EXHIBIT 10.1
SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE
This PROMISSORY
NOTE (the “Note”), dated September 12, 2008, from
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Maker”), a corporation
duly formed and existing under the laws of the state of New Jersey,
to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP (“Payee”), a
limited liability partnership duly formed and existing under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Payee
has provided legal advice and services from time to time to Maker
relating to various aspects of Maker’s business;
WHEREAS, Payee
has accrued fees and expenses, which, as of the date hereof, total
$527,849.50, and which are currently due and payable by
Maker;
WHEREAS, due to
current financial limitations, Maker proposed to evidence its
payment obligation in this Note, which Note shall be payable no
later than December 31, 2008;
WHEREAS, Payee
has agreed to accept this Note on the terms and conditions
contained herein;
NOW, THEREFORE,
FOR VALUE RECEIVED and intending to be legally bound, Maker hereby
unconditionally promises to pay to the order of Payee, with an
address of 1701 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (or
such other address as Payee may specify in writing), the principal
amount of FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED
FORTY-NINE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS ($527,849.50), in the manner and
upon the terms and conditions set forth below.
The actual
amount due and owing from time to time under this Note shall be
evidenced by Payee’s records of receipts and disbursements,
which shall be prima facie evidence of such amount, absent manifest
error. This Note shall not accrue interest.
1.
Payment . The entire outstanding principal amount of
this Note shall be due and payable upon the earlier of (a) the
occurrence of one or more Liquidity Events, the aggregate proceeds
of which are sufficient to satisfy in full Maker’s
obligations under this Note, or (b) December 31, 2008.
For purposes of
this Note, a “ Liquidity Event ” shall mean the
occurrence of one or more of the following:
(i) the approval by the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority (“ NJEDA ”) of
Maker’s application (the “ Application ”)
to sell Maker’s Unused Net Operating Losses Carryover (as
defined in the Application) under NJEDA’s Technology Business
Tax Certificate Transfer Program (the “ Program
”), and the subsequent sale of Maker’s Unused Net
Operating Losses Carryover thereunder;
(ii) any sale, transfer or other disposition
(including pursuant to a sale-leaseback transaction) of any
property or asset of Maker or any subsidiary (other than sales of
inventory in the ordinary course of business), unless, within 90
days of Maker’s receipt of such proceeds (or if committed to
be reinvested within 180 days of the receipt of such proceeds,
within 180 days of the receipt of such proceeds), such proceeds are
reinvested to replace the property or assets so sold, transferred
or disposed of;
(iii) any licensing or similar transaction pursuant to
which Maker authorizes a third party to use, copy, enhance, modify,
access, distribute and/or sublicense any of Maker’s
intellectual property;
(iv) the incurrence, sale or issuance of any
indebtedness and/or the issuance of any equity by Maker or any
subsidiary thereof; or
(v) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any
taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar
proceeding of, any property or asset of Maker, unless within 90
days of Maker’s receipt of such proceeds (or if committed to
be reinvested within 180 days of the receipt of such proceeds,
within 180 days of the receipt of such proceeds), such proceeds are
reinvested to repair or replace the property or assets so damaged
or taken.
2.
Mandatory Prepayment
. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 1 , upon the occurrence of any Liquidity Event,
Maker shall promptly pay to Payee in full, in cash, that portion of
the outstanding principal amount of the Note equal to the proceeds
of the Liquidity Event, regardless of whether the proceeds of such
Liquidity Event are sufficient to fully satisfy Maker’s
payment obligations under this Note.
(a) As security for the prompt and complete payment
and performance in full of all obligations under this Note, Maker
hereby pledges and assigns to Payee, and hereby grants to Payee, a
security interest in and a lien on all of the Collateral. For
purposes of this Note, “ Collateral ” shall mean
all right, title and interest of Maker in, to and under any and all
proceeds of the sale or sales of Maker’s Unused Net Operating
Losses Carryover under the Program.
(b) Maker hereby irrevocably authorizes Payee at any
time and from time to time to file in any filing office in any
Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing and
continuation statements and amendments thereto that are necessary
or advisable, as determined by Payee, for the establishment and
maintenance of Payee’s security interest
hereunder.
4.
Events of Default and
Remedies .
(a)
Events of Default
. In case one or more of the
following events (“ Events of Default ”)
(wh