THIS NOTE AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS NOTE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECT WE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT. SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
THIS NOTE DOES NOT REQUIRE PHYSICAL SURRENDER OF THIS NOTE IN THE EVENT OF A PARTIAL REDEMPTION, REPAYMENT OR CONVERSION. AS A RESULT, FOLLOWING ANY REDEMPTION, REPAYMENT OR CONVERSION OF ANY PORTION OF THIS NOTE, THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE MAY BE LESS THAN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SET FORTH BELOW.
18% SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE DUE 2007
OF
NASCENT WINE COMPANY, INC.
Note No.: C-1 | Original Principal Amount: $2,000,000 |
Issuance Date: April 27, 2007
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Company hereby promises to pay to or upon the order ofCSSF MASTER FUND, LP, or its registered assigns or successors-in-interest (the "Holder") the principal sum of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon, if any, on the Final Maturity Date, to the extent such principal amount and interest have not been repaid or converted into shares of the Company's Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the "Common Stock"), in accordance with the terms hereof. Interest on the unpaid principal balance hereof shall accrue at the rate of 18% per annum (simple interest) from the date of original issuance hereof (the "Issuance Date") until the Final Maturity Date, or such earlier date upon acceleration or by conversion, repayment or redemption in accordance with the terms hereof. Interest on this Note shall be payable in accordance with Section 2 hereof.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein, this Note shall bear interest on the outstanding Principal Amount from and after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the rate (the "Default Rate") equal to the lower of twenty-five percent (25%)per annum or the highest rate permitted by applicable law. Unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law, payments will be applied first to any unpaid collection costs, then to unpaid interest and fees and any remaining amount to unpaid principal.
All payments of principal of and interest on this Note shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Holder may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note. This Note may not be prepaid in whole or in part except as specifically provided herein. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension shall be taken into account in determining the amount of interest accrued on this Note.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is senior to all other current and future indebtedness of the Company. Payment of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is (i) secured by all of the properties and assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries pursuant to that certain Security Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2007, by and between the Company and CSSF Master Fund, LP, as Collateral Agent for the Purchasers (the "Security Agreement"), and (ii) guaranteed by the Subsidiaries pursuant to those certain Guaranties, each dated as of April 27, 2007, executed by each Subsidiary for the benefit of the Purchasers.
The following terms and conditions shall apply to this Note:
1. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
(b) For purposes hereof the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:
"Acceleration Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section 4(b).
"Bankruptcy Event" means any of the following events: (a) the Company or any material subsidiary commences a case or other proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction relating to the Company or any material subsidiary thereof (b) there is commenced against the Company or any material subsidiary any such case or proceeding that is not dismissed within 60 days after commencement; (c) the Company or any material subsidiary thereof is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered;
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(d) the Company or any material subsidiary suffers any appointment of any trustee, custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property that is not discharged or stayed within 60 days; (e) the Company or any material subsidiary makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (f) the Company or any material subsidiary fails to pay, states that it is unable to pay, or is unable to pay, its debts (excluding those reasonably disputed in good faith by the Company in the case of failure to pay and for which it has reserves on its books and financial statements) generally as they become due; (g) the Company or any material subsidiary calls a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a composition, adjustment or restructuring of its debts; or (h) the Company or any material subsidiary, by any act or failure to act, expressly indicates its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing or takes any corporate or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.
"Board of Directors" means the Company's board of directors.
"Cash" or "cash" means at any time such coin or currency of the United States of America as shall at such time be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
"Change in Control Transaction" will be deemed to exist if (i) there occurs any consolidation, merger, amalgamation or other business combination of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or any other corporate reorganization or transaction or series of related transactions in which in any of such events the persons who are holders of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to such event cease to own more than50%of the voting stock, or corresponding voting equity interests, of the surviving corporation or other entity immediately after such event (including without limitation any "going private" transaction under Rule 1 3e-3 promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act or tender offer by the Company under Rule 13e-4 promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act for 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock), (ii) any person (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), together with its affiliates and associates (as such terms are defined in Rule405under the Securities Act), beneficially owns or is deemed to beneficially own (as described in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act without regard to the 60-day exercise period)50%or more of the voting power of the Company's voting stock or corresponding voting securities, (iii) there is a replacement of more than one-half of the members of the Board of Directors which is not approved by a majority of those individuals who are either members of the Board of Directors on the date thereof or individuals approved by a majority of such members or (iv) in one or a series of related transactions, there is a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, determined on a consolidated basis.
"Conversion Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3(b).
"Conversion Delay Payments" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3(b)(ii).
