subsidiaries. The business of the Company and
its subsidiaries is not being conducted in violation of any
material law, ordinance, regulation of any governmental entity.
Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as
required under the Securities Act and any applicable state
securities laws, the Company is not required 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 or contemplated by
this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement in accordance
with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations,
orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to
obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or
effected on or prior to the date hereof. The Company and its
subsidiaries are unaware of any fact or circumstance which might
give rise to a breach or violation of any of the foregoing.
Section 4.5. SEC Documents;
Financial Statements . The Company has filed all reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be
filed by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act since
January 1, 2005. The Company has delivered to the Investor or
its representatives, or made available through the SEC’s
website at http://www.sec.gov, true and complete copies of the SEC
Documents. As of their respective dates, the financial statements
of the Company included in the SEC Documents (the “
Financial Statements ”) complied as to form in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.
Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied,
during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise
indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or
(ii) in the