STANDBY EQUITY
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT , effective as of the 6 th day of
June 2006 (the “ Agreement ”) between
CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP , a Delaware limited
partnership (the “ Investor ”), and CTI
INDUSTRIES CORPORATION , a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Illinois (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 Five Million
Dollars ($5,000,000) of the Company’s common stock, no
par value 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 Five Million Dollars
($5,000,000) 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
provided that, the Company shall not effect any sale under
this Agreement and the Investor shall not have the right or the
obligation to purchase shares of Common Stock under this Agreement
to the extent that after giving effect to such purchase and sale
the aggregate number of shares issued under this Agreement would
exceed 400,000 shares of Common Stock (which is less than 20% of
the 2,150,216 outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the date of
this Agreement) unless or until the Company obtains any necessary
shareholder approval or consent in accordance with Nasdaq rules
prior to such issuance.
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 twenty-four (24) months after the Effective
Date.
Section 1.9. “ Common Stock ” shall mean
the Company’s common stock, no par value 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 VWAP of the Common Stock during the Pricing
Period.
Section 1.16. “ Maximum Advance Amount ”
shall be One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per Advance
Notice subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.7 of this
Agreement.
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 National 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 one hundred percent (100%) 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-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
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
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.
(a) 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.
(b) 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 to the Investor such number of shares of the Common Stock
registered in the name of the Investor that 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;
(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;
and
(vi) The Company’s transfer agent shall be
DWAC eligible.
(b) Investor’s Obligations Upon
Closing .
Upon receipt of the shares
referenced in Section 2.3(a)(i) above and provided the Company is
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. 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 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
Investor’s 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, based upon employment,
family relationship or economic bargaining power, 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-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and
Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 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,
the Placement Agent Agreement and assuming the 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 . The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares
of Preferred Stock, no par value per share (“ Preferred
Stock ”), of which 2,150,216 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,
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