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"Conversion Notice" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3(a).
"Conversion Price" means $0.40, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.
"Current Market Price" means, when used with respect to the Common Stock, the volume weighted average price of such security on the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding (but not including) such date as reported for consolidated transactions with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such security is listed or admitted to trading or, if such security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the volume weighted average price of such security on the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding (but not including) such date in the over- the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or such other system then in use or, if such security is not quoted by any such organization, the volume weighted average price of such security as of the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding (but not including) such date furnished by a New York Stock Exchange member firm selected by the Company, or if such security is not quoted by any such organization and no such New York Stock Exchange member firm is able to provide such prices, such price as is determined by an Independent Financial Expert (and the costs of such determination shall be boume entirely by the Company). An "Independent Financial Expert" shall mean a reputable accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, qualified to perform the task for which such firm has been engaged hereunder, is nationally recognized and disinterested and Independent with respect to the Company and its affiliates and is reasonably acceptable to the Holder. "Independent" shall mean any person or entity that (A) is in fact independent, (B) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or in any affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than as a result of holding securities of the Company in trading accounts), and (C) is not an officer, employee, promoter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar flinctions for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
"DTC" shall mean the Depository Trust Company.
"Event of Default" shall have the meaning provided in Section 4(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Final Extension Period" shall have the meaning provided ill Section 2(d).
"Final Maturity Date" means the later of (a) the Initial Maturity Date, or (b) the date that the Company elects to extend the term of this Note pursuant to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 2(d).
"First Extension Period" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2(d).
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"Force Majeure Event" means an event or circumstance that prevents the Company from performing its obligations under this Note or that prevents an act or event required hereunder from happening or occurring (including, without limitation, an act of God, war, insurrection, riot, nuclear disaster, labor strike or threat of violence, labor and material shortage, fire, explosion, flood, river freeze-up, breakdown or damage to mines, plant, equipment, or facilities (including a forced outage or an extension of a scheduled outage of equipment or facilities to make repairs to avoid breakdowns thereof or damage thereto), interruption to or slowdown in transportation, railcar shortage, barge shortage, embargo, order, or act of civil or military authority, law, regulation, or administrative ruling, or total or partial interruption of the Company's operations which are due to any enforcement action or other administrative or judicial action arising from an environmental law or reg ulation), but in any case which is not within the reasonable control of, or the result of the negligence of, the Company, and which by the exercise of due diligence, the Company is unable to overcome or avoid or cause to be avoided or is unable in good faith to obtain a substitute acceptable to the Holder therefor.
"Holder Share Notice" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3(b)(ii).
"Initial Maturity Date" means the forty-fifth(45t1)day immediately following the Issuance Date.
"New Securities" shall mean any Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company, whether or not authorized on the date hereof, and rights, options or warrants to purchase Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company and securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company;provided, however,that "New Securities" does not include the following: (a) shares of capital stock of the Company issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any currently outstanding securities or any New Securities issued in accordance with the Purchase Agreement (including the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares); (b) shares or options or warrants for Common Stock granted to officers, directors and employees of, and consultants to, the Company pursuant to stock option or purchase plans or other compensatory agreements approved by the Board of Directors; (c) shares of Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company issued in connection with any pro rata stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization by the Company; (d) shares of capital stock, or options or warrants to purchase capital stock, issued to a strategic investor in connection with a strategic commercial agreement as determined by the Board of Directors; (e) shares of capital stock, or options or warrants to purchase capital stock, issued to an in vestor in connection with a joint venture arrangement where the Company is a participant; (f) shares of capital stock, or options or warrants to purchase capital stock, issued pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation or entity by the Company by consolidation, merger, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets, or other reorganization in which the Company acquires, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the assets of such other corporation or entity or fifty percent(50%) or more of the voting power of such other corporation or entity or fifty percent(50%) or more of the equity ownership of such other corporation or entity; (g) shares of capital stock issued in an underwritten public securities offering pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act; (h) shares of capital stock, or options or warrants to purchase capital stock, issued to current or prospective customers or suppliers of the Company approved by the Board of Directors as compensation or accommodation in lieu of other payment, compensation or accommodation to such customer or supplier; (i) shares of capital stock, or warrants to purchase capital stock, issued to any Person that provides services to the Company as compensation therefor pursuant to an agreement approved by the Board of Directors;
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(j) shares of capital stock, or options or warrants to purchase capital stock, offered in a transaction where purchase of such securities by any Purchaser would cause such transaction to fail to comply with applicable federal or state securities laws or would cause an applicable registration or qualification exemption to fail to be available to the Company;provided, however,that this clause Ii) shall apply only to the Purchaser or Purchasers who would cause any such failure, and not to any of the other Purchasers; and (k) securities issuable upon conversion or exercise of the securities set forth in subsections (i)—(j) above.
"Principal Amount" means at any time the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of this Note at such time, (ii) all accrued but unpaid interest hereunder to such time, and (iii) any default payments owing at such time to the Holder under the Transaction Documents but not theretofore paid or added to the Principal Amount.
"Principal Market" means the OTC Bulletin Board or such other U.S. market or exchange which is the principal market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading.
"Purchase Agreement" means the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2007, by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, pursuant to which this Note was originally issued.
"QIB" means a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act or any successor thereto.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Second Extension Period" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2(d).
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Trading Day" means a day on which the Principal Market is open for the general trading of securities.
"Underlying Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof and the Purchase Agreement.
Section 2. Payments of Principal and Interest; Extension Option.
(a) Interest.The Company shall pay interest accruing on this Note (from the date hereof) on all outstanding Principal Amount of this Note at the Interest Rate, in cash, on the earlier of (i) the Final Maturity Date, or (ii) the date that the entire outstanding Principal Amount of this Note is prepaid pursuant to Section 2(c).
(b) Principal.The entire outstanding Principal Amount of this Note, plus any and all default payments owing under the Transaction Documents but not previously paid, shall become due and payable on the Final Maturity Date.
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(c) Prepayment.At any time following the Issuance Date, upon delivery of a written notice to the Holder, the Company shall be entitled to prepay in cash all or any portion of the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note, plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company's prepayment of this Note will not terminate or otherwise extinguish the Warrants, nor require the Holder to refund to the Company all or any portion of the Holder's Loan Origination Fee.
(d) Extension Options.Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Section 2(d), the Company shall have the right and option to extend the Initial Maturity Date for up to forty-two (42) additional days (the "First Extension Period"), upon written notice delivered to the Holder no less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Initial Maturity Date. In consideration for any such extension, the Holder shall be entitled to receive an additional Warrant to purchase 57,143 shares of Common Stock for each such seven (7)-day extension requested by the Company. Any such Warrant shall be in the form attached to the Purchase Agreement asExhibit C, and shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Holder on or prior to the first day of each such seven (7)-day extension period. In addition, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Section 2(d), the Company shall have the right and option to further extend the Initial Maturity Date beyond the First Extension Period for up to eighty-four (84) additional days (the "Second Extension Period"), upon written notice delivered to the Holder no less than three (3) Business Days prior to the end of the First Extension Period. In consideration for any such extension, the Holder shall be entitled to receive an additional Warrant to purchase 57,143 shares of Common Stock for each such seven (7)-day extension requested by the Company. Any such Warrant shall be in the form attached to the Purchase Agreement asExhibit C,and shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Holder on or prior to the first day of each such seven (7)-day extension period. Furthermore, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Section 2(d), the Company shall have the right and option to further extend the Initial Maturity Date beyond the Second Extension Period for up to eighty- four (84) additional days (the "Final Extension Period"), upon written notice delivered to the Holder no less than three (3) Business Days prior to the end of the Second Extension Period. In consideration for any such extension, the Holder shall be entitled to receive an additional Warrant to purchase 85,714 shares of Common Stock for each such seven (7)-day extension requested by the Company. Any such Warrant shall be in the form attached to the Purchase Agreement asExhibit C,and shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Holder on or prior to the first day of each such seven (7)-day extension period. The Company shall not have the right to extend the Initial Maturity Date beyond the end of the Final Extension Period.
(e) Payment Delay.If the entire outstanding Principal Amount of this Note is not paid in full on or before the last day of the First Extension Period, then the Company shall thereafter immediately issue to the Holder, without further consideration, an additional 18% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due 2007, in the exact same form of this Note, in the original principal amount equal to 15% of the then outstanding Principal Amount of this Note.
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Section 3. Conversion.
(a) Conversion Rights.Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, the Holder shall have the right, at the Holder's option, to convert the outstanding Principal Amount and accrued and unpaid interest thereon into Common Stock, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, by delivering to the Company a duly executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto asExhibit A (the "Conversion Notice"), which may be transmitted by telephone line facsimile transmission;provided, however,that the Holder may exercise the conversion rights provided under this Section 3 only if the entire Principal Amount is not paid in frill on or before the last day of the First Extension Period. If the entire Principal Amount is paid in frill on or before the last day of the First Extension Period, then the Holder shall have no conversion rights under this Section 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Note and the outstanding Principal Amount hereunder shall not be convertible into Common Stock at any time to the extent, and only to the extent, that such conversion at such time would result in the Holder exceeding the limitation contained in, or otherwise violating the provisions of, Section 3.12 of the Purchase Agreement.
(b) Common Stock Issuance Upon Conversion.
(i) Conversion Procedures.Upon any conversion of this Note pursuant to Section 3(a) above, the outstanding Principal Amount being converted and accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable Conversion Date shall be converted into such number of frilly paid, validly issued and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, free of any liens, claims and encumbrances, as is determined by dividing the outstanding Principal Amount being converted and accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable Conversion Date by the then applicable Conversion Price. The date of any Conversion Notice hereunder shall be referred to herein as the "Conversion Date". If a conversion under this Note cannot be effected in frill for any reason, or if the Holder is converting less than all of the outstanding Principal Amount hereunder pursuant to a Conversion Notice, the Company shall, upon request of the Holder, promptly deliver to the Holder (but no later than five Trading Days after the surrender of this Note to the Company) a new Note having a Principal Amount equal to the amount of such outstanding Principal Amount as has not been converted. The Holder shall not be required physically to surrender this Note to the Company upon any conversion unless the frill outstanding Principal Amount of this Note is being converted or repaid. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the outstanding Principal Amount so converted and repaid and the dates of such conversions or repayments 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 each such conversion or repayment. The Holder agrees that, if the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note is less than the Principal Amount stated on the face of this Note, the Holder will not voluntarily transfer this Note at any time when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing without first surrendering this Note to the Company for issuance, without charge to the Holder, of a replacement instrument that reflects the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note. The Company will deliver such replacement instrument to the Holder as promptly as practical, but in no event later than three Trading Days, after surrender by the Holder.
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(ii)Stock Certificates or DWAC. The Company will deliver to the Holder not later than three (3) Trading Days after a particular Conversion Date, a certificate or certificates, which shall be free of restrictive legends and trading restrictions (except to the extent permitted under Article V of the Purchase Agreement), for the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion of this Note. In lieu of delivering physical certificates for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of this Note, provided the Company's transfer agent is participating in the DTC's Fast Automated Securities Transfer ("FAST") program, upon request of the Holder, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its transfer agent electronically to transmit such shares issuable upon conversion to the Holder (or its designee), by crediting the account of the Holder's (or such designee's) broker with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system (provided that the same time periods herein as for stock certificates shall apply). If in the case of any conversion hereunder, such shares are not delivered to or as directed by the Holder by the third Trading Day after the applicable Conversion Date, the Holder shall be entitled by written notice to the Company at any time on or before its receipt of such shares, to rescind such conversion, in which event the Company shall immediately return this Note to the Holder if the Holder has tendered it to the Company in connection with such conversion. If the Holder notifies the Company that the Holder has not received such shares (free of any restrictions on transfer or legends except as permitted by Article V of the Purchase Agreement) within three Trading Days after a particular Conversion Date (each, a "Holder Share Notice") and the Holder does not receive such shares (free of any restrictions on transfer or legends except as permitted by Article V of the Purchase Agreement) within two Trading Days after giving such Holder Share Notice, then, in addition to any other liability the Company may have, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, an amount, computed at the rate of 2% of the outstanding Principal Amount per month, for the period such failure continues (the "Conversion Delay Payments"). A Holder Share Notice may be given by telephone, confirmed in writing, or e-mail to the Company's Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel or Chief Executive Officer. The Company's obligation to issue and deliver such shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Note shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the absence of any action by the Holder to enforce the same, of any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, any failure or delay in the enforcement of any other obligation of the Company to the Holder, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of law by the Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other ci rcumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with such exercise.
(iii) Liability for Late Delivery; Force Majeure.If in any case the Company shall fail to issue and deliver the shares of Common Stock to the Holder pursuant to this Note on the due date therefor, in addition to any other liabilities the Company may have hereunder and under applicable law (A) the Company shall pay or reimburse the Holder on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel, incurred by the Holder as a result of such failure, so long as the Holder shall have given the Company a Holder Share Notice with respect to such shares of Common Stock, (B) if as a result of such failure the Holder shall suffer any direct damages or liabilities from such failure (including, without limitation, margin interest and the cost of purchasing securities to cover a sale
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(whether by the Holder or the Holder's securities broker) or borrowing of shares of Common Stock by the Holder for purposes of settling any trade involving a sale of shares of Common Stock made by the Holder during the period beginning on the Issuance Date and ending on the date the Company delivers or causes to be delivered to the Holder such shares of Common Stock), then the Company shall upon demand of the Holder pay to the Holder an amount equal to the actual, direct out-of-pocket damages and liabilities suffered by the Holder by reason thereof which the Holder documents to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, so long as the Holder shall have given the Company a Holder Share Notice with respect to such shares of Common Stock, and (C) the Holder may by written notice (which may be given by mail, courier, personal service or telephone line facsimile transmission) or oral notice (promptly confirmed in writing), given at any time prior to delivery to the Holder of the shares of Common Stock issuable in connection with any exercise of the Holder's rights by reason of which such shares are deliverable, rescind such exercise in whole or in part, in which case the Holder shall thereafter be entitled to exercise its rights with respect to that portion of this Note as to which such exercise is so rescinded and to exercise its other rights and remedies with respect to such failure by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing and Section 3(b)(ii), (x) the Company shall not be liable to the Holder under clauses (A) and (B) of the immediately preceding sentence or (y) for Conversion Delay Payments, in either such case of the preceding clause (x) or (y) to the extent the failure of the Company to deliver or to cause to be delivered such shares of Common Stock results from a Force Majeure Event (it being understood that the action or failure to act of the Company's Transfer Agent shall not be deemed a Force Majeure Event unless outside the control of such Transfer Agent or resu lting from the bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of such Transfer Agent under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law). The Holder shall notify the Company in writing (or by telephone conversation, confirmed in writing) as promptly as practicable following the third Trading Day after the due date for delivery to it of shares of Common Stock under this Note if the Holder becomes aware that such shares of Common Stock so issuable have not been received as provided herein, but any failure so to give such notice shall not affect the Holder's rights under this Note or otherwise. If pursuant to this Section 3(b)(iii) the Company is relieved of its obligation to make Conversion Delay Payments, then the Principal Amount of this Note for which a Conversion Notice has been given and for which the Company has not issued the shares of Common Stock within the period provided in Section 3(b)(ii) shall continue to bear interest at the applicable rate provided in this Note from the applicable Conversion Date to the date the Company so issues such shares of Common Stock.
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(c) Conversion Price Adjustments.
(i) Stock Dividends, Splits and Combinations.In the event that the Company shall (A) pay a dividend or make a distribution to all its stockholders, in shares of Common Stock, on any class of capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary which is not directly or indirectly wholly owned by the Company, (B) split or subdivide its outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares, or (C) combine its outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the Holder of this Note thereafter surrendered for conversion shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive after the occurrence of any of the events described above had this Note been fully converted immediately prior to the occurrence of such event. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(c)(i) shall become effe ctive immediately after the close of business on the record date in the case of a dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the effective date in the case of such subdivision, split or combination, as the case may be. Any shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of a dividend shall be deemed to have been issued immediately prior to the close of business on the record date for such dividend for purposes of calculating the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock under clause (ii) below.
(ii) Adjustment for Certain Issuances.
(A) In the event that the Company shall commit to issue or distribute New Securities, in any such case at a price per share less than the Current Market Price per share on the earliest of (1) the date the Company shall enter into a firm contract for such issuance or distribution, (2) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive any such New Securities, if applicable, or (3) the date of actual issuance or distribution of any such New Securities (provided that the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of New Securities that are rights, warrants, options or convertible or exchangeable securities ("New Derivative Securities") will not cause an adjustment in the Conversion Price if no such adjustment would have been required at the time such New Derivative Security was issued), then the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such earliest date shall be adjusted so that the new Conversion Price shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such earliest date by the fraction:
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(x) whose numerator shall be (I) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date (on a fully-diluted basis after giving effect to any securities (other than this Note) convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock)plus(II) the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of New Securities so offered would have purchased at such Current Market Price (such amount, with respect to any New Derivative Securities, determined by multiplying the total number of shares of Common Stock subject thereto by the exercise price of such New Derivative Securities, and dividing the product so obtained by such Current Market Price), and
(y) whose denominator shall be (I) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date (on a fully-diluted basis after giving effect to any securities (other than this Note) convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock)plus(II) the number of additional shares of Common Stock to be issued or distributed or receivable upon exercise of any such New Derivative Security.
Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such New Securities are issued. In determining whether any New Derivative Securities entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such Current Market Price, and in determining the aggregate offering price of shares of Common Stock so issued, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such Common Stock or New Derivative Securities, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a certificate filed with the records of corporate proceedings of the Company. If any New Derivative Security to purchase or acquire Common Stock, the issuance of which resulted in an adjustment in the Conversion Price pursuant to this subsection (A) shall expire and shall not have been exercised, the Conversion Price shall immediately upon such expiration be recomputed to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect had the adjustment of the Conversion Price made upon the issuance of such New Derivative Security been made on the basis of offering for subscription, purchase or issuance, as the case may be, only of that number of shares of Common Stock actually purchased or issued upon the actual exercise of such New Derivative Security.
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(B) In the event that the Company shall issue or distribute New Securities, in any such case at a price per share less than the Conversion Price or that would entitle the holders of the New Securities to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than the Conversion Price per share (provided that the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of New Derivative Securities will not cause an adjustment in the Conversion Price if no such adjustment would have been required at the time such New Derivative Security was issued), then the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the Conversion Price shall equal the price at which the Company issues or distributes such New Securities (or the price at which the holders of the New Securities are entitled to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock). Each such adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such New Securities are issued. In determining whether any New Derivative Securities entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than the Conversion Price per share, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such New Derivative Securities, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a certificate filed with the records of corporate proceedings of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall an adjustment be made under this subsection (B) if such adjustment would result in raising the then-effective Conversion Price.
(iii) Rounding of Adjustments.No adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be required unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Price then in effect;provided, however,that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 3(c) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 3 or Section 2 shall be made to the nearest cent or nearest 1/100th of a share.
(iv) Notice of Adjustments.Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to this Section 3(c), the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment, provided that any failure to so provide such notice shall not affect the automatic adjustment hereunder.
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(v) Change in Control Transactions.In case of any Change in Control Transaction, the Holder shall have the right thereafter, at its option, (A) to convert this Note, in whole or in part, at the then applicable Conversion Price into the shares of stock and other securities, cash and/or property receivable upon or deemed to be held by holders of Common Stock following such Change in Control Transaction, and the Holder shall be entitled upon such event to receive such amount of securities, cash or property as the shares of the Common Stock of the Company into which this Note could have been converted immediately prior to such Change in Control Transaction would have been entitled if such conversion were permitted (determined without regard to any limitations contained in Section 3.12 of the Purchase Agreement), subject to such further applicable adjustments set forth in this Section 3, or (B) to require the Company or its successor to redeem this Note, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to125%of the outstanding Principal Amount being redeemed, plus accrued interest thereon. The terms of any such Change in Control Transaction shall include such terms so as to continue to give to the Holder the right to receive the amount of securities, cash and/or property upon any conversion or redemption following such Change in Control Transaction to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of this Note immediately prior to such Change in Control Transaction would have been entitled to receive in such Change in Control Transaction and if such Holder had continued to hold such securities, cash and/or property until the date of such conversion or redemption, and interest payable hereunder after such Change in Control Transaction shall be paid in cash or such new securities and/or property, at the Holder's option. This provision shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, amalgamations, sa les, transfers or share exchanges.
(vi) Notice of Certain Events.If:
A. the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock; or
B. the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a tender offer for, offer to purchase or redemption of its Common Stock; or
C. the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights; or
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D. the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company, any consolidation, amalgamation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, of any compulsory share of exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property; or
E. the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company; or
F. there exists an agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound providing for a Change in Control Transaction, or a Change in Control Transaction has occurred;
then the Company shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of this Note, and shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the books of the Company, on or prior to the date notice of such matter to the Company's stockholders generallyisgiven, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, tender offer, offer to purchase, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, tender offer, offer to purchase, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, transfer, share exchange or Change in Control Transaction is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, transfer, share exchange or Change in Control Transaction.
(d) Reservation and Issuance of Underlying Securities.The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares solely for the purpose of issuance upon conversion in full of this Note, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (subject to any additional requirements of the Company as to reservation of such shares set forth in the Purchase Agreement and taking into account the adjustments under this Section 3, but determined without regard to any ownership limitations contained in the Purchase Agreement). The Company represents, warrants and covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
(e) No Fractions.Upon a conversion hereunder the Company shall not be required to issue stock certificates for a fraction of a share of Common Stock, but may if otherwise permitted, make a cash payment in respect of any fraction of a share based on the Current Market Price of a share of Common Stock at such time. If the Company elects not, or is unable, to make such a cash payment, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the fraction of a share, one whole share of Common Stock.
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(f)Charges, Taxes and Expenses.Issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Note shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder;provided, however,that in the event certificates for shares of Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, the applicable Conversion Notice, when given for such conversion shall be accompanied or followed by an assignment form for the applicable portion of this Note or such shares, as the case may be; andprovided further,that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or taxes which may be payable in respect of any such transfer.
(g)Cancellation.After the entire Principal Amount (including accrued but unpaid interest and default payments at any time owed on this Note) has been paid in full or converted into Common Stock, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled and the Holder shall promptly surrender this Note to the Company at the Company's principal executive offices;provided, however,that the failure to surrender this Note shall not delay or limit such cancellation.
(h) Notice Procedures.Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holder under this Note, including, without limitation, any Conversion Notice, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by confirmed facsimile, or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service to the Company at the facsimile telephone number or address of the principal place of business of the Company as set forth in, or provided pursuant to, the Purchase Agreement. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile, or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to the Holder at the facsimile telephone number or address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company, or if no such facsimile telephone number or address appears, at the principal place of business of the Holder. Any notice or other communication or deliveries he reunder shall be deemed delivered (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally, (ii) when sent by facsimile, upon receipt if received on a Business Day prior to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), or on the first Business Day following such receipt if received on a Business Day after 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) or on a day that is not a Business Day or (iii) upon receipt, when deposited with a nationally recognized overnight courier service.
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Section 4. Defaults and Remedies.
(a) Events of Default.An "Event of Default" is: (i) a failure to pay any Principal Amount of this Note when due, whether at the Final Maturity Date or otherwise, (ii) a failure to pay any interest due on this Note on the date such payment is due, which failure continues for two Business Days (or ten Business Days if such failure results from a Force Majeure Event or if the Company can prove that funds were in fact wired from the Company's account by the due date); (iii) a failure timely to issue Underlying Shares upon and in accordance with terms hereof, which failure continues for ten Business Days after the Company has received written notice from the Holder informing the Company that it has failed to issue shares or deliver stock certificates prior to the fifth Business Day following the applicable Conversion Date; (iv) failure by the Company for 20 days (or 90 days if such failure results from a Force Majeure Event) after written notice has been recei ved by the Company from the Holder to comply with any material provision (other than as provided in the immediately preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)) of any of this Note or any other Transaction Document (including, without limitation, the failure to redeem this Note upon the Holder's request following a Change in Control Transaction pursuant to Section 3(c)(v)); (v) a material breach by the Company of its representations or warranties in this Note or in any other Transaction Document that continues for 10 days after written notice to the Company; (vi) any default after any cure period under, or acceleration prior to maturity of, any note, mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company for in excess of $1 million, or for money borrowed the repayment of which is guaranteed by the Company for in excess of $1 million, whether such indebtedness or guarantee now exists or shall be created herea fter; (vii) if the Company is subject to any Bankruptcy Event; (viii) if the Registration Statement required by Section 2 of the Registration Rights Agreement is not declared effective by the SEC within the time frame provided therein; (ix) any security interest or lien purported to be created by the Security Agreement shall cease to be in full force and effect with respect to a material portion of the collateral thereunder or any such security interest or lien shall be asserted by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company not to be a valid, perfected, first priority (except as otherwise permitted by the Transaction Documents) security interest in or lien on the collateral covered thereby, and such security interest or lien is not restored to full force and effect within 10 days after notice to the Company; or (x) any Transaction Document or any material provisions thereof shall at any time and for any reason be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be null and void, or the Company or any Subsi diary of the Company shall repudiate or deny any portion of its liabilities or obligations thereunder.
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(b) Remedies.If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Holder may declare all of the then outstanding Principal Amount of this Note, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately in cash, except that in the case of an Event of Default arising from events described in clauses (vi) and (vii) of Section 4(a), this Note shall become automatically due and payable without further action or notice, and the Holder may exercise all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity. The date on which the Holder declares all of the then outstanding Principal Amount of this Note, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately in cash, or the date on which this Note becomes automatically due and payable without further action or notice as a result of an Event of Default arising from any event described in clauses (vi) and (vii) of Section 4(a), is referred to herein as the "Acceleration Date". In the event of such acceleration, the amount due and owing to the Holder shall be 125%of the outstanding Principal Amount of this Note (plus all accrued and unpaid interest, if any). In any event the Company shall pay interest on such amount in cash at the Default Rate to the Holder if such amount is not paid within one Business Day after the Acceleration Date. The remedies under this Note shall be cumulative.
Section 5. Certain Covenants; General.
(a) Rule 144A Information Requirement.Within the period prior to the expiration of the holding period applicable to sales hereof under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), the Company covenants and agrees that it shall, during any period in which it is not subject to Section 13 or15(d)under the Exchange Act, make available to the Holder and any prospective purchaser of this Note from the Holder, the information required pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act upon the request of the Holder and it will take such further action as the Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holder to sell this Note without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144A, as Rule 144A may be amended from time to time. Upon the request of the Holder, the Company will deliver to the Holder a written statement as to whether it has compl ied with such requirements.
(b) Payment of Expenses.The Company agrees to pay all charges and expenses, including attorneys' fees and expenses, which may be incurred by the Holder in seeking to enforce this Note.
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(c) Savings Clause.In case any provision of this Note is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be excessive in scope or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent possible, and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Note will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. In no event shall the amount of interest paid hereunder exceed the maximum rate of interest on the unpaid principal balance hereof allowable by applicable law. If any sum is collected in excess of the applicable maximum rate, the excess collected shall be applied to reduce the principal debt. If the interest actually collected hereunder is still in excess of the applicable maximum rate, the interest rate shall be reduced so as not to exceed the maximum allowable under law.
(d) Amendment.Neither this Note nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the Company and Holder.
(e) Assignment, Etc.The Holder may assign or transfer this Note, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, without the consent of the Company. The Holder shall notify the Company of any such assignment or transfer promptly. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations under this Note. This Note shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder and its successors and permitted assigns.
(f) No Waiver.No failure on the part of the Holder to exercise, and no delay in exercising any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Holder of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or future exercise of any other right, remedy or power. Each and every right, remedy or power hereby granted to the Holder or allowed it by law or other agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other, and may be exercised by the Holder from time to time.
(g) Governing Law; Jurisdiction.
(i) Governing Law.THIS NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
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(ii) Jurisdiction.The Company (i) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court sitting in the Northern District of Texas and the courts of the State of Texas located in Dallas, Texas, for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) hereby waives, and agrees not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. The Company consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to the Company at the address in effect for notices to it under the Purchase Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 5(g)(ii) shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The Company hereby agrees that if the Holder is the prevailing party in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note, the Holder shall be entitled to reimbursement for legal fees from the Company.
(iii) NOJURY TRIAL.The Company knowingly and voluntarily waives any and all rights it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation based on, or arising out of, under, or in connection with, this Note.
(h) Replacement Notes.This Note may be exchanged by Holder at any time and from time to time for a Note or Notes with different denominations representing an equal aggregate outstanding Principal Amount, as reasonably requested by Holder, upon surrendering the same. No service charge will be made for such registration or exchange. In the event that Holder notifies the Company that this Note has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement Note identical in all respects to the original Note (except for registration number and Principal Amount, if different than that shown on the original Note), shall be issued to the Holder, without requirement for any surety bond, provided that the Holder executes and delivers to the Company an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Company to indemnify the Company from any loss incurred by it in connection with this Note.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed on the day and in the year first above written.
NASCENT WINE COMPANY, INC.
By:/s/ Sandro Piancone
Sandro Piancone,Chief Executive Officer
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ASSIGNMENT
For value received _____________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto ________________ (Please insert social security or other Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee:___________________ ) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints __________________ attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of Nascent Wine Company, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), with full power of substitution in the premises.
In connection with any transfer of the Note within the period prior to the expiration of the holding period applicable to sales thereof under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) (other than any transfer pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act), the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:
[ ] To the Company or a subsidiary thereof; or
[ ] To a QIB pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or
[ ] To an "accredited investor" pursuant to and in compliance with the Securities Act; or
[ ] Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
and unless the box below is checked, the undersigned confirms that, to the knowledge of the undersigned, such Note is not being transferred to an "affiliate" of the Company as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (an "Affiliate").
[ ] The transferee is an Affiliate of the Company.
Capitalized terms used in this Assignment and not defined in this Assignment shall have the respective meanings provided in the Note.
Dated:_________ NAME:__________________________________
____________________________
Signature(s)
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE
(To be executed by the Holder in order
to convert 18% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due 2007)
Re:
18% Senior Secured Convertible Note Due 2007 issued by NASCENT WINE COMPANY, INC. identified below (the "Note")
The undersigned hereby elects to convert the outstanding Principal Amount (as defined in the Note) indicated below of the Note into shares of Common Stock, ofNASCENT WINE COMPANY, INC., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), according to the terms hereof and of the Note, as of the date written below. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions as reasonably requested by the Company in accordance therewith. No fee will be charged to the Holder for any conversion, except for such transfer taxes, if any.
Conversion information:
Note Number | |
Conversion Date | |
Principal Amount of Note Being Converted | |
Number of Shares of Common Stock to Be Issued | |
Applicable Conversion Price | |
Signature | |
Name | |
Address |
A-1